But to make matters still worse, the captain and his officers were ugly-tempered fellows.

The one kicked, and the others cuffed Israel.

Whereupon, not sugared with his recent experiences, and maddened by his present hap, Israel seeing himself alone at sea, with only three men, instead of a thousand, to contend against, plucked up a heart, knocked the captain into the lee scuppers, and in his fury was about tumbling the first-officer, a small wash of a fellow, plump overboard, when the captain, jumping to his feet, seized him by his long yellow hair, vowing he would slaughter him.

Meanwhile the cutter flew foaming through the channel, as if in demoniac glee at this uproar on her imperilled deck.

While the consternation was at its height, a dark body suddenly loomed at a moderate distance into view, shooting right athwart the stern of the cutter.