The Springfield herald., 1908-11-06

moment was knocked down agin. We
could 'ardly believe our eyes, and as
for Ned. e looked as though ed been
doing miracles by mistake.
"'All right ses Bill; I've 'ad
enough. I've met my MASTER
"Wot? ses Joe. starting.
81 '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 minits. Ned Davis. and then
you'll know what 'urtng means
1T was mystery to all of us, and
1t 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 n man Joe 'ad killed In
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 off 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.
"There1l 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 time
"Oh,' ses Bill, looking ard at a
boat wot was passing.
We've got Dolby Pete coming to
see us tonight ses Tom, in a whis-
per; 'there'll only be the second officer
aboard, and he'll likely be asleep.
Dodgy's one o the best lisht-weights
in Australia, and if e don't fix up Mis-
ter Joe, it'll be pity
'At about ha'-past six Dodgy comes
| aboard, and the fun begins to COM
mence.
HE was nasty. low-looking little
chap, was Dodgy, very fly-loolling and
very conceited. | didn't like the look
of i'm at all, and unbearable as Joe
was. 1t didn't seem to be quite the
sort O thing to get chap aboard to
'ammer a. shipmate you couldn't am
| mer yourself.
AN what's that in that bunk over
| there?' ses Dodgy. pointing with is
cigar at Joe.
Hush, be careful ses Tom, with
a wink; that's a prize fighter
"'0h.' ses Dodgy. grinning, I thought
| 1t was monkey. 9usHnf
"'Bill, who is that 'andsome. gentle
manly-looking young feller over there
smoking a half-crown cigar?' ses Joe.
THAT'S young gent wot's come
| down to ave look round ses Tom.
| as Dodgy takes is cigar out of lis
| mouth and looks round, puzzled.
"'Take. that lovely little gentleman
| and kick i'm up the fo'c'sle ladder
ses Joe to Bill. taking up is jacket
agn: and don't make too much noise
over 1t, cos I've got bit of 'eadache,
else I'D do 1t myself
| "'Wots the game?' ses! Dodgy,
staring. .. .a... .fsr I'D
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 Dodgv. with
nasty little laugh. E-
~ can try, mate. can't IL ses Bill,
folding is things upvery neat and put.
ting EN- on Il locker.
1.-The fust blow Bill missed, and the
next moment e got tap on the jaw
that nearly broke it, and that was fnl-
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.
II believe it was that that brought
Bill round, and the next moment
Dodgy was on is back with blow
that nearly knocked his 'ead off.
Charlie grabbed. at Toms watch and
began to count, and after little bit
called out Time 1t was silly thing
to do, as it would ave stopped the
fight then and there II 1t 'adnt been
for Toms presence Of mind, saying
1t was two minutes Slow That gave
Dodgy 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
1T back e wasn't there.
. fl"Oahrlie 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'sIe 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 foor without
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
purrlng like couple o cats. until at
last we card n smothered voice com
ing from Joe Simmins' bunk.
as it all over?' he asks.
Yes ses somebody.
".How is Bill?' ses Joe's voice again.
"'Look for yourself ses Tom.