If anything was wanted to convince Captain Nugent that his action had been foolish and his language intemperate it was borne in upon him by the subsequent behaviour of Master Hardy.

Generosity is seldom an attribute of youth, while egotism, on the other hand, is seldom absent.

So far from realizing that the captain would have scorned such lowly game, Master Hardy believed that he lived for little else, and his Jack-in-the-box ubiquity was a constant marvel and discomfort to that irritable mariner.

Did he approach a seat on the beach, it was Master Hardy who rose (at the last moment) to make room for him.

Did he stroll down to the harbour, it was in the wake of a small boy looking coyly at him over his shoulder.