Smith was ahead of him, however, saving to Norman, "Look out for your pockets--that greasy fellow will rob you." And Norman, who was nothing if not highly respectable, resolved to shake off the troublesome "Dutchman" at once.

"I don't know what you are up to now, but at home you are known as a thief.

So please let me alone, will you ?" This Norman tried to say in an annihilating way.
The crowd looked for a fight.

August said loud enough to be heard, "You know very well that you lie.

I wanted to save you from being a thief, but you are betting money now that is not yours." The company, of course, sympathized with the gentleman and against the machine-oil on the striker's clothes, so that there arose quickly a murmur, started by Smith, "Put the bully out," and August was "hustled." It is well that he was not shot.
It was quite time for him to go on watch now; for the loud-ticking marine-clock over the window of the clerk's office pointed to three minutes past twelve, and the striker hurried to his post at the starboard engine, with the bitterness of defeat and the shame of insult in his heart.