thrashing, as per Cappy Ricks’ instructions, had already purchased and gotten aboard stores and water for the voyage back to Grays Harbor, so All Hands And Feet drew some money from the consignees, to be deducted from the freight money, paid off all the vessel’s bills, 0.K.’d the consignees’ statement of account to be forwarded to the owners, received a ninety-day draft on London, in payment of the freight, mailed it to his owners, cleared his vessel, procured a reliable man to witness the formal transfer of authority from Matt Peasley to himself, engaged a launch and set out for the Retriever.  All Hands And Feet had had ample time to plan his campaign, and he had planned it well.  Immediately upon setting foot on the deck of the Retriever he planned to attack; then, this duty accomplished, he would send his witness ashore, up hook and away.  The attack having taken place in British waters All Hands And Feet hoped Matt Peasley would have no redress in American waters; and if he took the complainant to sea with him the man Peasley would, of a certainty, have no legal redress in British waters!

Mr. Murphy was the first to sight All Hands And Feet.  The worthy fellow had observed the arrival of the steamer and it had occurred to him that possibly Cappy Ricks’ messenger might be aboard her.  He had been on the lookout for two hours, accordingly, and the instant he saw a launch coming toward the Retriever his suspicions were fully aroused.  He ran below and returned with the two ounce gloves and Captain Kendall’s powerful marine glasses, which latter he leveled at the approaching launch, and while the new skipper was still a couple of cable lengths distant, Mr. Murphy recognized him.  Instantly he secured the two ounce gloves and ran aft to where Matt Peasley, dressed in slippers, duck trousers and undershirt, sat under an awning reading Sinful Peck.

“Matt,” he declared, “the special messenger will be aboard in about three shakes of a lamb’s tail.  I recognize him.”

“Who is he?” Matt demanded coolly.

“All Hands And Feet—­and believe me, he’s there!  He isn’t a man, Matt, he’s a bear—­he’s a devil, and if he ever gets his hands on you it’s Kitty bar the door!  Get into the gloves, boy, get into the gloves.  You could smash that big Swede to your heart’s content, but you wouldn’t even stagger him with the first few punches.  You’d just break your hands on him before you could knock him out and then he’d walk over you.  Into the gloves, Matt, and save your knuckles.”

“All right, Mike.  Don’t be in such a hurry.  Call a couple of hands and let down the companion ladder so the special messenger can bring his dunnage aboard.  I’ll fight him after I’ve finished this chapter—­that is, if he insists on being accommodated.”

“He’ll insist,” Mr. Murphy declared.  “He likes it, and the reason he likes it is because he does it well, and that’s the reason he’s here.  He won’t waste any ceremony on you, Matt.  He’s always up and doing.”