Mr. Trunnell

; but at the time it did not appear to me to be the fact, because the lack of discipline was not apparent in my watch. Trunnell

fore their eyes and made certain significant gestures in regard to their manipulation. This may strike the landsman as unnecessary and so

n the quickness with which an order can be carried out, and a man must not hang back when the danger is deadly. He must do as he is told, instantly and without question; if he gets killed-why, there is no great loss, for any owner or skipper can get a crew aboard at any of the large ports of trade. Of course, if he takes a different point of view, the only thing for him to do is to stay on the beach. He must not ship on a s

some new condemnations. While doing this he saw me coming from the port side, and forthwith he told me to take charge of the ship, as he was dead beat out and would have to soak his head

Did you ever see a skipper with such a look? Sech bleeding eyes-an' nose, hey? Like the beak of an old albatross. He hasn't come out to lay the course yet, but let her go. She'll head within half a point of what she's doin' now. Sink me, but I don't believe

m starboard, I climbed the steps to the poop and took a good look around. It was a beautiful morning and the sun shone brightly ov

dward. The Pirate lay along on the port tack, and with her skysails to her trucks she made a beautiful sight. Her canvas was snowy white, showing that no money had been spared on her sails. Her spars were all painted or

each cutting into the breeze a point or more forward of the weather beam. The fore and aft canvas was trimmed well, and the outer jibs lifted the ship along at a slapping rate. She was evidently fast in spite of her load, and I looked over the side at the foam that was seething past the lee channels in swirls and

n, and his gaze was fixed upon me. He was a broad-shouldered fellow, about the average height, and was dressed in a tight-fitting black coat which reached to his knees. On his head was a skull cap with a long tassel

e, while his eyes twinkled with undisguised amusement. His nose was large and flat like a Hottentot's, and while I gazed at him in astonishment, he raised it in the

rail and expectorating over the side. Then he came slowly back across the main deck, while my spleen rose at his superior indifference. I have always been a man of the people, and have fought my way along to whatever position I have held on the comprehe

s, and if you don't want them to feel like the grate-bars of the galley

his. "You infernal, impudent-" he began; and here for a moment followed a string of foul oaths from the man's lips, while he passed

uring the first half hour in command of the deck; but I saw there was little time to lose. There were n

almost in a complete somersault, landing with a crash upon the main deck just outside the window of Mr. Trunnell's room. He was stunned by the fall, and I hastened down to seize him before he could rec

eans to save myself. In another mad struggle he would wrench himself clear, and his ugly look told me plainly how much mercy I could expect. I gave one last despairing grip on his wrist as he tore wildly about, and then I felt his arm slip clear of my fingers, and I waited for the stroke with my left arm drawn up to stop its force as far as possible. I could almost feel the sting of the steel in my tense nerves, when something suddenly c

enemy up in short order, although the knots he used would not have done any credit to a sailor. But I was more than thankful when I had a chance to wring the long knife out of the murderous stranger's hand,

if you don't belay your tongue we'll have to do something." And the little mate squared his should

and is aboard here on the sneak? I reckon we'll tack

in doubt how to proceed. The noise of the scuffle and our conversation had aroused the captain in the cabin, and as I finished speaking he came to the break of the poop and lo

lap them on him, hand and foot, Mr. Rolling, and then rivet him to the deck away up forrads. If he do

om where he lay on deck. "What's happened, Trunnell, when a swivel-eyed idiot

he little fracas you was mixed into last v'yage. We didn'

aboard here? Who's this galoot you've just kept from being ripped to ribbons? I'll settle matters with you later on for meddling

ain, sir?" said the fellow Jim, looking sharply at the skip

there's any orders to be given, I'll attend to matters myself." He spoke in a low, even tone, and his eyes

oing to kill that lubber you've got for mate anyhow, and it might as well be done

s, I'd cast ye adrift in spite o' the whole crowd, an' ye could rip an' cut to your bloody heart's content. Ye know I'd back ye if 'twas al

a few seconds less than a minute to get that fellow forrads and out of the way," he said slowly, as if counting his words, I made no movement to drag the ruffian away, for at that minute I would have offered no objection whatever to seeing the skipper make a target of him; but Trunnell