“You said,” he shouted fiercely, “that I—”
“No, I didn’t,” retorted Brock, breaking in with a rather premature contradiction.
“Hear him out. N–nothin’ like fair play in ar–argiment,” said an extremely drunken voice.
“Right you are,” cried another; “fire away, Gunter.”
“You said,” resumed Gunter with a little more of argument in his tone, though still vehemently, “that I said—that—that—well, whativer it was I said, I’ll take my davy that I niver said anything o’ the sort.”
“That’s a lie,” cried Brock.
“You’re another,” shouted Gunter, and waved his hand contemptuously.
Whether it was accident or design we know not, but Gunter’s hand knocked the pipe out of Brook’s mouth.
To Billy’s ear the well-known sound of a blow followed, and he ran to look down into the cabin, where all was instantly in an uproar.
“Choke him off,” cried David Bright. “Knock his brains out,” suggested Herring. Billy could not see well through the dense smoke, but apparently the more humane advice was followed, for, after a good deal of gasping, a heavy body was flung upon the floor.