Bobsey was no coward, and big as the captain was, he did not hesitate to tackle him.
Dropping on his knees, he seized his leg with his teeth like a dog, and bit him severely on the calf.
The captain roared with pain.
Finding the boy did not let loose, he drew his knife, as Boston Charley had said he would, and made a lunge at Bobsey.
It took effect between the shoulders, causing him to relinquish his hold and fall back on the deck bleeding profusely.
This scuffle had been watched by some of the sailors, who cried "Shame!" but knowing the desperate character of the captain, they did not dare to interfere on the boy's behalf.
Boston Charley was below, as was Tommy, and the first intimation they had of the captain's attack was given them by a sailor who cried down the hatch:
"Hurry up! The skipper's stabbed a boy!"
"By thunder! it'll be bad for him if he has!" cried Boston Charley.
He and Tommy hastened on deck, and were just in time to see Capt. Diaz take up the form of Bobsey, hold it a second in the air, and then cast it into the sea, as if it had been a log of wood.