The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1908-11-04

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 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.
"'There'll be an end O. that bully
ing Joe,' ses Tom, taking Bill by the
arm. We've arranged to give i'm a
lesson as'll lay i'm up for time
"'Oh,' ses Bill, looking ard at a
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 pity
AT about ha'-past six Dodgy comes
aboard, and the fun begins to COM
mence.
HE was a nasty, low-looking little
nh AVy-1
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 chap aboard to
'ammer shipmate you couldn't am
mer yourself.
can what's that in that bunk over
there?' ses Dodgy, pointing with is
cigar at Joe.
"'Hush, be careful ses Tom, with
wink; that's a prize fighter
"Oh,' SEES Dodgy, grinring, I thought
it was a monkey
"'Bill, who is that 'andsome, gentle
manipulating young Teller over there
"'Thats a young gent wot's come
down to ave a look round SEES Tom,
as Dodgy takes is cigar out Of is
mouth and looks round, puzzled.
"'Take that lovely little gentleman
and kick i'm up the foc'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 a bit of 'eadache,
else I'd do it myself
"'Wots the gamer SEES Dodgy
staring.
I'm obeying ORDERS ses Bill. Last
time 1 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.
"T can try, mate, can't II ses Bill
folding is things up very neat and put
ting 'em on locker.
'The fust blow Bill missed, and the
next moment e got 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.
81 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 a silly thing
to do, as it would ave stopped the
fight then and there if it adn't beer
for Toms presence of mind, saying
it was two minutes slow. That gave
Dodgy chance, and he got up AGAR
and walked round Bill very careful
swearing ard at the small size of the
fo'c'sle.
HE got in three or four at Bill afore
you could wink almost, and when Bill
1T back e wasn't there.
"Cahrlie called Time again, and We
let 'em ave five minutes.
"In five minutes more, though, II
was all over, Dodgy not being able tt
see plain-except TO get out O Bills
way-and hitting wild. He seemed tC
tAllIh l1IC WAOIC ~ y lC was luIl "
Bills sitting on locker and waiting tt
| be punched, and the end of it was {
knockout blow from the real Bill
| which left i'm on the floor without =;
soul offering to pick i'm up.
'Bill 'elped i'm up at last and SHOOT
| hands with i'm, and they rinsed thei
| faces in the same bucket, and began tt
| praise each other up. They sat there
| purring like couple O. cats, until a
last we card a smothered voice com
ing from Joe Simmins' bunk.
''Is it all over?' he asks.
| eyes, ses somebody.
| "'How is Bill?' ses Joe's voice again
"'Look for YOURSELF ses Tom.
| Joe sat up in is bunk then AM
looked out, and he no sooner say
| Bills face than he gave loud cry ant
fell back agin, and, as true as I'm sit
ting here, tainted clean away. W.
was struck all of a cap, and then Bill
| picked up the bucket and threw som'
water over i'm, and by and by h
| comes round agin and in dazed sor
O. way puts his ann round Bills necl
and begins to cry.
| .nJinbtv MOcocl COG nCIox, Dotc