"'Jim turned, and, walking slowly up to the man, said hoarsely: "Go down," at the same time pointing to the hatchway.
"'"What for?" asked the negro, moving a step backward.
"'"None of your business what for; go down, I tell you."
"'"I don't take no orders from you, nohow," answered the man. "Where's the captain?"
"'Without a word Jim struck him full in the face with all his strength. The blow was an awful one, and the negro staggered back, and would have fallen had not he brought up against the foremast. He roared with rage, and came at Jim with a rush like a mad bull. Jim bent sideways, and something flashed in his hand, as he struck upwards under the man's arm.
"'Instantly the negro stumbled forward, and fell on the deck, and then sat up and began to cough. He coughed incessantly, like a man who has swallowed something which choked him. Jim looked at him a moment, and then, without a word, cast off the painter and jumped into the boat. There was not a breath of wind, so we each took an oar and pulled towards the faint line of land just visible in the western horizon.
"'The schooner lay almost motionless, with the silence of death about her. The negro had stopped coughing, and all was still, save the faint creaking of the masts and spars and the sounds of our oars in the rowlocks.
"'In the west the sun-painted clouds lay in great masses of gold and purple, tinting the sea with ever-changing colors.
"'"Damn pretty sunset!" remarked Jim, as he drew in his oar, and bent over to light