rew gradually
wider and more deep. Then slowly she began to make real progress astern.

"Now, heave on that kedge," Kettle yelled, and the winch bucked and
clattered under a greater head of steam, and the warp sung to the
strain; and presently the little vessel slid off the bank, picked up her
anchor, and was free to go where she pleased.

"Hurrah," cried Balliot, "we are saved. You are a brave man, Captain."

"I didn't ask you to speak," retorted Kettle. "We aren't out of the wood
by a long chalk yet."

"But we are out of their fire now. We shall be disturbed no further."

"No, my lad, but we've got a precious heap of disturbing to do on our
own account before we've squared up for this tea party. I'm going to
drop down stream to somewhere quiet where we can fill up with wood, and
then I'm coming back again to give your late Tommies bad fits."

"But I don't authorize this. I didn't foresee--"

"Very likely not. But a fat lot I care for that. Fact remains that I'm
skipper here, and I'm going to do as I think best. I've got it in mind
that my two engineers and a lot of good niggers have been shot by those
disgusting savages over yonder, and I don't permit that sort of thing
without making somebody pay a pretty steep bill for the amusement. So
I'm going down stream to wood up, and then we'll come back and make them
pay for the tea party."

"You are exceeding your powers. I warn you."

"If any of my inferiors on board ship don't keep their heads shut when
they aren't spoken to," said Kettle unpleasantly, "I always disarrange
their front teeth. If I have any more palaver from you, you'll get to
know what it feels like." He shouted up the companion way--"On top
there, quartermaster?"

"Hullo?" said Clay.

"Keep her down river to M'barri-m'barri. That's a twelve-mile run from
here. There are two big cotton woods in a line which will bring you to
the landing. You know the channel?"

"I ought to. I've been up and down it times enough. But I guess I
don't--at least, not now."

"Fuddled again, are you? Then I'll con you from here. You see three
trees growing on that island bang ahead? Keep her on those." He turned
to a couple of stalwart niggers at his side--"Say, you boys, you lib for
top, one-time. You take dem Doctor's gin-bottle, and you throw him
overboard, one-time. If dem Doctor he make palaver, you throw him
overboard too. Away with you now. By James! we got to get discipline in
this ship somehow, and I'm a