“Did you hear my order, Mr. Iles?” “No.” “No, he didn’t hear. He’s accustomed to being ordered by gentlemen. He’s not used to pirates.” “I’ll repeat my order. Go on deck, Mr. Iles, and wait there till I send for you.” “Don’t you do it, Iles. I’m damned if I’d take an order of that sort.” “Do you hear me, Mr. Iles?” “B’gee, cap, you’ll speak to me like you’d speak to any one else. I ain’t goin’ to be called down by any old pirate.” Cammock rose, breathing rather hard, but speaking very quietly. “Go on deck,” he said. “He’s my guest,” said Stukeley, “and it’s his watch below. I’m damned if he shall go on deck.” “Are you going, Mr. Iles?” “Ah, git ter hell.” “Don’t you hit him,” said Stukeley, as Captain Cammock picked up his little gong-hammer. “Hit me?” said Iles. “Hit me? B’gee, cap, you hit me and I’ll mark you for life all right, all right.” “I’m not going to do any hitting, Mr. Stukeley,” said Cammock quietly. He went to the gong and struck it softly till the steward came. “Send the boatswain to me,” said Cammock. “I will, seh.” “What are you going to do now?” said Stukeley. Captain Cammock relit his pipe at the lamp, stopping the red fragments with his thumb. The boatswain knocked at the door, cap in hand. “Call all hands aft, boatswain.” “What der hell?” said Mr. Iles, as the call sounded. The men came hurrying aft, swearing at having their dog-watch spoiled. Some of them were half clad, just out of their hammocks; others were buttoning their clothes. In the last of the daylight, in the glow which gives a holy beauty to all things, they seemed a strange company. Just so will the assembling souls look, when the heavens crinkle into flame, as the triumphing clarion shrills, bringing together the awed, the sullen, the expectant. “Muster your watch, Mr. Iles.” “No. We’ll settle it here,” said Stukeley, thinking that the cabin was safer for his purpose than the deck. “We’ll settle it here, old Brandyco.” Cammock brushed past him and went on to the poop, without replying. Iles, much puzzled, was about to follow. “Don’t go,” said Stukeley. “I wouldn’t go. Don’t go. I’ll make it square for you.” “B’gee. I’d better go,” said Iles. “I don’t know what game he’s up to, do I hell?”