ly the parson's courage averted trouble in the dog-watch,
and but a little while ago I had to quiet a storm. But the danger is
passed now, I think. The little fellow's mates are naturally quiet,
law-abiding fellows."

"The squareheads may be kept quiet," I said, "but how about the stiffs?
How about Boston and Blackie?"

An expression of disgust and contempt showed in his face as I mentioned
the names. "I will attend to them if they try any of their tricks," he
said.

"But they are, and have been, trying their tricks," I persisted, "and
for some reason they are eager to have you know what they are up to.
Boston told me to tell you." I repeated Boston's gossip. "He knew
about the spy," I said.

He nodded. "I know; I have had an eye upon them. What Boston told you
about the treasure is quite true; the ship is carrying specie. And
they are precious rascals, capable of any villainy; I know them well,
they--they broke jail with me. But they have wit enough to know that
their gang of stiffs could put up no sort of fight, unless backed by
the sailors in the crew. It is loot they are after, and there will be
trouble from them before the ship makes port; but now we are in
mid-sea, and they realize they would be quite helpless with a ship on
their hands and no navigator. That is what they want of me. A pair of
poisonous rats, Jack!

"But they will keep quiet. They had better. I promised them I would
kill them both if they disobeyed me!"

I gazed at the big man with admiring awe. He spoke so coolly, was so
conscious of the strength and power that was in himself. Here was the
sort of man I should like to be, I thought, here was the true hard
case, no bully, no ruffian, but a man, a good man, a man so hard and
bright, so finely tempered, he was to the rest of us as steel to mud.
Oddly enough, as I had this thought, it also occurred to me that there
was a man in the ship who might with justice claim to be Newman's peer,
another man of heroic stature--poor meek little Holy Joe.

"If Swope does not interfere with the decent burial of that poor boy,
there will be no outbreak," added Newman.

"He will not interfere," I was able to assure him. I repeated the
skipper's words to Mister Lynch. "'Let the dogs dispose of their own
offal!' is what he said."

To my surprise Newman was disturbed by this news. He stared at me,
frowning.

"Swope said that?" he exclaimed. "Now what is he up to?"

He sat thinking for