"If you'd unpinned that mouth of yourn fur enough to tell that tramp
that I'm engaged to Pharline Pike," growled Ward, returning to the
tree, "I'd 'a' broke in your head--and you might as well know it first
as last."

"Ain't you engaged to her?"

"You know I be."

"Well, I've allus told the truth all my life--and I reckon I shall
continner to tell it. If you're ashamed to have it knowed that you're
engaged to Pharlina Pike, then it's time she heard so. I'd jest as
soon tell her as not."

"I started to say to you," raged Ward, "that you'd stuck your finger
into my pie altogether too deep. I ain't killed as many sailors as
you're braggin' on, but there ain't no man ever licked Gid Ward,
and--"

"Near's I can tell from what I hear about you," retorted the Cap'n,
"built on racin' lines as you be, you've never let a man git near
enough to lick ye."

Again the Colonel noted that red vengefulness in the skipper's eyes,
and recoiled suspiciously.

"Oh, my rheumaticks!" the seaman hastened to moan.

Ward had his back to the fence.