"Then come aboard at once."
He continued to pull my ear, and one of the sailors caught me by the left hand. So seeing it was useless to resist any longer, I clambered over the side.
On the way after me the party in the boat had picked up my coat and vest, and these Captain Hannock now threw towards me.
"Put them on and behave yourself," he said, briefly. "Pull for the schooner, boys."
I donned the garments and sat down on the forward seat. The captain sat close beside me, and during the return to the vessel his watchful eyes did not once leave me.
We were soon on deck once more, and then without warning Captain Hannock burst forth into a perfect storm of anger.
He sprang at me and struck me a cruel blow in the mouth that almost knocked me off my feet.
"That's the way to treat him," put in Crocker, "Lay it to him good, Captain."
"You brute!" I cried.
"Shut up!" cried Captain Hannock; and then he turned away to give orders to the sailors to hoist sail again.