The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-29

ad it all is own way, until at last e got
Bills cad under is arm and punched at it
till they was both tired.
"All rightah;ses Bill; I've ad enough
I've met my1master."
"Wct?'' ses Joe, staring.
i've met my master" ses Bill, going
and sitting down. Ned as knocked me
about crool.'
Joe looked at i'm speeches.. and then
without saying another word, or aving a go
at Ned himself as we expected, e went up
on deck, and Ned crossed over and sat down
by Bill.
u ope didn't hurt you, mate" he ses,
kindly.
Hurt me?'' roars. Bill. You, You 'urt
me? You, you little. bag o. bones Wait
till ! get you ashore by yourself for FIVE
minirs, Ned Davis. I'D then you'll know
wot 'Urtlng means
q don't understand you. Bill" ses Ned;
you're mystery. tEt's what you are;
but l tell you plain when you go ashore
you don't have me for a companion"
1t was mystery TO all OF US, and it got
worse and worse as time went on. BIZ
didn't dare TO call Is soul is own, although
Joe olly hit I'm once the whole time and
then not very hard. and ne excused is
cowardice by telling US Of a man Joe ad
killed in fight down in one o them West
End clubs.
Wet with Joe's Sunday school ways and
Bill backing en- up. we was all pretty glad
by the time we got to Melbourne 1t was
like getting out O. prism to get away from
joe for little while All but Bill. that is
and Joe took i'm to hear dissolying views
on John Bunyan. BIZ said ed be delighted
to 60 but the language he used about i'm
on the quiet when he came back showed
wot e thought Of 1t. I don't know who
John Bunyan is. or wot he's done, but the
I things Bill said about i'm l wouldn't soil
my tongue by repeating
AFTER we'd been there two or three days
we began to feel Almost sorry for BID
Night arter night, when we was ashore
! Joe would take i'm OFF and look arter 'im
and at last, partly for is sake, but more
TO see the fun. Tom Baker managed to
think o something to pvt things straight
You stay aboard ton ght, Bill" he ses
( one morning, land you'll see something
thatlI startle you"
Worse than you?" ses Bill, whose tenn
per was getting worse and worse
"TherelI be an end o that bullying Joe, &"
ses Tom, taking i'm by the arm. We've
arranged to give i'm a lesson as'll lay i'm
up for a time"
oh" ses Bill, looking ard at boat wot
was passing.
We've got Dodgy Pete coming to see
us tonight" ses Tom, in e whisper
''therell only be the second officer aboard.
and he'll likely be asleep. Dodgy's one O.
the best lightweights in Australia and if e
! don't fix up Mister Joe. it'll be pity"
You're a fair treat, Tom" ses Bill.
turning round; that's what you are A
fair treat"
Il thought you'd be pleased, Bill" ses
| Tom.
PLEASED amt no name for it. Tom,
/ answers Bill. You've took load off my
mind
The focs'le was pretty full that even
ing, everybody giving each other 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 Dodgy comes aboard, and the
fun begins 10 commence
He was nasty, low-looking little chap.
was DOdgy, very hy-looking and very con
ceited. l didn't like the look of i'm at
/ all. and unbearable as Joe was it didn'
seem to be quito the sort o. thing to get a
chap aboard to ammer a shipmate yon
couldn't 'ammer yourself.
NASTY. stuny place you've got down
ere" ses Dodgy. who was smoking a big
cigar; Il can't think 'ow you can stick it
1T amt bad for a foc's'le,' - ses Charlie.
AN what's that in that bunk over
there?" ses Dodgy, pointing with is cigar
at Joe laa
Hush be careful" ses Tom. with a
wink; that's prize fighter
oh" ses Dodgy, grinning, Il thought
it was a monkey
You might ave heard a pin drop, and
there was a pleasant feeling vent 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 cad over the side
o the bunk
Bill" he ses, yawning.
We'll. - ses Bill, all on the grin like the
| rest of lis.
Who is that andsome, gentlemanly-
looking young Teller over there smoking
a half-crOwn cigar?" SEES 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 peppers of is ses
Joe, shaking is cad. "Bll!"
We'll" SEES Bill. agin, as Dodgy got up
Take that lovely little gentleman and
kick i'm 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 'ead-ache, else Ia do it myself
There was laugh went all round then,
and Tom Baker was near killing himself
and then Pm 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 l 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 10 kick you up
that ladder"
You kick me up?" ses Dodgy. with a
nasty little laugh.
Il can try, mate, can't I?'' ses Bill. fold
ing is things up very neat and putting
EN- on a locker.
e Old my cigar" ses Dodgy. taking 1t
out Of is mouth and sticking it in Char
lies. II don't need TO take my coat of
to I'm"
E altered is mind. though. when he saw
Bits chest and arms, and not only took
off his coat. but his waistcoat, too. Then,
with a nasty look at Bill, e put up lis
fists and just pranced up to i'm.
The fust blow Bill missed, and the next
moment e got a tap on the jaw that nearly
broke it, and that was followed up by one
in the eye that sent i'm agger.ng up agin