Page:Adrift in the Pacific, Sampson Low, 1889.djvu/127

Rh "Yes. You axe a coward, and you know it!"

Again Briant forgot himself for a moment, and, clenching his fists, squared up to Donagan; but just then Gordon, who had been fetched by Dole, stepped into the ring.

"Briant! Donagan!" he said.

"He called me a liar," said Donagan.

"He called me a cheat and a coward," said Briant.

"Donagan," said Gordon, "I know what sort of a fellow Briant is! He is not the cause of this quarrel! It was you that began it."

"Indeed!" said Donagan. "And I know what sort of a fellow you are! Always ready to take sides against me!"

"Yes, when you deserve it!" said Gordon.

"All right," said Donagan. "But whether I began it or Briant began it, if Briant refuses to fight, he is a coward."

"And you, Donagan," said Gordon, "are a mischievous, bad-tempered fellow, for ever setting a bad example to the others. Placed as we are here, is it right that one should always be trying to cause disunion amongst us? Surely we ought all to work together."

"Briant," said Donagan, "thank Gordon for his sermon; and now come on."

"Not in the least," said Gordon. "I am chief of the colony, and I am not going to stand this sort of thing! Briant, go into the store-room. And you, Donagan, go where you like, but don't come back till you have sense enough to see that in blaming you I only did my duty!"

"Three cheers for Gordon," said the boys, all except Webb, Wilcox, and Cross, " and three cheers for Briant!"

The only thing to be done was to obey. Briant went into the hall, and in the evening when Donagan returned it was evident that he was content for the time to say no more about the matter. But all the same he cherished a fierce rancour within him, and had no intention of forgetting the lesson which Gordon had given him.