When they stopped, Tomas studied the bow cutting through the water below before speaking, and Dane gave him this time, knowing that the man was in an ugly mood and half-hoping he would do something foolish enough to warrant tossing him in the brig. These last few voyages, Tomas had been irritable and moody, losing the intelligent edge that had made Dane originally choose him as his first mate. This would be the man’s final time on The Night Hawk, if Dane had his way.
Finally, the long haired man said, “The men have been talking, Captain.”
Suddenly furious, Dane grabbed the shorter Tomas by the front of his shirt and swung him to face him. “Are you talking mutiny, man? If you are, I’ll pitch you over the side so fast ...”
Although he was brawnier, Tomas knew Dane to be a skilled brawler
