d waved
his cap.

But just then a hot-blooded and indignant follower of defeated Big Jem
let his zeal outrun his discretion. Waiting till the group of fishermen
had turned their backs, he ran to the very end of the pier, uttered a
savage "Yah!" and hurled the very-far-gone head of a pollock after the
boat.

The next minute he was repenting bitterly, for the big fisherman made
four giant strides, caught him by the waistband, and the next moment
held him over the edge of the pier and would have dropped him,
struggling and yelling for mercy, into the sea, but Aleck sprang up and
shouted an appeal to his big friend to let the boy go.

"Very well," growled his captor; "but it's lucky for him, Master Aleck,
as you spoke. Warmint!" he growled to the boy, lowering him to the
rugged stones. "Get home with yer. I'm going on by and by to your
father, my lad. Be off."

The boy yelled as he started and ran off, limping, and with good cause,
for the boots the fisherman wore were very loose, and hung down gaping
to his ankles, as if to show how beautifully they were silver-spangled
with fish scales, but the soles were very thick and terribly hard,
especially about the toe.

CHAPTER FOUR.

"I didn't get my brill after all, Tom," said Aleck, as the sail filled
out and the boat sped along over the little dancing waves.

"Never mind the flat fish, Master Aleck; we'll pick up a few bass as we
go along through the race, and they'll be fresher than his brill."

"No, Tom," said Aleck, frowning; "no fishing to-day. I want to get back
and have a proper wash and change my shirt and collar."

"Well, you did get a bit knocked about, Master Aleck. You see, he's a
hard sort o' boy; awfully thick-headed chap."

"He is, and no mistake," said Aleck. "Look at my knuckles!"

"Ay, you have got 'em a bit chipped; but it'll all grow up again. But
what was it he said as made you bile over and get a-fighting that how?"

"Oh, never mind," said the boy, flushing. "It's all over now."

"Yes," said the sailor, knitting his brow, "it's all over now; but," he
added, thoughtfully, as he let the sheet slip through his fingers and
tightened it again, giving and taking as the sail tugged in answer to
the puffs of wind, "but it don't seem like you to get into action like
that, Master Aleck. You're generally such a quiet sort o' chap, and
don't mind the boys yelping about yer heels any more than as if they was
dogs."

"Of course, and I ne