uiringly. But he said nothing to supplement the
note. He took it from me, lighted a match, and burned it up. I
guessed he was disappointed, that he had counted upon the lady coming
forward.

"And did the little dear write? And what did she say," drawled an
unpleasant voice behind us.

I swung about with a start, and saw Boston and Blackie lying in their
bunks, one above the other. Boston had spoken, but they were both
eyeing Newman.

The dangerous light came into Newman's face. "Mind your own business!"
he said, shortly.

There was a moment of uncomfortable silence, broken by Boston, with a
wheedling note in his voice.

"Aw, say, Big 'Un, don't get horstile. We didn't mean to horn in. We
just want to be friends; we feel hurt, Blackie an' me, at the way
you're giving us the go by. We're all on the dodge together, ain't we?
And we got a rich lay, I tell you! Blackie and me has it all figured
out, but we need you to lead, Big 'Un. What d'ye want to pal with that
cub for, when two old friends like Blackie an' me are ready and willing
to work for you? We got a rich lay, I tell you!"

"Damn your thieving schemes," said Newman.

"Aw, now, bring the cub in, if you like," persisted Boston. "He's a
game 'un."

Blackie, the hot-headed, spoke up, resentfully. He lifted his battered
face on his elbow, and lisped through the gap Lynch's fist had made in
his teeth. "Number seven hundred and three wasn't so finicky about his
pals the time he jumped the dead line, and ditched the Big House!"

Newman crossed the foc'sle with one catlike bound. He got Blackie by
the throat and yanked him from the bunk. Then he shook him, and threw
him into the farther corner.

"There will be no scheme set on foot from this foc'sle, save the one I
father," he told the pair in his cool, level voice. "I gave you your
answer last night. Now, if you two come between me and my goal, in
this ship, as God lives, I'll kill you!"

With that, he swung about and stepped into the port foc'sle.

"Come on, Shreve," he said to me, over his shoulder. "Lend a hand.
You and I must attend to this boy."

Presently I was standing by Nils' bunk, together with the squareheads,
marveling at the gentleness with which Newman's huge hands handled the
sufferer. It was an exhibition of practiced skill. The feeling was
strong on me that moment that Newman had gained this skill in no
foc'sle, but in a cabin, where as master he had doctored his own