But the captain meant to quarrel now. He raised his voice. “If he comes this end of the ship again I’ll cut his insides out, I tell you. Cut out his blasted insides! Who are you , to tell me what I’m to do? I tell you I’m captain of this ship⁠—captain and owner. I’m the law here, I tell you⁠—the law and the prophets. I bargained to take a man and his attendant to and from Arica , and bring back some animals. I never bargained to carry a mad devil and a silly sawbones, a⁠—”

Well, never mind what he called Montgomery. I saw the latter take a step forward, and interposed. “He’s drunk,” said I. The captain began some abuse even fouler than the last. “Shut up!” I said, turning on him sharply, for I had seen danger in Montgomery’s white face. With that I brought the downpour on myself.