The men looked on, waiting the result, but without daring to interfere.

Not so the captain.

When he saw Allen attack the mate, he seized a belaying pin, that was loose in the fife-rail, and watching his opportunity, gave the refractory sailor two or three smart raps over the head and face, which embarrassed him amazingly, caused him to release his grasp on the mate, and felled him to the deck! The mate then took a stout rope's end and threshed him until he roared for mercy.

The fellow was terribly punished and staggered forward, followed by a volley of threats and anathemas.
But the matter did not end here.

At twelve o'clock Allen went below, and was loud in his complaints of the barbarous manner in which he had been treated.