rger of the two victims sprang to his feet. He was stained and
disfigured from the effects of the brass knuckles, and he looked
anything but "pleasant."

"Say, Irish," he said angrily, "do you know who you 're talkin' to?
Looks as though you don't. I'm used to all sorts of guff from all sorts
of men, but Mr. Breen here----"

"Johnson," interrupted the other, "wait--it's of no account now. This
man's advice is sound. No one would believe us, and we can prove
nothing. We are thoroughly helpless, and must submit until we reach a
consular port, or something happens. Now, men," he said to the others,
"my name is Breen. Call me by it. You, too, Johnson. I yield to the
inevitable, and will do my share of the work as well as I can. If I
make mistakes, don't hesitate to criticize, and post me, if you will.
I'll be grateful."

"But I'll tell you one thing to start with," said Johnson, glaring
around the forecastle: "we'll take turns at bringin' grub and cleanin'
up the forecastle. Another thing: I've sailed in these wind-jammers
enough to know my work; and that's more than you fellows know, by the
looks of you. I don't want your instructions; but Mr. Breen,
here--Breen, I mean" (a gesture from the other had interrupted
him)--"Breen's forgotten what you and I will never learn, though he
might not be used to pullin' ropes and swabbing paint-work. If I find
one o' you pesterin' him, or puttin' up any jobs, I'll break that man's
head; understand me? Any one want to put this thing to the test, now?"
He scanned each man's face in turn; but none showed an inclination to
respond. They had seen him fight the big first mate. "There's not the
makin' of a whole man among you," he resumed. "You stand still while
three men do up two, when, if you had any nerve, Mr. ---- Breen, here,
might be aft, 'stead o' eatin' cracker-hash with a lot o' dock-rats and
beach-combers. He's had better playmates; so 've I, for that matter, o'
late years."

"Johnson, keep still," said the other. "It doesn't matter what we have
had, who we were or might be. We're before the mast, bound for
Hong-Kong. We may find a consul at Anjer; I'm not sure. Meanwhile, I'm
Breen, and you are Johnson, and it is no one's business what we have
been. I'm not anxious for this matter to become public. I can explain
to the department, and no one else need know."

"Very good, sir."

"No; not 'sir.' Keep that for our superiors."

Johnson grumbled a little; then Mr. Hansen's rou