Page:Under Dewey at Manila.djvu/99

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AN UNWELCOME SHIPMATE
77

me about the Rescue and Captain Morgan, and if I knew where he might get a chance to ship—and he asked me if I had got my pay, too."

"And he is the man that you met at the band concert in Honolulu?"

"Yes, sir, I am willing to take my affidavit on it."

"You had a quarrel there?"

"We did. He knocked me down and ran away."

Olan Oleson had listened patiently. Now he raised both hands in protestation. "The boy tell a lie. I no the man—I an honest man, captain." He touched his forelock. "If we no be on de ship, I knock him down for what he say. But I good sailor; I know sailor's place."

"Yes, I won't allow any fighting on board ship," responded Captain Ponsberry, firmly. Then he rubbed his chin in perplexity. "But I hardly know what to say to this. It's one man's word against another's, and there you are. Parson, what do you think in a case like this?"

"Let us pray there is some mistake," were the missionary's words, although he, too, was inclined to side with Larry. "You know," he added to the youth, "there are many cases on record of mistaken identity."