Captain Simms went to his cabin, where he related to the first mate the story of the fire room row. Both officers laughed heartily.
"I would have given a month's wages to have seen that fuss," laughed the mate. "I guess the black-face gang has come to the conclusion that it has picked up a couple of Tartars. Evidently it isn't the first time those lads have been called upon to take care of themselves."
Before the stoke hole watch knocked off the captain made it his business to go below and look over the men. Every man save the Iron Boys wore a sullen, revengeful look on his face. But this was not all. There was blood on several of the faces, and the men's clothes and hair still bore traces of the shower bath that Steve Rush had given them.
Neither lad paid any attention to the captain. They went on with their work as steadily as though he were not present, or nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.
The captain turned away rather hastily and left the compartment. He felt that, if he remained a second longer, he would have to laugh. That would not do at all. And laugh he did, after he had gotten far enough away from the fire room to make wise such a proceeding.
"I'll get even with you for that!" snarled Smith in Rush's ear, after the departure of the master.
Steve made no reply.
"You'll wake up one of these fine mornings wetter than I was after you turned the hose on me, you whelp!"
Smith drove his elbow into the Iron Boy's side with considerable force. Rush slowly faced him.