"You must have that dressed, right away. Come along. We'll go to see Pills. There is time, if we hurry."
"Yes; I guess it had better be attended to. I shall have such a big ear to-morrow that they will not have me on deck."
"Worse cauliflower ear than you gave Bill Kester," laughed Sam. "We'll look into this business in the morning. We shan't have time to-night, I'm sorry to say."
On their way to the sick bay, where they were hurrying to have the wound dressed, the boys were obliged to pass the quarters of the master-at-arms, the minor official who is responsible for the behavior of all hands on shipboard.
Ere Dan could protest, Sam had rapped on the door casing, and an instant later was dragging his companion in through the curtained doorway.
"Now what do you think of that, sir?" exclaimed the red-headed boy.
"Seaman Davis got hurt, eh?" questioned the petty officer, noting the blood on Dan's cheek.
"Yes, sir. I am on my way to see the surgeon. If I have to be a few moments late in reporting for hammocks, will you excuse me?"
"Certainly. I will give you a half hour's leeway. How did you get that wound?"
"Somebody handed him a marline spike, sir," interrupted Hickey.