Over him, as if about to kick him, was the form of a powerful looking man who proved to be the first mate.
"What's the matter," exclaimed the sailor last landed.

"What's this ?" "Perhaps you would like the same kind of a dose my hearty," exclaimed the mate as he came towards him with clenched fists.
"Well, no," was the response, "I don't intend to take any, but I will give you one that will teach you not to bill sailors in open port," and he drew his sheath knife and made a lunge that would certainly have disemboweled the first mate had he not quickly dodged the thrust and retreated to the cabin.
While the sailor who had drawn the knife was bending over his wounded comrade, the captain appeared, and exclaimed: "This kind of work won't do! What's the meaning of this row ?" The sailor who had been struck explained to the captain how he had accidentally hit the mate while throwing his bag aboard, and that his partner had only come to his assistance when he thought he had been killed.
"Go forward, boys, go forward," the captain said.

"I'll see that no more of this occurs." This scene had been witnessed by Paul as he sat quietly on the rail.
When the men went forward he stepped down and approached the captain, saying: "Captain, I have been informed that your ship is a pretty wild one and by what I have seen I think she bears out her reputation all right.

Now I consider myself fully competent to do my duty and will do it; but I want to give you fair warning that if I am molested by either of your bully mates, as I presume you have two of them, I will take good care of myself.

The days when an officer can treat sailors with impunity are a thing of the past." To which the captain responded: "You'll be all right, go away forward and stow your things." When Paul entered the forecastle he found that the crew consisted of nine men seated on their sea chests and bunks, holding a council of war.