Aboard a gunboat.
“Well, Mr Burnett, what is it?”
“Beg pardon, sir.”
“Now, my good boy, have I not told you always to speak out in a sharp, business-like way? How in the world do you expect to get on in your profession and become a smart officer, one who can give orders promptly to his men, if you begin in that stammering, hesitating style? Here, I’m busy; what do you want?”
“I beg pardon, sir,...
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