rch!' And they did so. They were saved by the
good Bishop, whom I know well. As for me. I would have let the foolish
Huguenots get their just deserts. It would have been one heretic less
and good riddance."

At this one of the seamen was plainly angered.

"Piff!" said he. "Piff!" That was all. But Monsieur Valbue had noticed
it and Monsieur Valbue grew angry in a moment. Seizing a half-empty
cider mug, from which he had been drinking, he hurled it at the head
of the fellow who had made the remark.

"You dog of a Huguenot!" he roared.

The seaman dodged, and the cider mug spun into the planks of a jolly
boat. Then he stepped forward and said,

"Captain Valbue, the Laws of Oleron, under which we sail, say that you
cannot and must not strike a seaman with any missile. I, Lanoix, will
strike back if you hit me."

But Monsieur Valbue was like a bubbling tea-pot. Seizing a
hand-spike, he shot it out at the man who knew the law.

"The Laws of Oleron allow me just one blow," blubbered Captain Valbue.
"Just as the laws of England allow each dog one bite."

As luck would have it, he missed his shot.

Lanoix leaped over the iron rail which separated the forecastle from
the after part of the vessel. Then he turned around.

"Follow me here, you coward!" he shouted to the captain, "and I will
have the right to crack you through the middle. Consult the Laws of
Oleron under which we sail and see if they do not back me up!"

"The laws be blowed!" yelled Monsieur Valbue, now beside himself with
rage. And, leaping across the rail he struck the Huguenot two sturdy
blows in the face.

Jean Bart, meanwhile, steered the ship: looked on; and said nothing.

R-i-i-p! There was a flash, a blow, and a cry of pain. A large, keen
knife was clenched in the strong right hand of Lanoix, and the captain
was running red, with a deep gash in his shoulder.

"Down with the Mutineer! Down with the dog!" came from the throats of
the members of the crew who had clustered about the two enraged men,
smiling at the little affair.

With a rush they were upon the Huguenot; had forced him to the deck;
and wrested the knife from his hand. But, before it was wrenched from
his fist, the blade had pierced the body of a seaman and had felled
him to the boarding.

"Bring up the Laws of Oleron," cried Captain Valbue, when the Huguenot
had been secured. "Bring up the Laws of Oleron from my cabin, and let
us see whether or no I was right, when I struck th