Before he ended, Kind, active as a cat, was swarming up the steps, and the astonished sailor found himself shortly grappling with an exceedingly active opponent. It was a rash thing to do, as Kind did not know the strength of his antagonist, and moreover ran a chance of being imprisoned for starting trouble. All the same, he ran the risk, and swung and swayed with the now enraged mariner, while the swarthy crew hooted and yelled, and stole all the articles they could find in the pack. As Kind guessed, the noise brought out a man in authority, and also the tall, dark lady who had insulted Browne.
"What's all this?" inquired the officer, looking up at the struggling men.
Kind heard the voice, and saw the lady. With an effort he flung his antagonist on the deck, and leaped like a kangaroo from the bridge down on to the lower deck. The fall was a dangerous one, but Kind managed to alight, like a cat, on his feet and almost beside the lady. Scrambling up he began to explain.
"I came along to see this lady," he said, taking off his hat, and gasping for breath, "and my civil inquiry only met with sauce. I was teaching that pirate there some manners."
"Here, get on, you swab," shouted the officer, advancing.
Sweetlips, whose eyes were on all sides, saw that the sailors were stealing his property, and bounded for his pack, He arrived just in time to knock over a man, who was seizing the red and yellow shawl which was his passport to an interview with the lady. With this in his hand he ran back, dodging the enraged half-caste he had bowled over.
"Miss,--ma'am," he gasped, flourishing the shawl in the eyes of the lady, "I want to see you,--I've come from Desleigh,--I've----"
The lady interrupted to rattle off a speech to the officer in Spanish, whereupon that gentleman knocked down the half caste, who had drawn his knife and was making for Kind.
"Come here with me," said the lady in English, and swept into the cabin, followed by the Cheap-jack, who did not at all like the looks of his adversary. He had secured his purpose, but at the risk of being knifed when he came ashore.
"Now then," said the lady in excellent English, "have you a message for me?"
"No, ma'am, but I found some of your property, and came to return--"