The cabin was nearly dark now and my fists were up for the renewal of the contest, for Walters seemed to be about to spring at me; but he drew back, and as quickly as I could grasp what it meant, I heard almost simultaneously the clicking of my pistol-lock, the report, and the crash caused by the sudden wrenching open of the cabin-door. "Hurt?" cried Mr Brymer, as I staggered back, conscious of a sharp stinging pain at the side of my head; and as he spoke he sprang at Walters, wrested the pistol from him, and threw him down. "I--I don't know," I stammered as I put my hand to my ear. "Yes, I think so," for my fingers were wet with blood. "You cowardly, treacherous hound!" cried the mate, with his foot upon Walters' breast. "I--oh don't!--help!--I was only defending myself from Dale. I'm weak and hurt, and--" "A cowardly, malingering liar!" cried Mr Frewen, hotly. "He tried to make me believe he was very bad, groaning and wincing, and thinking he had deceived me, but I saw through him all the time." "No, no, I am bad!" groaned Walters, piteously. "He isn't," I said, with my anger against him mastering a sensation of sickness. "He was shamming; I found him out, and we quarrelled and fought, and as soon as he was beaten he caught up the pistol and fired at me." "It's all a lie!" shouted Walters, fiercely. "I was so weak and ill that I--" "Jumped up well as I was, and called Mr Frewen a brute and a beast as soon as he was out of hearing." "And the pistol cocked itself, jumped up into his hand, and then went off and wounded Dale. Is it much, doctor?" said Mr Brymer. "No, only his ear cut, fortunately," said Mr Frewen, holding a handkerchief to my head. "An inch more and our amiable, treacherous young friend would have had to be tried for murder. Who's that?" "Me," growled Neb Dumlow. "Want help, sir?" "No. Go and tell the captain there's nothing the matter, and Miss Denning that there's no cause for alarm. Lock up the wild beast, Brymer! I thought he was a little weak and wanted feeding up. Leave him to me, and I'll feed him down." Mr Brymer gave a sharp look round, and then closed the door and locked it, while following Mr Frewen into the next cabin, he put a few stitches in my injured ear and then strapped it up. "Feel sick?" he said. "Pretty well," I said, and I looked dismally at my knuckles. "Like a light, and a glass to see your face?" "Eh? No," I cried, as I recalled all that had taken place. "Does it look very bad?" "Not half so bad as it will to-morrow," said Mr Frewen, coolly. "You had a tidy fight then, you two?" "Oh yes; don't talk about it, please, sir. He made me feel so wild after I found out that he was only shamming."