By the time all these thoughts had flashed through the boy's mind he had gained the sloop's deck, where he was startled by an angry voice that sounded like the bellow of an enraged bull. Turning quickly, he saw his friend Bonny confronted by a big man with a red face and bristling beard. This individual, supported by a pair of rudely made crutches, was standing beside the after-companionway and glaring at the bag containing his own effects that had been tossed down from the wharf. "Ye've got a hand, have ye?" roared this man, whom Alaric instinctively knew to be the Captain. "Is this his dunnage?" "Yes, sir," replied the first mate. "And I think--" "Never mind what you think," interrupted the Captain, fiercely. "Send him about his business, and pitch his dunnage back on the wharf or pitch it overboard, I don't care which. Pitch it! d'ye hear?" "But, Captain Duff, I think--" "Who asked ye to think? I do the thinking on board this craft. Don't ye suppose I know what I'm talking about? I tell ye I had this Phil Ryder with me on one cruise, and I'll never have him on another! An impudent young puppy as ever lived, and a desarter to boot. Took off two of my best men with him, too. Oh, I know him, and I'd Phil him full of his own rifle-bullets ef I had the chance! I'd like to Ryder him on a rail, too." "You are certainly mistaken, sir, this time, for--" "Who, I? You dare say I'm mistaken, you tarry young swab you?" roared the man, his face turning purple with rage. "Oh, ef I had the proper use of my feet for one minute I'd show ye! Put him ashore, I tell ye, and do it in a hurry too, or you'll go with him without one cent of wages--not one cent, d'ye hear? I'll have no mutiny where I'm Cap'n." Poor Alaric listened to this fierce outbreak with mingled fear and dismay. Now that the situation he had deemed so surely his either to accept or reject was denied him, it again seemed very desirable. He was about to speak up in his own behalf when the angry man's last threat caused him to change his mind. He could not permit Bonny to suffer on his account, and lose the position he had so recently attained. No, the very first law of friendship forbade that; and so, stepping forward to claim his bag, he said, in a low tone, "Never mind me, Bonny; I'll go." "No, you won't!" retorted the young mate, stoutly, "or, if you do, I'll go with you; and I'll have my wages too, Captain Duff, or know the reason why." Without paying the slightest attention to this remark, the man was staring at Alaric, whom he had not noticed until this moment. "Who is that landlubber togged out like a sporty salt?" he demanded. "He's the crew I hired, and the one you have just bounced," replied Bonny. "What's his name?" "Rick Dale." "What made you say it was Phil Ryder, then?" "I didn't, sir. You--" "Don't contradict me, you unlicked cub! Can he shoot?" "No, sir," replied Alaric, as Bonny looked at him inquiringly.