It will catapult him right into the line of fire. Brutus can use the springboard too. In addition to Brutus and the Hags, now you have the pesky Buzzard to contend with. While avoiding these dangers, Popeye must catch the letters H, E, L, and P which float from Olive's mouth as she screams from the crow's nest of the ship you're now on. There's no way to wrap on this screen, and every level except the first has a gap near the center.
Popeye is on the left of level four.
Immediately turn him left and punch out the buzzard for 1000 points. Then run onto the sliding platform to avoid Brutus. When he closes in, or a lot of letters start getting by, it's spinach time. Because of the structure of the screen, you'll probably have to head for the top of the screen and then drop down on Brutus through a gap. If you know you won't be able to catch him, make a beeline for the letters.