Smallbones raised up his thin arms, and clasped his hands, pleading for mercy.

“And after the flogging—­you shall be keel-hauled.”

“O God!” screamed Smallbones, falling down on his knees, “mercy—­mercy!”

But there was none.  Snarleyyow, when he saw the lad go down on his knees, flew at him, and threw him on his back, growling over him, and occasionally looking at his master.

“Come here, Snarleyyow,” said Mr Vanslyperken.  “Come here, sir, and lie down.”  But Snarleyyow had not forgotten the red-herring; so in revenge, he first bit Smallbones in the thigh, and then obeyed his master.

“Get up, sir,” cried the lieutenant.

Smallbones rose, but his temper now rose also; he forgot all that he was to suffer, from indignation against the dog:  with flashing eyes, and whimpering with rage, he cried out, as the tears fell, and his arms swung round, “I’ll not stand this—­I’ll jump overboard—­that I will:  fourteen times has that ere dog a-bitten me this week.  I’d sooner die at once, than be made dog’s-meat of in this here way.”

“Silence, you mutinous rascal, or I’ll put you in irons.”

“I wish you would—­irons don’t bite, if they hold fast.  I’ll run away—­I don’t mind being hung—­that I don’t—­starved to death, bitten to death in this here way—­”

“Silence, sir.  It’s over-feeding that makes you saucy.”

“The Lord forgive you’” cried Smallbones, with surprise; “I’ve not had a full meal”

“A full meal, you rascal! there’s no filling a thing like you—­hollow from top to bottom, like a bamboo.”

“And what I does get,” continued Smallbones, with energy, “I pays dear for; that ere dog flies at me, if I takes a bit o’ biscuit.  I never has a bite without getting a bite, and it’s all my own allowance.”

“A proof of his fidelity, and an example to you, you wretch,” replied the lieutenant, fondly patting the dog on the head.

“Well, I wish you’d discharge me—­or hang me, I don’t care which.  You eats so hearty, and the dog eats so hearty, that I gets nothing.  We are only victualled for two.”

“You insolent fellow! recollect the thief’s cat.”

“It’s very hard,” continued Smallbones, unmindful of the threat, “that that ere beast is to eat my allowance, and be allowed to half eat me too.”

“You forget the keel-hauling, you scarecrow.”

“Well, I hope I may never come up again, that’s all.”

“Leave the cabin, sir.”

This order Smallbones obeyed.

“Snarleyyow,” said the lieutenant, “you are hungry, my poor beast.”  Snarleyyow put his forepaw up on his master’s knee.  “You shall have your breakfast soon,” continued his master, eating the burgoo between his addresses to the animal.  “Yes, Snarleyyow, you have done wrong this morning—­you ought to have no breakfast.”  Snarleyyow growled.  “We are only four years acquainted, and how many scrapes you have got me into, Snarleyyow!”