m the whales lying alongside waiting to be
cut-in, and Keller shot or lanced them by the score as he stood on the
cutting-in stage or in one of the boats made fast to the chains on the
free side.

Fourteen months out, as the _Casilda_ was cruising northward, intending
to touch at one of the Navigator's Islands (Samoa) to refresh, the first
trouble occurred. Cheyne, Frewen's boatsteerer, who was a splendidly
built, handsome young fellow of twenty-four years of age, received a
rather severe injury to his right foot whilst a heavy baulk of timber
was being "fleeted" along the deck. Frewen, who was much attached to
him, dressed his foot as well as the rough appliances on board would
allow, and then reported him to the captain as unfit for duty.

Keller growled something about all "darned half-breeds" being glad of
any excuse to shirk duty.

Frewen took him up sharply: "This man is no shirker, sir. He is as good
a man as ever 'stood up' to strike a whale. Did you ever see a better
one?"

Keller looked at his second officer with fourteen months' repressed
brutality glowering in his savage eyes.

"I'm the captain of this ship. Just you mind that. I reckon I can't be
taught much by any college buster."

Frewen's hands clenched, but he replied quietly, though he was inwardly
raging at Keller's contemptuous manner--

"Just so. You are the captain of this ship, and I know my duty, sir.
But I am not the man to be insulted by any one. And I say that my
boatsteerer is not fit for duty."

Keller's retort was of so insulting a character that in another moment
the two men--to the intense delight of the crew--were fighting on the
after-deck. Lopes and the cooper, as in duty bound, sprang forward and
seized their fellow-officer, but the captain, with an oath, bade them
stand aside.

"I'll pound you first," he cried hoarsely to Frewen, "then I'll kick you
into the foc'sle."

The fight lasted for fifteen minutes, and then Lopes and the third mate
forced themselves between and separated them. Both men were terribly
punished.

"That will do, sir; that will do, Frewen," said the mate; "do you want
to kill each other?"

Keller had some good points about him and a certain amount of humour as
well.

"Haow much air yew hurt, Frewen?" he inquired. "I can't exactly see"
(both his eyes were fast closing).

"Pretty much like yourself," replied the officer; then he paused and
held out his hand. "Shake hands, sir. I'm sorry we've had