he
landing to take the small boat to go to her, he found two other sailors
belonging to her, who were going to Malaga on the run, the same as
himself. One of them confidentially informed Paul that she was a
floating hell and that he might expect lively times on the run down.
Paul responded that he could stand it if the rest could. The row boat
containing the sailors ran along side and the line was passed down. One
of the sailors jumped lightly into the chains and took hold of his
mate's bag. He tossed it on the deck without looking where it was
going. His own was then passed up to him which he mounted the rail and
jumped on deck. He had no sooner reached it than he was struck a
powerful blow on the face and knocked on his back. His companion jumped
on deck and found his comrade lying bleeding and half stunned. Over
him, as if about to kick him, was the form of a powerful looking man who
proved to be the first mate.

"What's the matter," exclaimed the sailor last landed. "What's this?"

"Perhaps you would like the same kind of a dose my hearty," exclaimed
the mate as he came towards him with clenched fists.

"Well, no," was the response, "I don't intend to take any, but I will
give you one that will teach you not to bill sailors in open port," and
he drew his sheath knife and made a lunge that would certainly have
disemboweled the first mate had he not quickly dodged the thrust
and retreated to the cabin.

While the sailor who had drawn the knife was bending over his wounded
comrade, the captain appeared, and exclaimed:

"This kind of work won't do! What's the meaning of this row?"

The sailor who had been struck explained to the captain how he had
accidentally hit the mate while throwing his bag aboard, and that
his partner had only come to his assistance when he thought he had been
killed.

"Go forward, boys, go forward," the captain said. "I'll see that no more
of this occurs."

This scene had been witnessed by Paul as he sat quietly on the rail.
When the men went forward he stepped down and approached the
captain, saying:

"Captain, I have been informed that your ship is a pretty wild one and
by what I have seen I think she bears out her reputation all right. Now
I consider myself fully competent to do my duty and will do it; but I
want to give you fair warning that if I am molested by either of your
bully mates, as I presume you have two of them, I will take good care of