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 Open-mouthed stupour [sic] fell on the company. Then, to Owen's surprise, all hands laughed uproariously.

"Cert'nly, mate," replied the sailor, with an obliging air. "That's a fair offer. I'd fight you for less." He grinned cheerfully, winked at the on-lookers, and plied his stubby fingers at his buttons.

Murmurs of protest mingled with the laughter: "… not hardly fair … Will 'e fight? well, rather! … Go on, tell 'im, Mac … The youngster looks 'andy enough, too … But he'd ought to know who he was takin on.…"

A grey-beard engineer shook his head at Scarlett, solemnly.

"Man," said he, "'tis but honest to inforrm ye, thon man is Bob Cutts, that fought a drawn fight o' twenty rounds at Kowloon, wi' Tom