tween us, thrusting me
right away, as he said quietly--

"Let the boy alone."

"Let the boy alone!" cried the big fellow, fiercely. "No, I shan't let
the boy alone. What do you mean by interfering? Who are you?"

"Like yourself, man--an Englishman."

"And a precious ugly one too. Here, I don't want to hurt you, so be off
and lie down."

He strode on one side, and then made at me, driving me to bay against
the bulwark.

"Now then," he cried, with an ugly laugh, which did not conceal his
rage, "I've got you again, have I?"

"No," said Gunson quietly, as he took him by the collar and swung him
round, so that he staggered away; but he recovered himself and made at
my protector. "Keep back! the boy is a friend of mine, and I will not
have him touched."

"Friend of yours, is he? Oh, then you want to fight, do you?"

"No," said Gunson, standing firmly before him, "I don't want to fight,
neither do you, so go your way, and we'll go ours."

"After a bit, my lad," cried the man, fiercely. "This isn't England,
but a country where a man can fight if he likes, so clear the course,
some of you, and let's see who's best shot."

He thrust his hand behind him, and pulled a revolver from his
hip-pocket, cocking it as he spoke.

"Now then, out with your own," he cried.

But Gunson seized the man's wrist instead, gave it a wrench round, there
was a sharp report, and the pistol fell heavily on the deck, and was
secured by one of the sailors.

"Give him a hug, mate," cried the man who had joined in the attack upon
the Chinaman.

"That's what I'm just going to do, my lad," said the big fellow in
hoarse, angry tones. "He's got hold of the wrong pig by the ear this
time;" and to my horror he drew back a little, and then suddenly darted
his body forward and locked Gunson in his arms.

I had often heard tell of and read accounts about wrestling, but this
was the first time I had ever witnessed an encounter in the old English
sport, if sport it could be called, where two strong men, one far bigger
and heavier than the other, swayed to and fro, heaving, straining, and
doing all they could to throw one another.

There was a dead silence on the deck, and passengers, skipper, and
sailors all bent forward, eagerly watching the encounter, but not one
with such earnestness as I, who fully expected to see Gunson flung
heavily. But no: he was raised again and again from the deck, but he
always recovered his feet, and twined