Bob had never before seen such a fiendish-looking man as he was at that moment. The captain seemed to be greatly enraged, and the boy knew instinctively that something was going to happen. The negro cook, who was well used to his moods, must have thought so too, for he darted into the galley and hid behind the door, and even the surly second mate backed out of his way.
"What's been a-going on 'ere?" roared the captain, glaring about as if seeking some object to take vengeance upon. "What was all that bloody crash I 'eard just now?"
"We carried away the topmast about two hours ago, sir," replied the mate, with more civility than he usually threw into his tones when addressing his superior, "and we thought it would be best to clear up things before you came up."
"But what was that bloody noise I 'eard just now?" repeated the skipper with an oath. "I 'eard a terrific fuss and rumpus up 'ere."
"We have been clearing away the wreck and shortening sail, sir," was the mate's reply.
"You 'ave, hey? Been shortening sail without horders, hey? Don't you know that I command 'ere? Where's the tindal?"
"He's below, with his watch, sir."
"Well, I will soon snake him up and learn him not to shorten sail without horders from me!" yelled the skipper, blundering toward the forecastle. "I command 'ere, and I'll learn you, and him, too, that it is best not to shorten sail without horders from me. I wish you wasn't an officer, and I would trice you up."
Bob and the old sailor were standing in the waist, and as the frenzied captain went staggering by, swinging his arms wildly about his head and fairly foaming at the mouth, they gave him all the room he wanted. Their efforts to avoid attracting his attention drew the savage glare of the old man toward them, and seemed to increase his fury, for Bob was sent aft with a bleeding nose and a dizzy head, while Ben ducked like a flash just in time to escape a vicious back-hander which the skipper aimed at him. The latter thundered across the deck toward the forecastle, and missing his footing at the head of the stairs, went headlong among the watch, who were eating their supper. Bob heard him swearing and storming below, and presently saw him reappear at the head of the ladder, pushing before him the first tindal, whom he had seized by the back of the neck, and who was helpless in his powerful grasp. Close behind him came the watch, who swarmed up the ladder like bees, and were speedily joined by their friends on deck. They all looked as fierce as the skipper himself, and some of them carried their knives in their hands.
"Heaven help us, for our time has come at last!" gasped old Ben. "That drunken fool is going to be the death of us."