ascertain if he could not pick up some straggler who, unsupported by his
comrades, might be induced by fear to acquaint him with the subject of
the discussion. Now, just as Mr Vanslyperken came forward, Corporal
Van Spitter had removed the canvas from his body, and was about to rise
from his bed, when he perceived somebody coming forward. Not making it
out to be the lieutenant, he immediately dropped down again and drew the
canvas over him. Mr Vanslyperken perceived this manoeuvre, and thought
he had now caught one of the conspirators, and, moreover, one who showed
such fear as to warrant the supposition that he should be able to
extract from him the results of the night's unusually long conference.

Mr Vanslyperken walked up to where the corporal lay as quiet but not
quite so small as a mouse. It occurred to Mr Vanslyperken that a
little taste of punishment _in esse_ would very much assist the threats
of what might be received _in posse_; so he laid aside his
speaking-trumpet, looked round, picked up a handspike, and raising it
above his head, down it came, with all the force of the lieutenant's
arm, upon Corporal Van Spitter, whose carcase resounded like a huge
kettle-drum.

"Tunder and flame!" roared the corporal under the canvas, thinking that
one of the seamen, having discovered him eavesdropping, had thus wreaked
his revenge, taking advantage of his being covered up, and pretending
not to know him. "Tunder and flame!" roared the corporal, muffled up in
the canvas, and trying to extricate himself; but his voice was not
recognised by the lieutenant, and, before he could get clear of his
envelope, the handspike had again descended; when up rose the corporal,
like a buffalo out of his muddy lair, half blinded by the last blow,
which had fallen on his head, ran full butt at the lieutenant, and
precipitated his senior officer and commander headlong down the
fore-hatchway.

Vanslyperken fell with great force, was stunned, and lay without motion
at the foot of the ladder, while the corporal, whose wrath was always
excessive when his blood was up, but whose phlegmatic blood could not be
raised without some such decided stimulus as a handspike, now turned
round and round the forecastle, like a bull looking for his assailants;
but the corporal had the forecastle all to himself, and, as he gradually
cooled down, he saw lying close to him the speaking-trumpet of his
senior officer.

"Tousand tyfels," murmured Corporal