under the counter, swimming high up on the
surface. Barry saw in an instant that one of the two men in the water
was doomed unless swift measures were taken. Jumping on the rail, he
leapt overboard, feet foremost, and landed on the monster's back.

There was a swirl and rush of foam, and then a cheer from the crew as
the shark darted off in terror, and Barry quietly swam alongside again
and clambered on deck, together with Velo and his brother officer.

Then, before dinner, he went forward, examined and dressed Billy
Onotoa's wounds, Rawlings standing beside him and eyeing the native in
an unsympathetic and forbidding manner.

"The boatswain is badly hurt, Mr. Barry," he said suavely, "and as you
are such a good surgeon, perhaps you will leave this damned kanaka and
attend to him."

Barry turned on him with a subdued fierceness. "I'll attend to the
scoundrel presently, Captain Rawlings, though he doesn't deserve it.
He is a downright sweep--like all his ear-ringed kidney. He had no
right to kick this man, who is one of the best and smartest men aboard.
I gave him a clip on the jaw, and when I've dressed his arm and he is
able to turn to again I'll give him another if he tries to start any of
these tricks again."

Rawlings smiled pleasantly. "My dear Barry, don't excite yourself.
The boatswain is, no doubt, a bit of a bully, and does not understand
these natives as you do. But, at the same time, he is a good sailor
man, and erred, as Marryat says in one of his novels, 'through excess
of zeal.' So do not be too harsh."

"I have no inclination to be 'harsh' with any man, Captain Rawlings.
You are the master of this ship, and I am only your chief officer. I
take my orders from you, and I look to you to support me in maintaining
the necessary discipline. But I tell you plainly that the native crew
on this ship are a different class of natives to which you have been
accustomed in the Solomon Group and the New Hebrides. They will not
take a blow from any man--white or black. And whilst I know my duty to
you as master of this brig, I warn you that there will be bloody doings
if the boatswain ever again lays his hands upon one of the Gilbert
Islanders. They are ripe for mutiny now."

Rawlings flicked the ash off his cigar.

"We don't want any trouble like that, Mr. Barry, do we? And I shall
give Paul a good dressing down, and tell him to be careful in future.
I have the utmost faith in your judgment, Mr. B