Dan clenched his fists, but started to move away. He dared trust himself no further, for his wrath was rising to the danger point, yet there was nothing in his calm manner to indicate that such was the case. Kester stepped in front of him. “See here, you landlubber, them high and mighty airs don’t go down with me, and you’ll find they don’t. You’ve got a few things to learn on shipboard——” “I shall have to find some one else to teach me, if I have,” retorted Dan sharply. By this time other eyes had been attracted to them. “I reckon Bill is trying to pick a row with Davis,” said one. “Let them go. It will do the boy good to get a trimming.” Kester’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, you will, eh?” “That is what I said. Do you wish me to repeat it? I will do so, if your hearing is not good.” “I said, how’s your red-headed friend this morning?” growled the bully, his chin protruding pugnaciously. “Ask the master-at-arms if you wish to know. I am not obliged to answer your questions. There is no use in trying to be courteous with you. You wouldn’t understand it at all.” “You take that back, or——” “Look here, Kester,” hinted Dan, a new light appearing in his eyes. “Red-head, as you call him, may be easy, but don’t monkey with DYNAMITE. That’s all I’ve got to say to you.” “You throw it at me, do you? What you need is a good licking, and that’s what you’re going to get. I’ll run both you landlubbers out of the service. I’ll trim your jib right now and make the job complete.” Dan gazed at him calmly, and as he stood there facing the big man the Battleship Boy appeared almost frail beside the other and more powerfully built man. “What is it that you propose to do? Don’t keep me waiting. I have things of more importance to attend to.” Kester took one step forward, making a sudden, vicious pass at Dan Davis’s head. He followed it quickly with another blow with the left hand. By this time several jackies had started up. “Quit it, Bill. Can’t you pick somebody of your own size to fight with? If you can’t we’ll do the job for you. We’ll——” The speaker paused suddenly. All at once things began to happen that caused them to pause in open-mouthed wonder. Both the bully’s blows had landed on thin air. Davis had deftly side-stepped out of harm’s way. The lad paused for one brief instant, poising on his toes, then he leaped straight at the husky sailor. The men said afterwards that they could not tell which was Bill and which was Dan Davis. The air was full of flying fists, and above the shouts of the sailors was heard the sound of heavy blows. The jackies yelled and shouted their appreciation. Such a lively set-to they had not seen in many a day. At at once Bill Kester sat down on the deck with a resounding bump, while Dan Davis stood with a calm smile on his face, gazing down at the astonished bully.