s's
memory was good.

"You was strikin' a female," said Cap'n Sproul, with severity, and
when the astonished Butts blazed indignant remonstrance, he insisted
on his point with a stubbornness that allowed no compromise. "It
don't make any difference even if it is only a painted figger. It's
showin' disrespect to the sex, and sence I've settled on shore, Butts,
and am married to the best woman that ever lived, I'm standin' up
for the sex to the extent that I ain't seein' no insults handed to
a woman--even if it ain't anything but an Injun maiden in front of
a cigar-store."

Butts dropped his rock.

"I never hurt a woman, and I would never hurt one," he protested,
"and you that's sailed with me knows it. But that blasted, grinnin'
effijiggy there stands for that rotten old punk-heap that's jest gone
to pieces out yender, and it's the only thing I've got to get back
on. Three months from Turk's Island, Cap'n Sproul, with a salt cargo
and grub that would gag a dogfish! Lay down half a biskit and it would
walk off. All I've et for six weeks has been doughboys lolloped in
Porty Reek. He kicked me when I complained." Butts shook wavering
finger at the shred of sail in the distance. "He kept us off with
the gun to-day and sailed away in the yawl, and he never cared whuther
we ever got ashore or not. And the grin he give me when he done it
was jest like the grin on that thing there." Again the perturbed Butts
showed signs of a desire to assault the wooden incarnation of the
spirit of the _Polyhymnia_.

"A man who has been abused as much as you have been abused at sea
has good reason to stand up for your rights when you are abused the
moment you reach shore," barked a harsh voice. Colonel Gideon Ward,
backed by the faithful Eleazar Bodge, stood safely aloof on a huge
bowlder, his gaunt frame outlined against the morning sky. "Are you
the commander of those men?" he inquired.

"I'm second mate," answered Mr. Butts.

"You and your men are down there associatin' with the most pestilent
set of robbers and land-pirates that ever disgraced a civilized
country," announced the Colonel. "They robbed me of fifteen thousand
dollars and left me marooned here on this desert island, but the wind
of Providence blew 'em back, and the devil wouldn't have 'em in Tophet,
and here they are. They'll have your wallets and your gizzards if
you don't get away from 'em. I invite you over there to my fire,
gentlemen. Mr.--"

"Butts," said the se