Mr. Trunnell

ind me, and the strong force he put forward as he rushed me toward the ship's side, made me aware that I was in a bad fix. The assassin wa

utched wildly at the forecastle rail. Luckily my hand caught it, and I was saved from the dive over the side. Then with frantic strength I twisted around enough to seize the fellow, and dropped on my knees with a grip around his middle. It was

the spray and drift in a smothering storm into our faces. A hand would slip with a

I managed to get my foot braced against a ring-bolt. This gave me a slight advantage for a sudden push. In an instant I shoved with all my might, driving us both to the edge.

tain lay motionless. Then, when a sudden rush of cool water poured over us, I came to my senses and started to my feet. In another moment

a within five points. It now took her forward of the beam and hove her down to her bearings with each roll to leeward, the sea breaking heavily across the main deck, keeping the

e, though one caught me under the lee of the fore rigging

ate. I noticed a look of surprise come upon the young officer's face when I came close

gh female voice, but with a significant tone and look at the

mate. "You can let a few men go and rivet irons on the convict by the windlass bitts. He seems to have

t I heard a fierce oath in a deep voice near by, but Trunnell and the captain were both staring up at the fringe flying from the maintopsail yard, and had eviden

Trunnell's ear, I took my watch below to get a rest. The men who preferred to stay aft clear of the water were allowed to lie down near the

p regular hours when he can, and stand by for a crisis when all hands are necessary. With a captain it might be different, for the entire responsibility rests upon him. He also does not have to stand watch, and consequently has no reason to be tired after several hours on deck. But

take care that the ruffian would not get loose again that night during his watch, I took out a heavy revolver from my locker

ed that the third officer had taken a hand in letting Andrews loose to try his hand on me again. There was something uncanny a

rls and tangles from having a sou'wester jammed over his ears, and his great flat nose was red from the irritation of the water that struck and streamed ov

k me, but we've a job bending gear. Everything gone out of her but her spars, and Lo

s came to be on her. I'm almost glad it's gone. I would be if it wasn't for the fact that we'll be longer than u

heard the outfly," said he, "and I was only joking ye about the canvas. It's a quare world. Ye wouldn't think it, but if ye want to see a true picture of responsibility a-restin' heavy like upon the digestion of a man, ye

the way he caught her," I answered; "he probabl

his head until th

ot a big head, but nothin' much in it; in spite o' this, though, I knows a thing or two when I sees it. That man has some other obj

r I get out of her, the better satisfied I'll be. No de

Then he saw I meant no offence

ye had a duty to do in the w

unting hard ones," I ans

erious and waited until I had strapped my so

to her, says me. If every man who's honest should turn his stern to a wessel that's got a bad name, what would happen to her? Why, any suckin' swab of a cabin boy kin tell that she'd get worse an' worse with the bad ones what would take your place. Ain't that reason? There's got to be some men to man a ship, an' if

med sorr

as Andrews is aboard this here ship, if I knows anything o' his ways, an' I've sailed two voyages with him afore. No, man; brace up and do

, preaching a most unselfish doctrine. We had been below for several minutes, and I could hear the captain's voice baw

ian, anyhow, Trunnell

seen the inside of a church. I only tries to do the square thing to whoever is a-ru

light of the early morning, the strips of canvas stretching away from the jackstays and flicking dismally to leeward. All the yards, however, were trimmed nicely, showing Trunnell's master hand, and on the mainmast, bellying and straining with the pressure, was a new storm spencer, set snug and true, holding

poop ladder and t

it had during my last watch on deck, but the sea was rolling heavier. It took the Pirate fair on the port bow, and every now and again it rose so high above her topgallant rail that it showed green light through the mass that would crash over to the deck and go roaring white to leeward, making the main deck uninhabitable. Som

ey?" bawled the skipper t

If she hangs on as well as this during the watch,

call down to the steward to bring m

ly that I had to grab a line to keep from being knocked down. The main deck was full of water, and as it roared off through the port

the forward house. The bulwarks were smashed for many feet along both sides, but this was no real damage, as it allowed the sea to run off easier, relieving the

l they could do to hold her when a sea struck aft. Far astern the light seemed to be growing brighter, and while I looked there appeared some long streaks in the heavy banks of vapor which showed a break or two. I took the glass which hung on the side of th

rd, sir," I bawl

t me that steward with the liquor, or there'