ale complexion becoming paler, which made the freckles
stand out prominently, "I'll knock ye doon."

"Will you?" I cried, "you just try it, that's all!"

He did; and down I went on the deck, as flat as a pancake, from a well-
directed blow of his brawny fist!

I was not beaten, however.

Jumping up, I faced him again, only to undergo a repetition of the
flooring process; when, seeing that I with my boy's strength was no
match for him as yet, and losing my temper quite as much as he had done,
I seized a large snatch-block which was lying by on the deck close to my
hand, hurling it at his head with all my force.

The mate started back in terror, for the missile only missed him by half
an inch, and if it had struck him would most certainly have killed him
on the spot, although I did not think of that when I pitched it at him;
and, just at that moment, I heard Captain Billings' voice behind us.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

BREAKERS AHEAD!

"Hullo, steady there--belay that!" exclaimed Captain Billings, half-way
up the poop ladder, which he was ascending hastily, two steps at a time,
"Mr--Mr Macdougall--Martin Leigh! What's this disgraceful row about?"

I had quickly picked up a handspike when I saw that I had missed my aim
with the snatch-block, while my antagonist--who, to do him justice, had
plenty of pluck, and had only been startled for the moment by the heavy
missile hurtling through the air close to his projecting nose--was
advancing to attack me again with his fists clenched, a savage look the
while on his face, as if he meant to settle me this time; but, on this
interruption from the skipper, we both relinquished our hostile
attitudes, Mr Macdougall slinking towards the binnacle, as if
innocently engaged in studying the bearings of the compass there, and I
dropping the handspike incontinently.

There was a ringing tone of command in the skipper's voice which meant
that he intended to be obeyed; but mixed with this, beyond a slight
suspicion of surprise at the unexpected scene which met his gaze, there
was a good deal of subdued irritation, which really was not to be
wondered at.

He had been having an afternoon nap in his cabin, which was situated
immediately below the deck where the mate and I had been rehearsing the
little drama I have just detailed; and the noise we had made with "the
movements of the piece," to speak theatrically, having very
unceremoniously disturbed his slumbers before the period he ge