"Now," said he, seizing Julius by the shoulder with a dark and menacing look, "I'll give you a lesson you'll remember to the last day of your life."
He threw Julius upon the ground, and was about savagely to kick the helpless boy, who would in all probability have died from the brutal treatment he was likely to receive, when he was seized by the collar, and sent whirling backward by a powerful hand.
"Avast there, you lubber!" said the sailor, who had felt it time to interfere. "What are you about?"
Marlowe turned furiously upon his unexpected assailant.
"I'll soon let you know, if you don't leave here pretty sudden. What business is it of yours?" he said, furiously.
"It's always my business," said the sailor, manfully, "when I see a big brute pitching into a youngster like that. I ain't the man to stand by and see it done."
"He wants to kill me. Don't let him," implored Julius.
"That I won't, my lad. He'll have to kill me, too, if that's what he's after. He'll find me a tough customer, I reckon."
"This is my boy. I shall beat him as I please," said Marlowe, angrily.
"I am not his boy," said Julius, fearing the sailor would credit the statement.