The Reluctant Voyagers

As they neared the dock something seemed suddenly to occur to the freckled man. "Great heavens!" he murmured. He stared at the approaching shore. "My, what a plight, Tommy!" he quavered. "Do you think so?" spoke up the tall man. "Why, I really thought you liked it." He laughed in a hard voice. "Lord, what a figure you'll cut." This laugh jarred the freckled man's soul. He became mad. "Thunderation, turn the boat around!" he roared. "Turn 'er round, quick! Man alive, we can't--turn 'er round, d'ye hear!" The tall man in the stern gazed at his companion with glowing eyes. "Certainly not," he said. "We're going on. You insisted Upon it." He began to prod his companion with words. The freckled man stood up and waved his arms. "Sit down," said the tall man. "You'll tip the boat over." The other man began to shout. "Sit down!" said the tall man again. Words bubbled from the freckled man's mouth. There was a little torrent of sentences that almost choked him. And he protested passionately with his hands. But the boat went on to the shadow of the docks. The tall man was intent upon balancing it as it rocked dangerously during his comrade's oration. "Sit down," he continually repeated. "I won't," raged the freckled man. "I won't do anything." The boat wobbled with these words.