Biff! Bang! Thud! "You d——d sodgering hound!" Whack! "I've watched you loafin' long enough!" Thump! and Studpoker Bob, lifted clean off his feet by a sudden muscular grasp upon his collar, was held at arm's length and fairly battered by the bosun's brawny fist. Crash! an eye closed up.
"Mercy! mercy! you're killin' me!" whined the miserable wretch.
Bish! his nose began to bleed.
"Had enough yet, you d——d Yankee tough?" growled the bosun.
"Yes, yes; lemme——"
Crack! and his two front teeth were loosened.
"By gum! that were a sockdologer!" commented Bedrock Ben.
The men had stopped working and watched the gambler getting his gruel with appreciative eyes.
"Now, then, put your back into it and no more sodgerin'!" said the bosun, as he released his iron grip.