and with a jerk, had torn it half off, carrying
away the sleeve and exposing Mary's shoulder, almost throwing her to
the deck.

He waved his trophy on high, but his triumph was short-lived, for
almost instantly it fell to the deck, and with it the offending hand
severed at the wrist by Brandon's sword. Three or four friends of the
wounded man rushed upon Brandon; whereupon Mary screamed and began to
weep, which of course told the whole story.

A great laugh went up, and instantly a general fight began. Several of
the gentlemen, seeing Brandon attacked by such odds, took up his
defense, and within twenty seconds all were on one side or the other,
every mother's son of them fighting away like mad.

You see how quickly and completely one woman without the slightest act
on her part, except a modest effort to be let alone, had set the whole
company by the ears, cutting and slashing away at each other like very
devils. The sex must generate mischief in some unknown manner, and
throw it off, as the sun throws off its heat. However, Jane is an
exception to that rule--if it is a rule.

The officers soon put a stop to this lively little fight, and took
Brandon and Mary, who was weeping as any right-minded woman would,
down into the cabin for consultation.

With a great oath Bradhurst exclaimed: "It is plain enough that you
have brought a girl on board under false colors, and you may as well
make ready to put her ashore. You see what she has already done--a
hand lost to one man and wounds for twenty others--and she was on deck
less than five minutes. Heart of God! At that rate she would have the
ship at the bottom of Davy Jones's locker before we could sail half
down the channel."

"It was not my fault," sobbed Mary, her eyes flashing fire; "I did
nothing; all I wanted was to be left alone; but those brutes of
men--you shall pay for this; remember what I say. Did you expect
Captain Brandon to stand back and not defend me, when that wretch was
tearing my garments off?"

"Captain Brandon, did you say?" asked Bradhurst, with his hat off
instantly.

"Yes," answered that individual. "I shipped under an assumed name, for
various reasons, and desire not to be known. You will do well to keep
my secret."

"Do I understand that you are Master Charles Brandon, the king's
friend?" asked Bradhurst.

"I am," was the answer.

"Then, sir, I must ask your pardon for the way you have been treated.
We, of course, could not know it,