keep a quiet tongue in your 'ed,' ses Joe, 'and speak when you're
spoken to, my lad.'

"He was a ordinary seaman, mind, talking to A. B.'s like that. Men
who'd been up aloft and doing their little bit when 'e was going about
catching cold in 'is little petticuts. Still, if Bill could stand it, we
supposed as we'd better.

"Bill stayed up on deck till we was under way, and 'is spirit seemed
to be broke. He went about 'is work like a man wot was walking in 'is
sleep, and when breakfast come 'e 'ardly tasted it.

"Joe made a splendid breakfast, and when he'd finished 'e went to Bill's
bunk and chucked the things out all over the place and said 'e was going
to 'ave it for himself. And Bill sat there and took it all quiet, and
by-and-by he took 'is things up and put them in Joe's bunk without a
word.

"It was the most peaceful fust day we 'ad ever 'ad down that fo'c's'le,
Bill usually being in 'is tantrums the fust day or two at sea, and
wanting to know why 'e'd been born. If you talked you was noisy and
worriting, and if you didn't talk you was sulky; but this time 'e sat
quite still and didn't interfere a bit. It was such a pleasant change
that we all felt a bit grateful, and at tea-time Tom Baker patted Joe on
the back and said he was one o' the right old sort.

"'You've been in a scrape or two in your time, I know,' he ses, admiring
like. 'I knew you was a bit of a one with your fists direckly I see
you.'

"'Oh, 'ow's that?' asks Joe.

"'I could see by your nose,' ses Tom.

"You never know how to take people like that. The words 'ad 'ardly left
Tom's lips afore the other ups with a basin of 'ot tea and heaves it all
over 'im.

"'Take that, you insulting rascal,' he ses, as Tom jumped up spluttering
and wiping 'is face with his coat. 'How dare you insult me?'

"'Get up,' ses Tom, dancing with rage. 'Get up; prize-fighter or no
prize-fighter, I'll mark you.'

"'Sit down,' ses Bill, turning round.

"I'm going to 'ave a go at 'im, Bill,' ses Tom; 'if you're afraid of
'im, I ain't.'

"'Sit down,' ses Bill, starting up. ''Ow dare you insult me like that?'

"'Like wot?' ses Tom, staring.

"'If I can't lick 'im you can't,' ses Bill; 'that's 'ow it is, mate.'

"'But I can try,' ses Tom.

"'All right,' ses Bill. 'Me fust, then if you lick me, you can 'ave a go
at 'im. If you can't lick me, 'ow can you lick 'im?'

"'Sit down, both of you,' ses young Joe, drinking Bill's tea to make up
for 'is own. 'And mind