Page:Silver Shoal Light.djvu/90

72 Garth explained. "It looks so nice, just like a whole waterfall of moonlight, or something. I couldn't see from down there."

"Do you remember that I put you on your honor?" said Jim gravely. "Suppose that you had slipped; suppose the boat had backed away from the steps suddenly, the way she's doing now; suppose you'd caught your foot in the rope? How can I trust you, Pem?"

Garth sobbed miserably as his father carried him down and put him in the bow-sheets.

"I'll pass sentence when we get home," said Jim. "Will you steer, Miss Kirkland?"

Back at the Light, Jim summoned Garth, who stood before him with his lip quivering a little, but his eyes very steady.

"Pemberley," Jim said very seriously, "when an officer gives an order, what is a seaman expected to do?"

"Obey it, sir," said Garth.

"Yes," said Jim. "Think what would happen if an officer could not trust his men, if he never knew whether or not an order was to be carried out. Do you remember the little English midshipman who was ordered to the crow's nest as the ship went into action? When she sank, all hands took to the boats, but the middy