The Columbus journal., 1908-11-04

~ was u my SlSIy 70 Ill u ~ 8UO
It got worse and worse as time went
on. Bill didn't dare to call is soul is
own. although Joe only hit i'm once
the whole time. and then not very
hard, and he excused is cowardice by
telling us Of q man Joe 'ad killed in a
fight down in one O them West End
clubs.
."Wot with Joe's Sunday school ways
and Bill backing 'em up, We was all
pretty glad by the time we got to
Melbourne.
"Arter we'd been there two or three
days We began to feel Almost sorry for
Bill. Night arter night, when we was
ashore. Joe would take i'm OF and
look arter i'm, and at last, partly for
is sake, but more to see the fun, Tom
Baker managed to think O. something
to put things straight.
"'There'l be an end o. that bully
ing Joe,' ses Tom, taking Bill by the
arm. We've arranged to give i'm a
lesson ASH lay i'm up for a time
"'Oh,' ses Bill, looking ard at q
boat wOt was passing.
We've got Dodgy Pete coming to
see us tonight ses Tom, In a whis-
per; 'therell only be the second officer
aboard, and he'll likely be asleep.
Dodgy's one o. the best light-weights
in Australia. and if e don't fix up Mis-
ter Joe, it'll be a pity
AT about ha'-past six Dodgy comes
aboard, and the fun begins to COM
mence.
HE was a nasty, low-looking little
chap, was Dodgy, very fy-looking and
very conceited. l didn't like the look
of i'm at all, and unbearable as Joe
was, it didn't seem to be quite the
sort O. thing to get a chap aboard to
'ammer shipmate you couldn't am
mer yourself.
"'An' what's that in that bunk over
there?' ses Dodgy. pointing with is
cigar at Joe.
flush, be careful ses Tom, with
a wink; that's prize fighter
"'Oh,' ses Dodgy. grinning. I thought
1t was monkey
"'Bill, who is that 'andscme, gentle
manipulating young teller over there
smoking half-crown cigar" ses Joe.
That's 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.
flake that lovely little gentleman
and kick i'm up the fo'c's'le ladder.
ses Joe to Bill. taking up is jacket
agin: and don't make too much noise
over it, cos I've got bit of 'eadache,
else I'd do it myself
"'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 to kick you up that ladder
"'You kick me up?' ses Dodgy. with
a nasty little laugh.
81 can try, mate. can't r. ses Bill,
folding is things up very neat and put
ting 'em on locker.
THE fust blow Bill missed. and the
next moment g got a tap on the jaw
that nearly broke it, and that was fol-
lowed up by one in the eye that sent
i'm staggering up agin the side, and
when e was there Dodgy's fists were
rafting all round i'm.
Il believe it was that that brought
Bill round, and the next moment
Dodgy was on is back with a blow
that nearly knocked his 'ead on.
Charlie grabbed at Toms watch and
began to count, and after a little bit
called out Time 1t was a silly thing
to do, as it would ave stopped the
fight then and there If 1t 'adn't been
for Toms presence of mind, saying
it was two minutes slow. That gave
Dodgy a chance. and he got up again
and walked round Bill very careful,
swearing ard at the small size of the
fo'c's'le.
He got in three or four at Bill afore
you could wink Almost, and when Bill
it back e wasn't there.
"Cahrlie called Time again, and we
let 'em ave five minutes.
In five minutes more, though, 1t
was all over. DOdgy not being able to
see plain-except to get out O. Bills
way-and hitting wild. He seemed to
think the whole fo'c's'le was full O.
Bills sitting on locker and waiting to
be punched. and the end of it was
knockout blow from the real Bill
which left i'm on the floor without a
soul offering to pick i'm up.
Bill 'elped i'm up at last and shook
hands with i'm, and they rinsed their
faces in the same bucket. and began to
praise each other up. They sat there
purring like a couple O. cats. until at
last we card a smothered voice COM
ing from Joe Simmins' bunk.
els it all over?' he asks.
"'Yes,' ses somebody.
How is Bill?. ses Joe's voice again.
"LCok for yourself ses Tom.
Joe sat up In is bunk then and
Bills face than he gave loud cry and
fell back agin. and, as true as I'm sit.
ting here. tainted clean away. We
was struck all Of cap, and then Bill
picked up the bucket and threw some
water over i'm. and by and by he
comes round agin and in q dazed sort
o. way puts his arm round Bills neck
and begins to cry.
Mighty Moses!' ses Dodgy Pete.
jumping up; it's a woman!'
Its my wife, ses Bill.
I'VE understood it all then, least.
ways the married ones among us did.