It didn't work, instead the captain said, his scowl deepening. "Do you know the punishment for stowing away on a ship?"

"I didn't want to stow away," Layla responded, her eyes flashing with determination. "It was your fault. You forced me to eat."

His eyes opened wide in astonishment. "I forced you to? Yes, because if you had listened to me and taken me on as crew, then I wouldn't have had to sneak on board and hide," Layla retorted spiritedly.

"Of all the bare-faced cheek, you take the prize," the captain exclaimed, his face reddening.

"I suppose Roy smuggled you on board last night while my back was turned,"...