To my astonishment, she swore at him in a dreadful manner, but refused to turn out.

He was abusing her, and shaking her in the hammock, when Mr Trotter, who had been roused at the noise, rushed from behind the screen.

"You villain! what are you doing with my wife ?" cried he, pommelling at him as well as he could, for he was so tipsy that he could hardly stand.
I thought the midshipman able to take care of himself, and did not wish to interfere; so I remained above, looking on--the sentry standing by me with his lantern over the coombings of the hatchway to give light to the midshipman, and to witness the fray.

Mr Trotter was soon knocked down, when all of a sudden Mrs Trotter jumped up from the hammock, and caught the midshipman by the hair, and pulled at him.

Then the sentry thought right to interfere; he called out for the master-at-arms, and went down himself to help the midshipman, who was faring badly between the two.
But Mrs Trotter snatched the lantern out of his hand and smashed it all to pieces, and then we were all left in darkness, and I could not see what took place, although the scuffling continued.