"Won't I?" cried the captain, as he seized a piece of rope from one of the belaying pins. "We'll see."
He sprang upon the high-spirited boy, and began to beat him in the most unmerciful manner. Noddy attempted to get away from him, but the captain had grasped him by the collar, and held on with an iron grip.
"Let me alone!" roared Noddy. "I'll knock your brains out if you don't let me alone!"
"We'll see!" gasped Captain McClintock, furious with passion and with gin.
Unfortunately for him, he did see when it was too late; for Noddy had laid hold of a wooden belaying pin, and aimed a blow with it at the head of his merciless persecutor. He did not hit him on the head, but the blow fell heavily on his shoulder, causing him to release his hold of the boy. Noddy, puffing like a grampus from the violence of the struggle, rushed forward to the forecastle.
The captain ordered the sailors to stop him; but either because they were not smart enough, or because they had no relish for the business, they failed to catch him, and the culprit ran out on the bowsprit. The angry man followed him as far as the bowsprit bitts, but prudence forbade his going any farther.
"Come here, you young rascal!" shouted the captain.
"I won't," replied Noddy, as he perched himself on the bight of the jib-stay.
"Come here, I say!"
"I'll go overboard before I go any nearer to you. I'm not going to be pounded for nothing."