m as he passed, and
turned in his tracks so as not to show him his back. Murphy judged that
he was nervous over something that had happened--something connected
with his injuries. Climbing the poop steps, he was stopped by Captain
Williams, who descended from the house and faced him.

"Well, Murphy, what the hell are _you_ doing here? Are you in on this
deal?"

"What deal, Captain?" asked Murphy, meekly, for it was no place for
self-respect.

"This deal I got from your discharged runner, Hennesey. I only dealt
with the fellow because he told me he had quit you. And look at what he
gave me for a crew--twenty-four wild Micks that, let alone the ropes,
can't speak English or understand it. Are you a party to this trick,
Murphy?"

"I'm not," declared Murphy, stoutly. "The domned villain doped me last
night, and must ha' put me aboard wid the crew he shipped for you. What
for, I don't know. He had yer full count, as he told me."

"Guess you're the man he hoisted up himself, saying you were willing to
work your passage without pay. So I let you come and sleep it off."

"He did!" stormed Murphy, "the dirty, ungrateful dog! I took him in and
gave him wark, and I took him back after I'd discharged him. And now I
git this! O' course, Captain, ye'll put me aboard the first ship me
meet bound in."

"Not much, I won't. If you took Hennesey back you're in on this deal."

"I'm not in it. Where's Hennesey now, Captain Williams?"

"Went back in the tug, I suppose. He didn't stop to get his receipt
signed for the men he delivered. So, he gets no money for this kind of
a crew. They're not sailors, and he loses. Moreover, Murphy, you lose.
Hennesey brought me the articles, and every man Jack o' them signed his
allotment over to you as favored creditor. That means that Hennesey got
this bunch out of your house. As they're not sailors, I mean to disrate
them to boys at five dollars a month. That's the allotment you get, if
you care to sue for it; but I told the tug captain to notify the owners
to pay no allotment notes."

"Ye did?" spluttered Murphy. "Well, Williams, I'll sue, don't ye fear.
I'll sue."

"That's as may be," said Williams, coldly. "Meanwhile, you'll sing
small, do what you're told, and work your passage; and any time that
you forget where you are, call on me and I'll tell you."

"Ye want me to wark me passage, do ye? And what'll I do? It's gone
twinty years since I've been to sea. I can't go aloft, wi' the fat o