pport them. That lad is my friend,
Mr Vigors."

"Then," replied Vigors, who could not help bullying even at the risk of
another combat which he probably intended to stand, "I shall take the
liberty of giving your friend a thrashing;" and he suited the action to
the word.

"Then I shall take the liberty to defend my friend," replied Jack; "and
as you call me a leveller, I'll try if I may not deserve the name"--
whereupon Jack placed a blow so well under the ear, that Mr Vigors
dropped on the deck, and was not in condition to come to the scratch,
even if he had been inclined. "And now, youngster," said Jack, wresting
the colt out of Vigors's hand, "do as I bid you--give him a good
colting--if you don't I'll thrash you."

Gossett required no second threat--the pleasure of thrashing his enemy,
if only for once, was quite enough--and he laid well on. Jack with his
fists doubled ready to protect him if there was a show of resistance,
but Vigors was half stupified with the blow under the ear, and quite
cowed; he took his thrashing in the most passive manner.

"That will do," said Jack, "and now do not be afraid, Gossett; the very
first time he offers to strike you when I am not present, I will pay him
off for it as soon as you tell me. I won't be called Equality Jack for
nothing."

When Jolliffe, who heard of this, met our hero alone, he said to him,
"Take my advice, boy, and do not in future fight the battles of others,
you'll find very soon that you will have enough to do to fight your
own."

Whereupon Jack argued the point for half an hour, and then they
separated. But Mr Jolliffe was right. Jack began to find himself
constantly in hot water, and the captain and first lieutenant, although
they did not really withdraw their protection, thought it high time that
Jack should find out that, on board a man-of-war, everybody and
everything must find its level.

There was on board of his Majesty's sloop _Harpy_, a man of the name of
Easthupp, who did the duty of purser's steward; this was the second ship
that he had served in; in the former he had been sent with a draft of
men from the Tender lying off the Tower. How he had come into the
service was not known in the present ship, but the fact was, that he had
been one of the swell mob--and had been sent on board the Tender with a
letter of recommendation from the magistrates to Captain Crouch. He was
a cockney by birth, for he had been left at the workhouse of St.