"Not much," replied Alec, "but I guess they would have killed me if you hadn't come."
Alec turned partly away to watch what was doing. The light fell on his face so that the raw, red mark from the blow, now rapidly turning black, stood out plainly.
"Who did that?" demanded Hawley.
"Hawkins."
"Jim!" rang out Captain Rumford's voice, as Hawley leaped toward the cowering bully. Hawley stopped in his tracks. "We've had enough violence already. Let him alone."
The shipper turned to the commander of the Dianthus. "You wanted evidence before you would make an arrest," he said. "Here's your evidence." He pointed toward the pile of seed-oysters on the deck of the Shark. Then he faced Alec. "You saw them dredged, did you not?"
"Yes, sir. They came out of the bed just to starboard, sir."
Again the shipper faced the captain of the Dianthus. "That's my bed and these are my oysters. I charge these men with theft and also with assault and battery on this lad."
"You are under arrest," said the guardsman to the crew of the Shark, "and we will shoot at the slightest attempt at resistance." He turned to his men. "Search them," he commanded.
A revolver and an ugly dirk were found on Hardy. Wallace had some brass knuckles in his pocket. The others were not armed.