mile.

"'Don't laugh at me,' roars Bill.

"'I wasn't laughing, Bill, old pal,' ses Tom.

"''E's called me a liar,' ses Bill, looking round at us; 'called me a
liar. 'Old my coat, Charlie, and I'll split 'im in halves.'

"Charlie took the coat like a lamb, though he was Tom's pal, and Tom
looked round to see whether he couldn't nip up the ladder and get away,
but Bill was just in front of it. Then Tom found out that one of 'is
bootlaces was undone and he knelt down to do it up, and this young
ordinary seaman, Joe Simms by name, put his 'ead out of his bunk and he
ses, quiet-like:

"'You ain't afraid of that thing, mate, are you?'

"'_Wot?_' screams Bill, starting.

"'Don't make such a noise when I'm speaking,' ses Joe; 'where's your
manners, you great 'ulking rascal?'

"I thought Bill would ha' dropped with surprise at being spoke to like
that. His face was purple all over and 'e stood staring at Joe as
though 'e didn't know wot to make of 'im. And we stared too, Joe being a
smallish sort o' chap and not looking at all strong.

"'Go easy, mate,' whispers Tom; 'you don't know who you're talking to.'

"'Bosh,' ses Joe, 'he's no good. He's too fat and too silly to do any
'arm. He sha'n't 'urt you while I'm 'ere.'

"He just rolled out of 'is bunk and, standing in front of Bill, put 'is
fists up at 'im and stared 'im straight in the eye.

"'You touch that man,' he ses, quietly, pointing to Tom, 'and I'll give
you such a dressing-down as you've never 'ad afore. Mark my words, now.'

"'I wasn't going to 'it him,' ses Bill, in a strange, mild voice.

"'You'd better not,' ses the young 'un, shaking his fist at 'im; 'you'd
better not, my lad. If there's any fighting to be done in this fo'c's'le
I'll do it. Mind that.'

"It's no good me saying we was staggered; becos staggered ain't no word
for it. To see Bill put 'is hands in 'is pockets and try and whistle,
and then sit down on a locker and scratch 'is head, was the most amazing
thing I've ever seen. Presently 'e begins to sing under his breath.

"'Stop that 'umming,' ses Joe; 'when I want you to 'um, I'll tell you.'

"Bill left off 'umming, and then he gives a little cough behind the back
of 'is 'and, and, arter fidgeting about a bit with 'is feet, went up on
deck again.

"'Strewth,' ses Tom, looking round at us, ''ave we shipped a bloomin'
prize-fighter?'

"'Wot did you call me?' ses Joe, looking at 'im.

"'Nothing, mate,' ses Tom, drawing back.

"'You