Master Hardy, with no very well-defined ideas of what he was going to do if he caught her, started in pursuit.  His scalp was still smarting and his eyes watering with the pain as he pounded behind her.  Panting wildly she heard him coming closer and closer, and she was just about to give up when, to her joy, she saw her father coming towards them.

Master Hardy, intent on his quarry, saw him just in time, and, swerving into the road, passed in safety as Miss Nugent flung herself with some violence at her father’s waistcoat and, clinging to him convulsively, fought for breath.  It was some time before she could furnish the astonished captain with full details, and she was pleased to find that his indignation led him to ignore the hair-grabbing episode, on which, to do her justice, she touched but lightly.

That evening, for the first time in his life, Captain Nugent, after some deliberation, called upon his late mate.  The old servant who, since Mrs. Hardy’s death the year before, had looked after the house, was out, and Hardy, unaware of the honour intended him, was scandalized by the manner in which his son received the visitor.  The door opened, there was an involuntary grunt from Master Hardy, and the next moment he sped along the narrow passage and darted upstairs.  His father, after waiting in vain for his return, went to the door himself.

“Good evening, cap’n,” he said, in surprise.

Nugent responded gruffly, and followed him into the sitting-room.  To an invitation to sit, he responded more gruffly still that he preferred to stand.  He then demanded instant and sufficient punishment of Master Hardy for frightening his daughter.

Even as he spoke he noticed with strong disfavour the change which had taken place in his late first officer.  The change which takes place when a man is promoted from that rank to that of master is subtle, but unmistakable—­sometimes, as in the present instance, more unmistakable than subtle.  Captain Hardy coiled his long, sinewy form in an arm-chair and, eyeing him calmly, lit his pipe before replying.

[Illustration:  “Captain Hardy lit his pipe before replying.”]

“Boys will fight,” he said, briefly.

“I’m speaking of his running after my daughter,” said Nugent, sternly.

Hardy’s eyes twinkled.  “Young dog,” he said, genially; “at his age, too.”

Captain Nugent’s face was suffused with wrath at the pleasantry, and he regarded him with a fixed stare.  On board the Conqueror there was a witchery in that glance more potent than the spoken word, but in his own parlour the new captain met it calmly.

“I didn’t come here to listen to your foolery,” said Nugent; “I came to tell you to punish that boy of yours.”

“And I sha’n’t do it,” replied the other.  “I have got something better to do than interfere in children’s quarrels.  I haven’t got your spare time, you know.”