“One question at a time, youngster,” interrupted Lark, with a broad grin. “You’ll know every thing presently, and—”
“There’s villainy at work here, Tom Lark—ay, downright villainy!” cried the harpooner, as a suspicion of the truth flashed upon his mind.
Grasping the lower part of the main chains, and drawing himself to the rail, he sprung upon the deck, to be confronted by the mutineer, who drew from one of the pockets of his Guernsey a heavy pistol, which he pointed at the head of the youth.
“You’ve got yourself into a hornet’s nest, youngster. It might have been better for you if you had stuck to the ice!”
“Ay, ay,” said Marline, with perfect coolness, as he fixed his clear, unwavering eye upon the face of the giant. “You have the advantage of me, at present, and can murder me if you wish, but you will swing for it in the end.”
“Thank you, for your good advice,” gruffly responded the other, “but, I have no intention of murdering you—leastways, not just now—unless you try to kick against what you can’t help. I’m just using this iron to keep you quiet, while the steward goes after the handcuffs!”
“And by what authority,” angrily demanded the young man, “do you thus—”
“Tut! tut!” growled the mutineer, “none of your polly-wow with me, lad. You know how things are as well as I do. I generally do what I please in my own ship.”
“And dare you pretend that this vessel—”
“Is mine? Certainly,” interrupted Lark. “She’s mine by the law of equal rights. Captain Howard had her for awhile. Now, it’s my turn. I’ve been confined in the run a long time, and need a little fresh air, besides the satisfaction of putting some of the captain’s friends in my place. As you are the first of these that I’ve met with, you shall have the honor of filling that position. I rebelled against Captain Howard’s authority—you rebel against mine. Captain Howard puts me in the run—Captain Lark puts you in the run. That’s what I call equal rights!”