it to himself to be
willing to fight for a woman in distress--especially such a
good-looking girl as this mysterious Miss Ruth. Little Billy, and
these people, seemed to be at outs with the police, but he knew he was
on the right side.

And so he was one of the jolly company of the brig _Cohasset_! This
craft seemed to have been fated to enter his life. He recalled how
interested he had been when the boatswain first mentioned the name,
last night, in Johnny Feiglebaum's. Last night! Why, it seemed a year
ago! "Happy ship," the boatswain had called her, and Little Billy had
referred to the "happy family." A queer outfit he had fallen in with.
Well, at least he would see that "blessed, bleedin' little mate" the
boatswain was so exercised about.

Brig _Cohasset_! What kind of a ship was a brig, anyway? He would see.

Arrived at this conclusion, Martin felt better. He rolled clear of the
bunk and balanced himself on the swaying floor. He was going to take
the hunchback's advice and look over this new home of his, and take the
tonic prescribed for his peripatetic stomach. Already, he felt much
better. He even contemplated food without disgust.

He had been undressed, and he discovered his clothes hanging on the
wall. While he donned them, his spirits continued to mount. He was
done with fright and worry.

Things were not so bad. It was true there was no one ashore to grieve
at his disappearance, save good Mrs. Meagher. But how in the world did
the hunchback discover that fact? Come what might, he was done with
his old drab life, done with musty legal forms, done with the job he so
loathed. There was a jubilant tinge to his thoughts. Why, he was just
where he had so often longed to be--"Out There where Things happened!"

That all-pervading screaming that rang in his ears--why, that was the
wind whistling through the rigging, overhead, the storm king's brazen
voice that he had so often dreamed of hearing. And that disconcerting
lurching beneath his feet--why, that was the heaving deck he had so
lusted to press foot upon.

What matter if it did play havoc with his midriff. That would pass;
already he was feeling fit. Now he would go out and get acquainted
with his shipmates--ah, shipmates! He smacked his lips over the word.
Already he knew the hunchback and the boatswain--fine fellows. And the
girl--he had seen her once and would never forget her face. That
shining mass of hair....

And Mart