“As soon as we can find somethin’ in the way of weapons. This isn’t likely to be child’s play, an’ when we get in a blow it must count, for they will do their best to disable us, without givin’ heed as to whether a life be taken or not.” Immediately we had thus spoken Abe set about searching for something that would serve him, and it can well be imagined that I followed his example without loss of time. It was not possibly to find exactly that which we wanted and at the same time move so silently as to avoid attracting the attention of those on deck; but when it seemed to me as if we had spent a dangerously long while in the search, I came upon a spare tiller--a stout oaken stick nearly thirty inches long, and Abe had wrenched off one of the stove legs. This done we crouched for an instant just inside the cuddy door, as my comrade whispered: “Because of what was said on the Green, I claim the right to go first. Let me get but one clip at Luther, an’ I’ll warrant he won’t have any further interest in the row. Then both of us can tackle the big fellow, an’ even at that, the odds won’t be much more than even.” I could not have prevented him from doing as he had said, even though I felt so disposed, for at that instant Luther Stedman’s ugly face appeared at the cuddy hatch, his eyes bulging with surprise and fear at seeing us. “You miserable Tory whelp!” Abe shouted as he sprang full at the fellow, aiming a blow which would have put Luther out of the fight for some time to come had it been delivered fairly. Unfortunately, however, Abe stumbled ever so slightly, and the Tory so far dodged that the stove leg struck his shoulder instead of his head, where it should have landed. The big fellow was at the helm; but he dropped the tiller in a twinkling, springing at us like a cat, and even from the passing glimpse I had, it was possible to understand that we had considerable work cut out for us if we were to get the best of the squabble. Of what was done during the first two or three minutes, I have no very clear idea, for it was as rough and tumble a fight as I ever had a hand in. I knew, however, that we were nearly off the battery when Abe and I came out of the cabin; that the sloop was singing dangerously close inshore, and that Luther had a boat hook which he was using as a pike. As to other details I gave no heed, having quite as much of business on hand as could well be attended to just at the time. The big fellow had not waited to arm himself; but came into the fray empty-handed, and the first blow he struck felled me like an ox, for I received it just between the eyes. Fortunately I fell on the deck instead of into the cabin, and when I came to my senses and my feet at about the same time, Luther was lying not far away with the blood flowing from his mouth and nose, while Abe and the big fellow were rolling over and over in the cockpit, the Tory evidently having the best of it.