sheer amazement hissed forth sneeringly:

"Will your impudence tell me why?"

"Because I'll kill you!" exclaimed Ralph, with such concentrated energy
of tone and accent, that Duff trembled inwardly for the boy's safety.
"I know I'm in your power now, but I'd do it ten years from now if I
had to wait so long. I never knew a mountain man to take a beating
yet, without he got even--never!"

Such unheard of insolence appeared to deprive Gary of words wherewith
to do the situation justice.

"You know what I want!" he roared at Bludson, as he left the deck.
"See that it is done!"

The boatswain at once collared Ralph and took him forward, where both
disappeared in the forecastle.

While this scene was being enacted, Rucker leaned against the stern
rail idly picking his teeth, as his dull, hard eye glanced alternately
from the vessel's course to the parties most concerned.

"What in heaven's name is it all about?" asked Duff, when the two men
were alone but for the man at the wheel, who appeared to give no heed.
"What has the boy done?"

"He's too independent," replied the first mate. "He can't do nothing;
he couldn't even climb the fo'mast or walk the deck in a breeze. Such
green uns has no business bein' independent aboard ship. If I was