"What do you want to do, Captain Hill?" he asked.
"To crush that young viper!" shouted the captain, fiercely.
"You shall not harm a hair of his head!"
By this time the captain's wrath had been diverted to the mate. He
struck out with his right hand, intending to fell him to the ground,
but, the mate swerving, he fell from the force of his abortive blow,
and, being under the influence of his morning potations, could not
immediately rise.
"Boys," said Mr. Holdfast, "you may take hold of the trunk again and
go on with it. Don't be afraid. If the captain makes any attempt to
assault you, he will have me to deal with."
Harry and Jack did as directed. Jack, however, could not help feeling
a little nervous, his old fear of the captain asserting itself. But
Harry, confident in the protection of his good friend, the mate, was
quite unconcerned.
Mr. Holdfast walked on beside them.
"The captain seems disposed to make trouble," he said. "He fancies
that he is captain of this island, as he was chief officer of the
Nantucket. I shall convince him of his mistake."
"I hope you won't get into any trouble on my account, Mr. Holdfast,"
said Harry, considerately.
"Thank you, my lad; but Tom Holdfast doesn't propose to let any man
walk over him, even if it is his old skipper.
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