An Intervention

There was bad blood between the captain and mate who comprised the officers and crew of the sailing-barge which called "Swallow". Their trip from London to Littleport was conducted in glum silence. The tension was high – captain spoke few words, but his words were filled by threats and abuse. One moment the captain said: " Hey you! Get the side-lights out, and quick!" The black-haired sailor who was about 25 years old lazily obeyed him. "Look lively, you lump" – angrily said the captain. The sailor snarled: "Shut up! I don't want to hear your voice anymore!" The captain heard his words and tried to threaten him – he said that if he would act like that, he would hit him. The conflict between the captain and the sailor had been turned into a new form... What happened next?