Federigo came out now in an unexpectedly friendly light; and Salve perceived that it was only owing to him that all the Portuguese were not against him also.

The result was that the two gradually approached such other again.
There were of course in such a collection of riff-raff, individual bullies whose hands were against every man, but who to some extent kept each other in check.

The one most feared of these was a huge, copper-coloured, scarred Irishman, who seemed periodically to be possessed by a very demon of violence, and to be actually running over with bad blood.

He had been in irons for some time before the vessel arrived at Rio, for having one day sworn on deck that he would murder the captain.

It was with this ruffian that Salve had first to measure himself, the boatswain being the immediate cause.
One day when the large bell forward had rung for dinner, the boatswain gave an order which detained Salve for some time after the others had taken their places at the long table in the round-house, and when he came in everything was eaten up, and he lost his dinner.