Chapter 15

           Therewasadealofcursingandgroaningasthemenatthebottomoftheladdercrawledtotheirfeet.

           "Somebodystrikealight,mythumb’soutofjoint,"saidoneofthemen,Parsons,aswarthy,saturnineman,boat-steererinStandish’sboat,inwhichHarrisonwaspuller.

           "You’llfinditknockin’aboutbythebitts,"Leachsaid,sittingdownontheedgeofthebunkinwhichIwasconcealed.

           Therewasafumblingandascratchingofmatches,andthesea-lampflaredup,dimandsmoky,andinitsweirdlightbare-leggedmenmovedaboutnursingtheirbruisesandcaringfortheirhurts.Oofty–OoftylaidholdofParsons’sthumb,pullingitoutstoutlyandsnappingitbackintoplace.InoticedatthesametimethattheKanaka’sknuckleswerelaidopenclearacrossandtothebone.Heexhibitedthem,exposingbeautifulwhiteteethinagrinashedidso,andexplainingthatthewoundshadcomefromstrikingWolfLarseninthemouth.

           "Soitwasyou,wasit,youblackbeggar?"belligerentlydemandedoneKelly,anIrish–Americanandalongshoreman,makinghisfirsttriptosea,andboat-pullerforKerfoot.

           AshemadethedemandhespatoutamouthfulofbloodandteethandshovedhispugnaciousfaceclosetoOofty–Oofty.TheKanakaleapedbackwardtohisbunk,toreturnwithasecondleap,flourishingalongknife.

           "Aw,golaydown,youmakemetired,"Leachinterfered.Hewasevidently,forallofhisyouthandinexperience,cockoftheforecastle."G’wan,youKelly.YouleaveOoftyalone.

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