"Just before I sailed, I happened to meet an old friend, and over our dinner I mentioned the names of my officers.

He told me he knew this Mr.
Linthorne well, and that Horton had gone to sea with him for the first time as a midshipman, and that there was certainly something queer about him as a boy, for Linthorne had specially asked him to keep his eye upon him, and had begged him, frankly, to let him know how he conducted himself.

That rather set me against him, you know." "I don't think that was anything," James urged.

"I do not much like Horton, but I should not like you to have a false impression of him.

It was a mere boyish affair, sir--in fact, it was connected with that fight with me.