ot, he shouted to us to
keep away, nor dare to interfere. There was no need. Disregarding such
trifles as a few superficial cuts--not feeling them perhaps--he so
unmercifully mauled that crowd that they howled again for mercy. The
battle was brief and bloody. Before hostilities had lasted five minutes,
six of the aggressors were stretched insensible; the rest, comprising
as many more, were pleading for mercy, completely sober. Such prowess on
the part of one man against twelve seems hardly credible; but it must be
remembered that Goliath fought, with all the moral force of the ship's
officers behind him, against a disorganized crowd without backbone, who
would never have dared to face him but for the temporary mania induced
by the stuff they had drunk. It was a conflict between a lion and a
troop of jackals, whereof the issue was never in doubt as long as lethal
weapons were wanting.

Standing erect among the cowering creatures, the great negro looked
every inch a mediaeval hero. In a stern voice he bade his subjugated
enemies to get into the boat, assisting those to do so who were too
badly hurt to rise. Then we shoved off for the ship--a sorrowful gang
indeed.

As I bent to my oar, I felt very sorry for what had happened. Here
were half the crew guilty of an act of violence upon an officer, which,
according to the severe code under which we lived, merited punishment as
painful as could be inflicted, and lasting for the rest of the voyage.
Whatever form that punishment might take, those of us who were innocent
would be almost equal sufferers with the others, because discrimination
in the treatment between watch and watch is always difficult, and in our
case it was certain that it would not be attempted. Except as regarded
physical violence, we might all expect to share alike. Undoubtedly
things looked very unpleasant. My gloomy cogitations were abruptly
terminated by the order to "unrow"--we were alongside. Somehow or other
all hands managed to scramble on board, and assist in hoisting the boat
up.

As soon as she was secured we slunk away forward, but we had hardly got
below before a tremendous summons from Goliath brought us all aft again
at the double quick. Most of the fracas had been witnessed from the
ship, so that but a minute or two was needed to explain how or why it
begun. Directly that explanation had been supplied by Mistah Jones, the
order was issued for the culprits to appear.

I have before noticed