Huxham, born bully as he was, found that it was difficult for him to storm at a man so cool, and calm, and self-controlled. "Y' ain't m' chice," said he in lower but very sulky tones; "m' gel's goin' t' merry th' sky-pilot, Silas Pence." "Oh, no, she's not," said Lister smoothly; "she will marry me." "If she does, she don't get no money o' mine." "That will be no hindrance," said Bella, who was rapidly regaining her colour. "I am willing to marry Cyril without a penny." "Y' shent, then," grumbled her father savagely. "I have yet to hear your objections, sir." "Yer name's Lister, and----" The objection was so petty, that Bella quite expected to see Cyril laugh. But in place of doing so, he turned white and retreated a step. "What--what do you know of my name?" he asked, with apparent nervousness. "Thet's my business," snapped Huxham, seeing his advantage, "an' I shen't tell y' m' business. Y' git off m' land, or----" he suddenly lunged forward in the attempt to throw Lister when off his guard. But the young man was watchful, and, unexpectedly swerving, dexterously tripped up his bulky antagonist. Huxham, with a shout, or rather a bellow of rage like a wounded bull, sprawled full length amongst the corn. Bella pushed her lover away before the captain could regain his feet. "Go, go, I can see you to-morrow," she said hastily. "Y' shell never see the swab again," roared Huxham, rising slowly, for the fall had shaken him, and he was no longer young. "I'll shut y' in yer room, an' feed y' on bread an' water." "If you dare to say that again, I'll break your head," cried Lister, suddenly losing his temper at the insult to the girl he loved. "Oh, will y'?" Huxham passed his tongue over his coarse lips and rubbed his big hands slowly. Apparently nothing would have given him greater pleasure than to pitch this man who dared him into the boundary channel; but he had learned a lesson from his late fall. Lister was active and young; the captain was elderly and slow. Therefore, in spite of his superior strength--and Huxham judged that he had that--it was risky to try conclusions of sheer brute force. The captain therefore, being a coward at heart, as all bullies are, weakened and retreated. "Y' git off m' land," was all that he could find to say, "an' y' git home, Bella. Es m' daughter I'll deal with y'." "I am quite ready to go home," said Bella boldly; "but you are not going to behave as though I were one of your sailors, father." "I'll do wot I please," growled Huxham, looking white and wicked. Bella laughed somewhat artificially, for her father did not look amiable. "I don't think you will," she said, with feigned carelessness. "Cyril, go now, and I'll see you again to-morrow." "Ef y' come here again," shouted Huxham, boiling over once more, "I'll kill y'--thet I will." "Take care you aren't killed yourself first," retorted Lister, and was surprised at the effect the threat--an idle one--had on the ex-sailor.