ng each other
a little grin on the quiet, and looking over to where Joe was sitting
in 'is bunk putting a button or two on his coat. At about ha'-past six
Dodgy comes aboard, and the fun begins to commence.

"He was a nasty, low-looking little chap, was Dodgy, very fly-looking
and very conceited. I didn't like the look of 'im at all, and unbearable
as Joe was, it didn't seem to be quite the sort o' thing to get a chap
aboard to 'ammer a shipmate you couldn't 'ammer yourself.

"'Nasty stuffy place you've got down 'ere,' ses Dodgy, who was smoking a
big cigar; 'I can't think 'ow you can stick it.'

"'It ain't bad for a fo'c's'le,' ses Charlie.

"'An' what's that in that bunk over there?' ses Dodgy, pointing with 'is
cigar at Joe.

"'Hush, be careful,' ses Tom, with a wink; 'that's a prize-fighter.'

"'Oh,' ses Dodgy, grinning, 'I thought it was a monkey.'

"You might 'ave heard a pin drop, and there was a pleasant feeling went
all over us at the thought of the little fight we was going to see all
to ourselves, as Joe lays down the jacket he was stitching at and just
puts 'is little 'ead over the side o' the bunk.

"'Bill,' he ses, yawning.

"'Well,' ses Bill, all on the grin like the rest of us.

"'Who is that 'andsome, gentlemanly-looking young feller over there
smoking a half-crown cigar?' ses Joe.

"That's a young gent wot's come down to 'ave a look round,' ses Tom, as
Dodgy takes 'is cigar out of 'is mouth and looks round, puzzled.

"'Wot a terror 'e must be to the gals, with them lovely little peepers
of 'is,' ses Joe, shaking 'is'ead. '_Bill!_'

"'Well,' ses Bill, agin, as Dodgy got up.

"'Take that lovely little gentleman and kick 'im up the fo'c's'le
ladder,' ses Joe, taking up 'is jacket agin; 'and don't make too
much noise over it, cos I've got a bit of a 'ead-ache, else I'd do it
myself.'

"There was a laugh went all round then, and Tom Baker was near killing
himself, and then I'm blessed if Bill didn't get up and begin taking off
'is coat.

"'Wot's the game?' ses Dodgy, staring.

"'I'm obeying orders,' ses Bill. 'Last time I was in London, Joe 'ere
half killed me one time, and 'e made me promise to do as 'e told me
for six months. I'm very sorry, mate, but I've got to kick you up that
ladder.'

"'You kick me up?' ses Dodgy, with a nasty little laugh.

"'I can try, mate, can't I?' ses Bill, folding 'is things up very neat
and putting 'em on a locker.

"''Old my cigar,' ses Dodgy, takin