What does 'the mate was fixed by the bosun's pike' mean from ' The Derelict'?

In "The Derelict," the phrase "the mate was fixed by the bosun's pike" refers to a violent confrontation where the ship's mate was killed or incapacitated by the bosun using a pike, a type of long spear. This suggests a breakdown of order on the ship and highlights the tension and brutality among the crew. The use of "fixed" implies that the mate's fate was sealed in a sudden and decisive manner, emphasizing the dire circumstances aboard the derelict vessel.