“Vigors has been thrashing me with a rope’s end,” replied Gossett, rubbing his arm and shoulders.
“What for?” inquired Jack.
“Because he says the service is going to hell—(I’m sure it’s no fault of mine)—and that now all subordination is destroyed, and that upstarts join the ship who, because they have a five-pound note in their pocket, are allowed to do just as they please. He said he was determined to uphold the service, and then he knocked me down—and when I got up again he told me that I could stand a little more—and then he took out his colt, and said he was determined to ride the high horse—and that there should be no Equality Jack in future.”
“Well,” replied Jack.
“And then he colted me for half an hour, and that’s all.”
“By de soul of my fader, but it all for true, Massa Easy—he larrap, um, sure enough—all for noteing, bad luck to him—I tink,” continued Mesty, “he hab debelish bad memory—and he want a little more of Equality Jack.”
“And he shall have it too,” replied our hero; “why, it’s against the articles of war, ‘all quarrelling, fighting, etc.’ I say, Mr Gossett, have you got the spirit of a louse?”
“Yes,” replied Gossett.
“Well, then, will you do what I tell you next time, and trust to me for protection?”
“I don’t care what I do,” replied the boy, “if you will back me against the cowardly tyrant.”