ave here pretty sudden. What
business is it of yours?" he said, furiously.

"It's always my business," said the sailor, manfully, "when I see a
big brute pitching into a youngster like that. I ain't the man to
stand by and see it done."

"He wants to kill me. Don't let him," implored Julius.

"That I won't, my lad. He'll have to kill me, too, if that's what he's
after. He'll find me a tough customer, I reckon."

"This is my boy. I shall beat him as I please," said Marlowe, angrily.

"I am not his boy," said Julius, fearing the sailor would credit the
statement.

"Don't you be afraid, my lad. If you were his boy ten times over, he
shouldn't beat you while I am by."

Marlowe was terribly enraged. He saw his victim slipping from his
grasp just as he was about to glut his vengeance upon him. He was a
man of violent passions, and they got the better of his prudence.

"Stand back!" he shouted, advancing toward the intrepid sailor, "or I
will serve you and the boy alike."

"I'm ready," said the other, coolly, squaring off scientifically.

Marlowe aimed a heavy blow at his head, which, had it taken effect,
would have prostrated and perhaps stunned him. But it was warded off,
and a counter blow returned, which took better effect. Marlowe
staggered under it, but it only maddened him. Half-blinded, he rushed
once more upon his opponent, but received a well-directed blow full in
the chest, which stretched him at the sailor's feet. The latter
forbore to take an unmanly advantage of his foe's position, but calmly
waited for him to rise.

"Do you want more?" he asked, coolly.

Marlowe, had he been wise, would have desisted, but he was filled with
a blind, unreasoning rage, and advanced again to the attack. But he
was no match for the stout sailor. He fared this time no better than
before, but again was stretched at the sailor's feet.

By this time the conflict had attracted attention. Several men came
running up, among them a member of the local police.

"What's the meaning of all this?" demanded the latter.

"Ask the boy," said the sailor.

Julius, thus appealed to, answered:

"That man wanted to kill me, but the sailor stopped him."

"It's a lie!" growled Marlowe. "He's my boy, and I was punishing him."

"Are you his boy?" asked the policeman, turning to Julius.

"No."

"Where do you live?"

"In New York."

"Do you know him?"

"Yes."

"Who is he?"

Marlowe saw that it was getting dangerous for him,