"You don't know how to handle a boat, and I for one won't submit to have the bargain broken," protested Sam, his blood heated up to fever temperature.
"Don't hit him, Tom!" interposed Kidd Digfield.
"Ash is captain, and he ought to steer," shouted Chick Penny from the forecastle.
"Ash must keep the wheel," added Hop Cabright; and so said several of the others.
Tom Topover looked at them, and then he was mad in good earnest. He declared that he was going to take the wheel, and he wanted any fellow that objected to step out into the standing-room, and he would "polish him off" in the twinkling of an eye.
"I object, and I shall stick to it. A trade's a trade, and I don't think any fellow has a right to back out of it," Sam responded.
Tom was furious at this remark; and he made a pass at Sam, who was seated by the side of the skipper, with his fist.
"None of that, Tom!" interposed Ash, stepping between the bully and his intended victim.
"What are you going to do about it, Ash Burton?" yelled Tom, and he aimed a blow at the skipper, which was intended to annihilate him.
Ash warded off the blow; but when another was aimed at him, he struck back. The original Topovers attempted to interfere, but the fury of Tom could brook no opposition from friend or foe. The result was a general row. The recruits to the gang took sides with Ash and Sam, and they did their best to support him; but before the affair could be decided either way, about a hogs-head of water rolled into the standing-room over the washboard.