overwork, it is not likely I should have sweet dreams.

Though not sweet, however, they were short enough--at least my sleep was
so, for my eyes had not been closed above five minutes when I was rudely
awakened, not by a voice, but by a smart thwack upon the hips,
administered by no light hand, and with an instrument that I knew by the
feel to be what, in sailors' parlance, is called a "rope's end."

It needed no repetition of the stroke to awake me and cause me to start
to my feet; had it done so, I should certainly have caught it again as
sharply as before--for, on springing up, I saw the hand of the fellow
who had struck me raised aloft to repeat the blow. He did repeat it,
but my sudden rising spoiled his aim, and the rope's end doubled loosely
over my shoulders.

I was not a little astonished on recognising the ruffian. It was the
French bully--Le Gros!

I knew that he had the disposition to flog me with a rope's end, or
anything else--for he still harboured a heart full of malice against
me--I well knew that he was not wanting in the will; had we been in some
corner of the earth all alone by ourselves, I should not have been
astonished at him flogging me almost to death--not a bit of it. But
what surprised me was his daring to do so there and then. Ever since
Brace had thrashed him, he had been as mute as a mouse--morose enough
with me, but never offering any insult that might be resented by my
protector.

What had happened then to cause this change? Had he again fought with
Brace and beaten him? Or had my patron taken some offence at me and
withdrawn his protection, thus leaving the ruffian free to chastise me
for his own especial pleasure?

Surely some change must have taken place in our mutual relations, else
Le Gros would never have dared to raise his hand against me in the
manner he was doing?

Therefore was I surprised and puzzled--could it be that, finding me all
alone upon the top, he had taken the fancy into his head that he could
there give me a drubbing without being seen?

Surely that could not be his idea? If not seen, I could be heard. I
might easily cry out, so that my protector would hear me; or even if he
could not, I could tell him afterwards, and though that would not save
me from the drubbing it would get me the satisfaction of seeing Le Gros
catch one as well.

These reflections passed almost instantaneously through my mind--they
occupied only a few seconds--just the interva