he retorted,
with quickly-rising anger.

"But, my good fellow, this is preposterous,"--I began, thoroughly
exasperated at such treatment, and keenly anxious not to lose even the
most slender chance of communicating with the strangers. But the fellow
would permit no argument, his quick temper caught fire instantly at the
merest suggestion of remonstrance on my part, and he cut me short by
exclaiming furiously:

"Howly Sailor! Phwhat's the use av' talkin' about it? Ye've got to go
below, and that's all there is about it. Will ye go p'aceably, or will
I have to call some of the hands aft to _make_ ye go?"

Again did I feel that terrible, overpowering sensation of murderous
anger grip at my heart, as it had already done once before in an
altercation with this brutal ruffian, the blood again mounted to my head
like fire, and, reckless of all consequences, I was in the very act of
pulling myself together for a spring at his throat, when I felt a small
hand--the touch of which thrilled me, even at that moment--laid upon my
arm, and Miss Onslow's voice--pitched in its most seductive tones--said:

"Will you please come with me at once--_at once_--Mr Conyers? I have
something of the utmost importance to say to you!"

With an effort that caused me to turn sick and giddy, I mastered the
impulse that urged me to strike my enemy dead, there and then, and, mute
with the intensity of my feelings, permitted my companion to lead me
away. We descended the companion ladder in silence; and upon reaching
the cabin Miss Onslow--as upon a former occasion--led me to one of the
sofa-lockers, upon which she seated herself, gently drawing me down
beside her. Then, looking anxiously into my face, she said:

"Mr Conyers, I could almost find it in my heart to be angry with you.
Why--oh, _why_ will you persist in laying yourself open to such insults
from that great, coarse brute, by condescending to argue with him? What
is the use of doing so? Surely you must realise, by this time, that you
are quite powerless in the hands of these men, and that you cannot
control or influence them in any way. Then, why attempt to do it? The
only result is that you are insulted, and at once become positively mad
with anger, under the influence of which you will some day--unless you
are very careful--do something that you will be exceedingly sorry for.
For instance, what would have happened, had I not fortunately chanced to
have gone on deck the momen