Page:The Naval Officer (1829), vol. 1.djvu/76

 mock, and had very nearly knocked out your brains. I did it in return for your cowardly attack on me; and [I will do it again, if I suffer martyrdom for it: for every act of tyranny you commit, I will have revenge. Try me now, and see if I am not as good as my word." He grinned, and turned. pale, but dared do no more, for he was a coward.

I was ordered to quit the berth, which I did, and as I went out, one of the mates observed, that I was "a proper malignant devil, by G—."

This violent scene produced a sort of cessation from hostilities. Murphy knew that he might expect a decanter at his head or a knife in his side, if I was provoked; and that peace which I could not gain from his compassion, I obtained from his fears. The affair made a noise in the ship. With the officers in the gun-room I lost ground, because it was misrepresented. With the men I gained favour, because they hated Murphy. They saw the truth, and admired me for my determined resistance.