"Go on I tell you!" Duff was white to the lips, "D'ye want to see murder done? This lad's life is at stake, I say."
While Tom went off grumbling, the second mate bathed Ralph's face with water from a jug he found, and chafed his hands.
"Poor fellow! If I lose my job and am put here with him, I will speak out. The boy hasn't had a decent thing to eat since he came aboard."
Presently the flicker of Tom's lantern was seen again. The captain was behind him, and in no good humor over the message he had received.
The dash and swirl of water outside was incessant and deafening.
"Mr. Duff," said Gary in his most grating tones, "who gave you the authority to interfere with my designs regarding this insolent youngster?"
[Illustration: "Mr. Duff," said Gary in his most grating tones,
"who gave you the authority to interfere with my designs
regarding this insolent youngster?">[
Duff's first reply was to bring Ralph's pale, inanimate face under the light.