Jim dropped stunned, and lay motionless, bleeding copiously, whilst the fatal red lead with sardonic irony smeared itself in mockery upon his cheek and shoulder.
There was a low growl of suppressed anger from the watch, and if looks could have killed, Black Davis would not have lived long.
"Git on with your work, yew scrapin's o' hell, or I'll soon knock the bile out o' your gizzards," he roared; then, walking up to the senseless body of the boy, he kicked it twice heavily on the ribs.
"No shamming, yew little devil! Up yew get, or I'll make yew smell hell."
But before he could lift his foot again the stalwart form of the rolling-stone stood between the mate and his victim.
"Drop that, you d——d child-murderer! Come on and hit a man your own size."
The words fairly hissed from Jack's firm mouth, and there was a devil in his flashing eyes no one on board had ever seen there before.
Planted lightly but firmly on his legs, he squared up to the bucko with clenched fists and furious, quivering lips.
"Come on!" he raged, taking a step forward. "Come on, you devil!"
The port watch stared, open-mouthed, half expecting the heavens to fall in their amazement at Jack's daring.