won't get hurted. An' anudder ting I'm goin' to do afore I

cashes in--I'm goin' to put a few of dem ginks in de cabin

wise to where dey stands wit one anudder. If I don't start

something before I goes out me name's not Billy Byrne."

At this juncture Skipper Simms appeared with the three

weapons he had gone to his cabin to fetch. He handed one to

Bony Sawyer, another to Red Sanders and a third to a man

by the name of Wison.

"Now, my men," said Skipper Simms, "we will go below

and bring Byrne up. Bring him alive if you can--but bring

him."

No one made a move to enter the forecastle.

"Go on now, move quickly," commanded Skipper Simms

sharply.

"Thought he said 'we'," remarked one of the sailors.

Skipper Simms, livid with rage, turned to search out the

offender from the several men behind him.

"Who was that?" he roared. "Show me the blitherin' swab.

Jes' show him to me, I tell you, an I'll learn him. Now you,"

he yelled at the top of his voice, turning again to the men he

had ordered into the forecastle after Billy Byrne, "you cowardly

landlubbers you, get below there quick afore I kick you

below."

Still no one moved to obey him. From white he went to

red, and then back to white again. He fairly frothed at the

mouth as he jumped up and down, cursing the men, and

threatening. But all to no avail. They would not go.

"Why, Skipper," spoke up Bony Sawyer, "it's sure death for

any man as goes below there. It's easier, an' safer, to starve

him out."

"Starve nothin'," shrieked Skipper Simms. "Do you reckon

I'm a-goin' to sit quiet here for a week an' let any blanked

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