The captain was a tall, swarthy Spaniard of the name of Diaz, and Boston Charley gave the boys a little advice respecting their behavior to him. "Lads," he said, in an undertone, "our skipper's ugly when he drinks. Don't you never sass him, because he'd as lief take a knife to you as use his fist, and I don't suppose you want to slip your cable just yet." "Not much," answered Tommy. At two o'clock the tide swerved, and the ship started on her voyage. Capt. Diaz did not behave badly until the third week of the voyage, when it was evident from his flushed countenance that he had been indulging in intoxicating liquors. He would walk sullenly up and down the deck, with a rattan in his hand, giving orders one minute and contradicting them the next. Bobsey was one morning engaged in coiling a rope, which he didn't do with the neatness and regularity which he should have observed. "Boy," said Capt. Diaz, "do that over again, or I'll lay it over your back." Bobsey looked up angrily at him. "I'm doing it as well as I know how," he replied. "Don't answer me!" shouted the captain, whose object seemed to be to pick a quarrel with some one. "If you don't want to be answered," said the boy, "what did you speak to me for?" "You confounded young whelp, I'll cut the heart out of you!" said the captain, raising his rattan. The next moment it descended sharply on the boy's shoulders. Bobsey was no coward, and big as the captain was, he did not hesitate to tackle him. Dropping on his knees, he seized his leg with his teeth like a dog, and bit him severely on the calf. The captain roared with pain. Finding the boy did not let loose, he drew his knife, as Boston Charley had said he would, and made a lunge at Bobsey. It took effect between the shoulders, causing him to relinquish his hold and fall back on the deck bleeding profusely. This scuffle had been watched by some of the sailors, who cried "Shame!" but knowing the desperate character of the captain, they did not dare to interfere on the boy's behalf. Boston Charley was below, as was Tommy, and the first intimation they had of the captain's attack was given them by a sailor who cried down the hatch: "Hurry up! The skipper's stabbed a boy!" "By thunder! it'll be bad for him if he has!" cried Boston Charley. He and Tommy hastened on deck, and were just in time to see Capt. Diaz take up the form of Bobsey, hold it a second in the air, and then cast it into the sea, as if it had been a log of wood. Tommy did not hesitate a moment. With the utmost bravery he precipitated himself into the sea and struck out bravely to rescue his friend. He could not tell whether he was seriously injured or not. He might be mortally wounded; and again he might only be slightly hurt; at all events, he was determined to do all in his power for him.