“Friend or enemy, I won’t take your money,” added Jack firmly, as he settled his back against the mizzen-top-mast rigging, and folded his arms as if to prevent the coppers which he had inadvertently won from being thrust upon him by force. “Won’t take ’em: won’t ye, my hearty?” “No, I will not: I did not mean to win them.” “Didn’t meant to? Don’t you know what odd and even means?” “I didn’t know it meant gambling.” “All I got to say is, that I take it as an insult.” “I did not mean to insult you.” “Then take the coppers.” “I can’t do that.” “Take the coppers, and give me a chance to win ’em back, and then we’ll call it square. After that, if you want to go about on the other tack, all right.” “I will not gamble to please you or any other man.” “Very well, my hearty: I’ll sarve you out for this. There’s two ways to insult a seaman: one is not to drink his grog when he axes you; and t’other is not to take his money when you’ve won it. You insulted me, Jack Somers; and I’ll sarve you out the first time the wind comes from the right quarter. D’ye hear, ye little sniveling rat-catcher? Why didn’t you bring your ma with you to keep you from falling overboard?” “Because I can take care of myself, and because I want to keep my mother out of bad company,” replied Jack sharply. “Bad company! What do you mean by that, you little splatterbrains? Did you mean me?” “I didn’t mean anybody else in the mizzen-top,” answered Jack in a low but stiff tone. “Did ye? Then I’ll smash your top-lights!” said Sam, springing forward, apparently with the intention of inflicting summary vengeance upon his topmate. “Avast there, Becket! Now, batten down your gabport, and don’t say another word. The lad has the rights of it. If he don’t want to play, he needn’t. It’s agin all orders to play on board. Now let him alone,” interposed Bob Rushington, taking the angry seaman by the arm. “I’ll be----” “Belay all!” said the captain of the top firmly. “If you say another word about it, I’ll report you to the officer of the deck.” Becket, in the face of this threat, did not dare to pursue his vindictive measures any further; and, during the remainder of the watch in the top, Jack was permitted to consider without interruption the enormity of the vice of gambling, and the results to which it inevitably leads. CHAPTER X. “MAN OVERBOARD!” “All the starboard watch, ahoy!” shouted the boatswain’s chief mate, at eight bells, on the following morning.