Page:Under Dewey at Manila.djvu/97

Rh continued to hold Larry, while the latter sought to push his antagonist away.

"Hullo, what's the row?" queried Striker. "'Pears to me you two are gettin' at it early-like."

"This man is the thief who robbed me at the Travellers' Rest in Honolulu."

"The boy lie—I nefer see him before," came from the Norwegian, and now he hurled Larry from him. "You speak lie of me again, I show you what I do!" and again his clenched fist came up.

"He has shaved off his beard, but he is the man; I can swear to it. Striker. I wish I had seen him before we left Honolulu. I could bring witnesses and have him arrested."

"Wish you had seen him in Honolulu, if your story is true," returned the Yankee, who had taken to Larry and felt bound to side with him. "Captain Ponsberry won't want no thief aboard this craft, not by a jugful!"

"We go to de captain," growled Olan Oleson. "The boy mak a mistak. I am honest man—maybe he a thief," and he shook his head to emphasize his words.

By this time Hobson and several others had entered behind Luke Striker, and a hubbub arose, as