l; they used to go to the theayter together.'

"Pretty gal?' ses Joe, leading 'im on.

"'_Rather_,' ses Ned. Trust Bill for that, 'e. always gets the prettiest
gal in the place--I've known as many as six and seven to--'

"'WOT!' screams Bill, waking up out of 'is sleep, and jumping out of 'is
bunk.

"'Keep still, Bill, and don't interfere when I'm talking,' ses Joe, very
sharp.

"''E's insulted me,' ses Bill; 'talking about gals when everybody knows
I 'ate 'em worse than pison.'

"'Hold your tongue,' ses Joe. 'Now, Ned, what's this about this little
gal? What's 'er name?'

"'It was only a little joke o' mine,' ses Ned, who saw 'e'd put 'is foot
in it. 'Bill 'ates 'em worse than--worse than--pison.'

"'You're telling me a lie,' ses Joe, sternly. 'Who was it?'

"'It was only my fun, Joe,' ses Ned.

"'Oh, very well then. I'm going to 'ave a bit of fun now,' ses Joe.
'Bill!'

"'Yes,' ses Bill.

"'I won't 'it Ned myself for fear I shall do 'im a lasting injury,' ses
Joe, 'so you just start on 'im and keep on till 'e tells all about your
goings on with that gal.'

"'Hit '_im_ to make 'im tell about _me?_ ses Bill, staring 'is 'ardest.

"'You 'eard wot I said,' ses Joe; 'don't repeat my words. You a married
man, too; I've got sisters of my own, and I'm going to put this sort o'
thing down. If you don't down 'im, I will.'

"Ned wasn't much of a fighter, and I 'alf expected to see 'im do a
bolt up on deck and complain to the skipper. He did look like it for
a moment, then he stood up, looking a bit white as Bill walked over
to 'im, and the next moment 'is fist flew out, and afore we could turn
round I'm blest if Bill wasn't on the floor. 'E got up as if 'e was
dazed like, struck out wild at Ned and missed 'im, and the next moment
was knocked down agin. We could 'ardly believe our eyes, and as for Ned,
'e looked as though 'e'd been doing miracles by mistake.

"When Bill got up the second time 'e was that shaky 'e could 'ardly
stand, and Ned 'ad it all 'is own way, until at last 'e got Bill's 'ead
under 'is arm and punched at it till they was both tired.

"'All right,' ses Bill; 'I've 'ad enough. I've met my master.'

"'_Wot?_' ses Joe, staring.

"'I've met my master,' ses Bill, going and sitting down. 'Ned 'as knocked
me about crool.'

"Joe looked at 'im, speechless, and then without saying another word, or
'aving a go at Ned himself, as we expected, 'e went up on deck, and Ned
crossed over and sat down