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UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. 
 
 THE GREENEBAUM COLLECTION OF THE SEMITIC LIBRARY 
 OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. 
 
 GIFT OF 
 
 ALFRED GREENEBAUM. 
 
 JANUARY, 1897. 
 
 Accession No,oY 7 f a- Class No. .^.0...<S- 
 
 /Vf 3 6 2- 
 
 Wv 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 BY CAPTAIN MARRYA'J , 
 
 AUTHOR OF '' JAPHET IN SEARCH OF A FATHER, "—*' PETER 
 * SIMPLE,' --"JACOB FAITHFUL," etc. 
 
 "'J^t^ 
 
 PARIS: 
 
 BAUDRY'S EUROPEAN LIBRARY, 
 
 RUE DU COQ ST. HONORE. 
 
 SOLD ALSO BY AMYOT, RUE DE LA PAlX; TBUCHY, BOULEVARD DE ITALTENS 
 
 TIIEOPUILE BARROIS, JUN.. RUE RICHELIEU ; LIBRAIRIE DES ETRANGERS, 
 
 RUE NEUVE SAINT AUGUSTIN. 
 
 1837. 
 
v;// 
 
y^ Of THJI 
 
 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Which the reader will find very easy to read. 
 
 Mr. Nicodemus Easy was a gentleman who lived down in Hamp- 
 shire ; he was a married man, and in very easy circumstances. 
 Most couples find it very easy to have a family, but not always 
 quite so easy to maintain ihem. Mr Easy was not at all uneasy 
 on the latter score, as he had no children ; but he was anxious to 
 have them, as most people covet what they cannot obtain. 
 Afier ten years, Mr. Easy gave it up as a bad job. Philosophy 
 is said to console a man under disappointment, although Shak- 
 speare asserts that it is no remedy for tooih-ache; so Mr. Easy 
 turned philosopher, the very best profession a man can take 
 up, when he is tit for nothing else ; he must be a very incapable 
 person indeed who cannot talk nonsense. For some time, 
 
 I 
 
i MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 Mr. Easy could not decide upon what description his nonsense 
 should consist of; at last he tixed upon the rights of man, 
 equality, and all that ; how every person was born to inherit 
 his share of the earth, a right at present only admitted to a 
 certain length; that is, about six feet, for we all inherit our 
 graves, and are allowed to take possession without dispute. But 
 no one would listen to Mr. Easy's philosophy. The women would 
 not acknowjedge the rights of men, whom they declared always 
 to be in the wrong ; and, as the gentlemen who visited Mr. Easy 
 were all men of properly, they could not perceive the advantages 
 of sharing with those who had none. However, they allowed 
 him to discuss the question, while they discussed his port wine. 
 The wine was good if the arguments were not, and we must take 
 things as we had them in this world. 
 
 While Mr. Easy talked philosophy, Mrs. Easy played patience, 
 and they were a very happy couple, riding side by side on their 
 hobbies, and never interfering with each other. Mr. Easy knew 
 his wife could not understand him, and therefore did not expect 
 her to listen very attentively; and Mrs. Easy did not care how 
 much her husband talked, provided she was not put out in 
 her game. Mutual forbearance will always ensure domestic 
 felicity. 
 
 There was another cause for their agreeing so well. Upon 
 * any disputed question Mr. Easy invariably gave it up to Mrs. Easy, 
 teUing her that she should have her own way — and this pleased 
 his wife; but as Mr. Easy always took care, Avhen it came to the 
 point, to have his way, he was pleased as well. It is true that 
 Mrs. Ea^y had long found out that she did not have her own way 
 long ; but she was of an easy disposition, and as, in nine cases 
 out of ten, it was of very htile consequence how things were 
 done, she was quite satisfied wiih his submission during the heat 
 of the argument. Mr. Easy had admitted that she was right, 
 and if like all men he would do wrong, why what could a poor 
 woman do? With a lady of such a quiet disposition, it is 
 easy to imagine that the domestic felicity of Mr. Easy was not 
 easily disturbed. But, as people have observed before, there is 
 a mutability in human affairs. It was at the finale of the 
 eleventh year of their marriage that Mrs. Easy at first com- 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 3 
 
 plained that she could not enjoy her breakfast. Mrs. Easy had 
 her own suspicions, eve? y body else considered it past doubt, all 
 except Mr. Easy; he little '* thought, good eaj^y man, that his 
 greatness was ripening; " he had decided that to have an heir 
 was no Easy task, and it never came into his calculations, that 
 there could be a change in his wife's figure. You might have 
 added to it, subtracted from it, divided it, or multiplied it, but 
 as it was a zero, the result would be always the same. Mrs. Easy 
 also was not quite sure — she believed it might be the case, there 
 was no saying ; it might be a mistake, like that of Mrs. Trun- 
 nion's in the novel, and, therefore, she said nothing to her 
 husband about the matter. At last Mr. Ea.-y opened his eyes, 
 and when, upon interrogating his wife, he found out the astound- 
 ing truth, he opened his eyes still wider, and then he snapped 
 his fingers, and d.mced, hke abear upon hot plates, with deUght, 
 thereby proving that different causes may produce similar effects 
 in two instances at one and the same time. The bear dances 
 from pain, Mr. Easy from pleasure ; and again, when we are 
 indifferent^ or do not care for any thing, we snap our fingers at it, 
 and when we are overjoyed and obtain what we most care for, 
 we also snap our fingers. Two months after Mr. Easy snapped 
 his fingers, Mrs. Easy felt no inclination to snap hers, either 
 from indifference or pleasure^ The fact was, that Mrs. Easy's 
 time was come, to undergo what Shakspeare pronounces, ** the 
 pleasing punishment that women bear,'^ but Mrs. Easy, like the 
 rest of her sex, declared, ** that all men were liars, " and most 
 particulaily poets. 
 
 But while Mrs. Easy was suffering, Mr. Easy was in ecstasies. 
 He laughed at pain, as all philosophers do when it is suffered by 
 other people, and not by themselves. 
 
 In due course of time, Mrs. Easy presented her husband with 
 a fine boy, whom we present to the public as our hero. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 In which Mrs. Fasy, as usuai , has her own way. 
 
 It was the fourlh day after Mrs. Easy's confinement that Mr. Easy 
 who was silting by her bedside in an easy chair, commenced as 
 follows; *' I have been thinking, my dear Mrs. Easy, about the 
 name 1 shall give this child.'* 
 
 ** Name, Mr. Easy ! why, what iiame should you give it but 
 your own ?'' 
 
 ** Not so, my dear,'' replied Mr. Easy; **they call all names 
 proper names, but I think that mine is not. It is the very worst 
 name in the calendar.'* 
 
 ** Why, what's the matter with it, Mr. Easy?" 
 
 ** The matter affects me as well as the boy. Nicodemus is a 
 long name to write at full length, aud Nick is vulgar. Besides, 
 as there will be two (Nicks, thi y will naturally call my bt y young 
 Nick, and of course I shall be styled old Nick, which will be 
 diabolical." 
 
 '* Well, Mr. Easy, at all events then let me choose the 
 name," 
 
 ** That you shall, my dear, and it was with this view that I 
 have mentioned the subject so early." 
 
 *' I think, Mr. Easy, 1 will call the boy after my poor father — 
 his name shall be Robert." 
 
 ** Very well, my dear, if you wish it, it shall be Robert. You 
 shall have your own way. But I think, my dear, upon a little 
 consideration, you will acknowledge that there is a decided ob- 
 jection." 
 
 ** An objection, Mr. Easy?" 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 5 
 
 *' Yes, my dear; Robert may be very well, but you must re- 
 flect upon the consequences; he is certain to be called Bob." 
 
 *' Well, my dear, and suppose they do call him Bob?" 
 
 ** J cannot bear even the supposition, my dear. You forget 
 the county in which we are residing, the downs covered with 
 sheep." 
 
 *' Why, Mr. Easy, what can sheep have to do with a chris- 
 tian name?'* 
 
 ** There it is; women never look to consequences. My dear, 
 they have a great deal to do with the name of Bob. I will appeal 
 to any farmer in the county, if ninety-nine shepherds' dogs out of 
 one hundred are not called Bob. Now observe, your child is out 
 of doors somewhere in the fields or plantations; you want and 
 you call him. Instead of your child , what do you find ? Why, a 
 dozen curs at least who come running up to you , all answering 
 to the name of Bob, and wagging their stumps of tails. You see, 
 Mrs. Easy, it is a dilemma not to be got over. You level your 
 only son to the brute creation by giving him a chrislian name 
 which, from its peculiar brevity, has been monopolized by all 
 the dogs in the county. Any other name you please, my dear, 
 but in this one instance you must allow me to lay my positive 
 veto.'' 
 
 " Well, then, let me see— but I'll think of it, Mr. Easy ; my 
 head aches very much just now." 
 
 ** I will think for you, my dear. What do you say to 
 John?" 
 
 ** no, Mr. Easy, such a common name." 
 
 ** A proof of its popularity, my dear. It is scriptural — we have 
 the apostle and the baptist — we have a dozen popes who were 
 all Johns. It is royal— we have plenty of kings who were Johns 
 — and moreover, it is short, and sounds honest and manly." 
 
 ** Yes, very true, my dear ; but they will call him Jack." 
 
 ** Well, we have had several celebrated characters who were 
 Jacks. There was — let me see— Jack the Giant Killer, and Jack 
 of the Bean Stalk — and Jack — Jack— " o^^ 
 
 ** Jack Spratt," replied Mrs. Easy. 
 
 ** And Jack Cade, Mrs. Easy, the great rebel— and Three- 
 fingered Jack, Mrs, Easy, the celebrated negro — and, above all, 
 
6 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 Jack Falstaff, ma'am, Jack Falstaff, —honest Jack Falstaff, — ' 
 witiy Jack Falstaff — " 
 
 " I thought, ftlr. Easy, that I was to be permitted to choose 
 the name." 
 
 »* Well, so you shall, my dear; I give it up to you. Do just as 
 you please ; but depend upon it that John is the right name. Is it 
 not now, my dear?" 
 
 " It's the way you always treat me, Mr. Easy; you say that 
 you give it up, and that I shall have my own way, but I never do 
 have it. I am sure that the child will be christened John." 
 
 " Nay, my dear, it shall be just what you please. Now I re- 
 collect it, there were several Greek emperors who were Johns ; 
 but decide for yourself, my dear." 
 
 ** No, no," replied Mrs. Easy, who was ill, and unable to con- 
 tend any longer, ** I give it up, Mr. Easy. I know how it will be, 
 as it always is, you give me my own way as people give pieces of 
 gold to children, it's their own money, but they must not spend 
 it. Pray call him John.'' 
 
 ** There, my dear, did not I tell you, you would be of my opi- 
 nion upon reflection? 1 knew you would. I have given you your 
 own way, and you tell me to call him John ; so now we're both 
 of the same mind, and that point is settled." 
 
 ** I should like to go to sleep, Mr. Easy; I feel far from 
 well." 
 
 '* You shall always do just as you like, my dear," replied the 
 husband, ** and have your own way in every thing. It is the 
 greatest pleasure I have when I yield to your wishes. I will walk 
 in the garden. Good-bye, my dear." 
 
 Mrs. Easy made no reply, and the philosopher quitted the 
 room. As may easily be imagined, on the following day the boy 
 was christened John. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 In which our hero has to wait Ih^ issue of an argument. 
 
 The reader may observe that, in general, all my first chapters 
 are very short, and increase in length as the work advances. 
 I mention this as a proof of my modesty and diffidence. At first, 
 I am like a young bird just out of its mother's nest, pluming my 
 little feathers and taking short flights. By degrees, I obtain 
 more confidence , and wing my course over hill and dale. 
 
 It is very difficult to throw any interest into a chapter on 
 childhood. There is the same uniformity in all children until 
 they develope. We cannot, therefore, say much relative to 
 Jack Easy's earliest days ; he sucked and threw up his milk, 
 while the nurse blessed it for a pretty dear, slept, and sucked 
 again. He crowed in the morning like a cock, screamed when 
 he was washed, stared at the candle, and made wry faces with 
 the wind. Six months passed in these innocent amusements, 
 and then he was put into shorts. But I ought here to have re- 
 marked that Mrs. Easy did not find herself equal to nursing her 
 own infant, and it was necessary to look out for a substitute. 
 
 Now a common-place person would have been satisfied with 
 the recommendation of the medical man, who looks but to the 
 one thing needful, which is a sufficient and wholesome supply of 
 nourishment for the child ; but Mr. Easy was a philosopher, and 
 had latterly taken to craniology, and he descanted very learnedly 
 with the doctor upon the effect of his only son obtaining his nu- 
 triment from an unknown source. ** Who knows,'' observed 
 Mr. Easy, ** but that my son may not imbibe with his milk the 
 very worst passions of human nature?" 
 
8 MR. MlDSHIPiMAN EASY. 
 
 ** I have examined her," replied the doctor, ** andean safely 
 recommend her/' 
 
 ** That examination is only prehminary to one more impor- 
 tant," rephed Mr. Easy. *• I must examine her.'' 
 
 ** Examine who, Mr. Easy?" exclaimed his wife, who had Iain 
 down again on the hed. 
 
 *' The nurse, my dear." 
 
 ** Examine what, Mr. Easy?'' continued the lady. 
 
 ** Her head, my dear," replied the husband. ** I must ascertain 
 what her propensities are." 
 
 ** I think you had better leave her alone, Mr. Easy. She 
 comes this evening, and I shall question her pretty severely. 
 Doctor Middleton, what do you know of this young per- 
 son?" 
 
 " I know, madam, that she is very healthy and strong, or I 
 should not have selected her.'' 
 
 ** But is her character good?" 
 
 ** Really, madam, I know Uttle about her character; but you 
 can make any inquiries you please. At the same time I ought to 
 observe, that if you are too particular in that point, you will 
 have some difficulty in providing yourself." 
 
 '* Well, I shall see," replied Mrs. Easy. 
 
 ** And I shall feel," rejoined the husband. 
 
 This parleying was interrupted by the arrival of the very 
 person in question, who was announced by the housemaid, and 
 was ushered in. She was a handsome, florid, healthy looking 
 girl, awkward and naive in her manner, and apparently not over 
 wise ; there was more of the dove than of the serpent in her 
 composition. 
 
 Mr. Eaj=y, who was very anxious to make his own discoveries, 
 was the first who spoke. ** Young woman, come this way, I 
 wish to examine your head." 
 
 ** Oh! dear me, sir, it's quite clean, I assure you," cried the 
 girl, dropping a curtsey. 
 
 Doctor Middleton, who sat between the bed and Mr. Easy's 
 chair, rubbed his hands and laughed. 
 
 In the mean time, Mr. Easy had untied the string and taken 
 off the cap of the young woman, and was very busy putting his 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 9 
 
 fingers through her hair, during which the face of the young 
 woman expressed fear and astonishment. •! .^) 
 
 ** I am glad to perceive that you have a large portion of bene- 
 volence.'' 
 
 ** Yes," replied the young woman, dropping a curtsey. 
 
 ** And veneration also." 
 
 ''Thanky, sir." 
 
 " And the organ of modesty is strongly developed." 
 
 ** Yes, sir,'' replied the girl with a smile. 
 
 '* That's quite a new organ," thought Dr. Middleton. 
 
 " Philo-progeniliveness very powerful." 
 
 ** If you please, sir, I don't know what that is," answered 
 Sarah with a curtsey. 
 
 ** Nevertheless you have given us a practical illustration. 
 Mrs. Easy, I am satisfied. Have you any questions to ask ? But 
 it is quite unnecessary." 
 
 ** To be sure I have, Mr. Easy. Pray, young woman, what 
 is your name?" 
 
 ** Sarah, if you please, ma'am." 
 
 ** How long have you been married?" 
 
 ** Married, ma'am!" 
 
 *' Yes, married." 
 
 " If you please, ma'am, I had a misfortune, ma'am," replied 
 the girl, casting down her eyes. 
 
 ** What, have you not been married ?" 
 
 " No, ma'am, not yet." 
 
 *' Good heavens! Dr. Middleton, what can you mean by 
 bringing this person here? ' exclaimed Mrs. Easy. " Not a 
 married woman, and she has a child!" 
 
 ** If you please, ma'am," interrupted the young woman dropp- 
 ing a curtsey, ** it was a very little one." 
 
 ** A very little one," exclaimed Mrs. Easy. 
 
 *' Yes, ma'am, very small indeed, and died soon after it was 
 born." 
 
 **0h, Doctor Middleton !~ what could you mean, Dr. Mid- 
 dleton?" 
 
 '* My dear madam," exclaimed the Doctor, rising from his 
 chair, ** this is the only person that I could find suited to the 
 
10 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 wants ot your child, and if you do not take her, I cannot answer 
 for its life. It is true that a married woman might be procu- 
 red ; but married women who have a proper feeling, will not 
 desert their own children ; and, as Mr. Easy asserts, and you 
 appear to imagine, the temper and disposition of your child 
 may be affected by the nourishment it receives, I think it more 
 likely to be injured by the milk of a married woman who will de- 
 sert her own child for the sake of gain. The misfortune which 
 has happened to this young woman is not always a proof of a 
 bad heart, but of strong attachment, and the overweening confi- 
 dence of simplicity.'' 
 
 *' You are correct, Doctor," replied Mr. Easy, '* and her 
 head proves that she is a modest young woman, with strong 
 religious feelings, kindness of disposition, and every other re- 
 quisite.^' 
 
 ** The head may prove it all for what I know, Mr. Easy, but 
 her conduct tells another tale.^' 
 
 " She is well fitted for the situation, ma'am," continued the 
 Doctor. 
 
 " And if you please, ma'am," rejoined Sarah, *' it was such a 
 Utile one J' 
 
 ** Shall I try the baby, ma^am ?" said the monthly nurse, who 
 had listened in silence. ** It is fretting so, poor thing, and has its 
 dear little fist right down its throat." 
 
 Dr. Middleton gave the signal of assent, and in a few seconds 
 Master John Easy was fixed to Sarah as tight as a leech. 
 
 ** Lord love it, how hungry it is! — there, there, stop it a mo- 
 ment, it's choking, poor thing!" 
 
 Mrs. Easy, who was lying on her bed, rose up, and went to 
 the child. Her first feeling was that of envy, that another should 
 have such a pleasure which was denied to herself, the next that 
 of dehght, at the satisfaction expressed by the infant. In a few 
 minutes the child fell back in a deep sleep. Mrs. Easy was satis- 
 fied ; maternal feelings conquered all others, and Sarah was duly 
 installed. 
 
 To make short work of it , we have said that Jack Easy in six 
 inonths was in shorts. He soon afterwards began to crawl and 
 show his legs; indeed so indecorously, that it was evident that 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. H 
 
 he had imbibed no modesty with Sarah's milk, neither did he 
 appear to have gained veneration or benevolence, for he snat- 
 ched at every thing, squeezed the kitten to death, scratched his 
 mother, and pulled his father by the hair : notwithstanding all 
 which, both his father and mother and the whole household 
 declared him to be the finest and sweetest child in the universe. 
 But if we were to narrate all the wonderful events of Jack's child- 
 hood from the time of his birih up to the age of seven years , as 
 ehronicled by Sarah, who continued his dry nurse after he had 
 been weaned, it would take at least three volumes folio. Jack 
 was brought up in the way that every only child usually is, — 
 that is, he was allowed to have his own way. ^ 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 In which the Boctor prescribes going to school as a repiedy for a cut finger. 
 
 ''Have you no idea of putting the boy to school, M^Easy?" 
 said Dr. Middleton, who had been summoned by a groom with 
 his horse in a foam to attend immediately at Forest Hill, the 
 name of Mr. Easy's mansion, and who, upon his arrival, had 
 found that Master Easy had cut his thumb. One would have 
 thought that he had cut his head off by the agitation pervading 
 the whole household, —Mr. Easy walking up and down very 
 uneasy, Mrs. Easy with great difficulty prevented from syncope, 
 and all the maids bustling and passing round Mrs. Easy's chair. 
 Everybody appeared excited except Master Jack Easy himself, 
 who, with a rag round his finger, and his pinafore spotted with 
 blood, was playing at bob-cherry, and cared nothing about the 
 matter. 
 
12 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 '^ Well, what's the matter, ray little man ?" said Dr. IMiddle- 
 ton, on entering, addressing himself to Jack, as the most sen- 
 sible of the whole party. 
 
 **0h. Dr. Middleton," interrupted Mrs. Easy, **he has cut 
 his hand ; I'm sure that a nerve is divided, and then the lock- 
 jaw " 
 
 The Doctor made no reply, but examined the finger : Jack 
 Easy continued to play bob-cherry with his right hand. 
 
 ** Have you such a thing as a piece of sticking-plaster in the 
 house, madam?" observed the Doctor, after examination. 
 
 *'Oyes:— run, Mary — run, Sarah!'' In a few seconds the 
 ' maids appeared, Sarah bringing the sticking-plaster, and Mary 
 following with the scissors. 
 
 ** Make yourself quite easy, madam," said Dr. Middleton, 
 after he put on the plaster, ** I will answer for no evil conse- 
 quences." 
 
 ** Had I not better take him up stairs , and let him lie down a 
 little?" repliedMrs. Easy, slippingaguineaintotheDoctor'shand. 
 
 ** It is not absolutely requisite, madam," said the Doctor; 
 *' but at all events he will be kept out of more mischief." 
 
 "Come, my dear, you hear what Dr. Middleton says." 
 
 ** Yes, I heard," replied Jack; " but I sha'n't go." 
 
 ** My dear Johnny — come, love — now do, my dear Johnny." 
 
 Johnny played bob-cherry, and made no answer. 
 
 ** Come, Master Johnny," said Sarah. 
 
 ** Go away, Sarah," said Johnny, with a backhander. 
 
 " Oh ! fie. Master Johnny," said Mary. 
 
 " Johnny, my love," said Mrs. Easy in a coaxing tone, 
 '*come now — will you go?" 
 
 ** ril go in the garden and get some more cherries," replied 
 Master Johnny. 
 
 <* Come, then, love, we will go into the garden." 
 
 Master Johnny jumped off his chair, and took his mamma by 
 the hand. 
 
 ** What a dear, good, obedient child it isl" exclaimed 
 Mrs. Easy: ** you may lead him with a thread." 
 
 *< Yes, to pick cherries," thought Dr. Middleton. 
 
 Mrs. Easy, and Johnny, and Sarah, and Mary, went into the 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. ^i^' 
 
 garden, leaving Dr. Middleton alone with Mr. Easy, who had 
 been silent during this scene. Now Dr. Middleton was a clever, 
 sensible man, who had no wish to impose upon any one. As 
 for his taking a guinea for putting on a piece of sticking-plaster, 
 his conscience was very easy on that score. His time was equally 
 valuable, whether he were employed for something or nothing ; 
 and moreover he attended the poor gratis. Constantly in the 
 house, he had seen much of Mr. John Easy, and perceived that 
 he was a courageous, decided boy, of a naturally good disposi- 
 tion ; but from the idiosyncracy of the father and the doting folly 
 of the mother, in a sure way of being spoiled. As soon, the- 
 refore, as the lady was out of hearing, he took a chair, and 
 made the query at the commencement of the chapter, which we 
 shall now repeat. 
 
 ** Have you no idea of putting the boy to school, Mr. Easy?" 
 Mr. Easy crossed his legs, and clasped his hands together 
 over his knees, as he always did when he was about to com- 
 mence an argument. 
 
 ** The great objection I have to sending a boy to school, 
 Dr. Middleton, is that I conceive that the discipline enforced is, 
 not only contrary to the rights of man, but also in opposition to 
 all sound sense and common judgment. Njt content with pu- 
 nishment, which is in itself erroneous and an infringement of 
 social justice, they even degrade the minds of the boys still 
 more by applying punishmeni to the most degraded part, adding 
 contumely to tyranny. Of course, it is intended that a boy who 
 is sent to school should gain by precept and example; but is he 
 to learn benevolence by the angry look and the tlourish of the 
 vindictive birch, — or forbearance by the cruelty of the ushers, 
 — or patience, when the masters over him are out of all pa- 
 tience, — or modesty, when his neiher parts are exposed to 
 general examination ? Is he not daily reading a lesson at va- 
 riance with that equality which we all possess, but of which we 
 are unjustly deprived? Why should there be a distinction 
 between the flogger and the floggee? Are they not both fas- 
 hioned ahke afier God's image, endowed with the same reason, 
 having an equal right to what the world offers, and which was 
 intended by Providence to be equally distributed ? Is it not 
 
14 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 that the sacred inheritance of all, which has tyrannonsly and 
 impiously been ravished from the many for the benefit of the 
 few, and which ravishment, from long custom of iniquity and 
 inculcation of false precepts, has too long been basely submitted 
 to ? Is it not the duty of a father to preserve his only son from 
 imbibing these dangerous and debasing errors, which will ren* 
 der him only one of a vile herd who are content to suffer, pro- 
 vided that they live? And yet are not these very errors incul- 
 cated at school, and impressed upon their mind inversely by the 
 birch? Do not they there receive their first lesson in slavery 
 with the first lesson in A B C ; and are not their minds thereby 
 prostrated, so as never to rise again, but ever to bow to despo- 
 tism; to cringe to rank, to think and act by the precepts of others, 
 and to tacitly disavow that sacred equality which is our birth- 
 right? No, sir, without they can teach without resorting to 
 such a fundamental error as flogging, my boy shall never go to 
 schoolp/' 
 
 And Mr. Easy threw himself back in his chair, imagining, 
 like all philosophers, that he had said something very clever. 
 
 Dr. Middleton knew his man, and therefore patiently waited 
 until he had exhausted his oratory. 
 
 "I will grant," said the doctor at last, '' that all you say may 
 have great truth in it ; but, Mr. Easy, do you not think that by 
 liot permitting a boy to be educated, you allow him to remain 
 more open to that very error of which you speak ? Is it only 
 education which will conquer prejudice, and enable a man to 
 break through the trammels of custom. Now, allowing, that 
 the birch is used, yet it is at a period when the young mind is 
 so elastic as to soon become indifferent ; and after he has attained 
 the usual rudiments of education, you will then find him prepa- 
 red to receive those lessons which you can yourself instil." 
 
 '* I will teach him every thing myself," replied Mr. Easy, 
 folding his arms consequentially and determinedly. 
 
 " I do not doubt your capability, Mr. Easy; but unfortunately 
 you will always have a difficulty which you never can get over. 
 Excuse me, I know what you are capable of, and the boy would 
 indeed be happy with such a preceptor, but— if I must speak 
 plain — you must be aware as well as I am, that the maternal 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 15 
 
 fondness of Mrs. Easy will always be a bar to your intention. 
 He is already so spoiled by her, that he will net obey; and 
 without obedience you cannot inculcate.'* 
 
 ** I grant, my dear sir, that there is a difficulty on that 
 point; but maternal weakness must then be overcome by pater- 
 nal severity." 
 
 **iVlay I ask how, Mr. Easy? for it appears to me impos- 
 sible." 
 
 '* Impossible! By heavens, I'll make him obey, or TU " 
 
 — Here Mr. Easy stopped before the word flog was fairly out of 
 his mouth, — ** I'll know the reason why. Dr. Middleton." 
 
 Dr. Middleton checked his inclination to laugh, and replied, 
 ** That you would hit upon some scheme, by which you would 
 obtain the necessary power over him, I have no doubt ; but what 
 will be the consequence ? The boy will consider his mother as 
 a protector, and you as a tyrant. He will have an aversion to 
 you, and with that aversion he will never pay respect and atten- 
 tion to your valuable precepts when he arrives at an age to 
 understand them. Now it appears to me that this difficulty 
 which you have raised may be got over. I know a very worthy 
 clergyman who does not use the birch; but I will writ6, and put 
 the direct question to him, and then if your boy is removed from 
 the danger arising from Mrs. Easy's over-indulgence, in a short 
 time he will be ready for your more important tuition." 
 
 ** I think/' replied Mr. Easy, after a pause, ** that what you 
 say merits consideration. I acknowledge that in consequence 
 of Mrsw Easy's nonsensical indulgence, the boy is unruly and 
 will not obey me at present; and if your friend does not apply 
 the rod, I will think seriously of sending my son John to him to 
 learn the elements.'* 
 
 The doctor had gained his point by flattering the philosopher. 
 
 In a day he returned with a letter from the pedagogue in 
 answer to one supposed to be sent to him, in which the use of 
 the birch was indignantly disclaimed, and Mr. Easy announced 
 to his wife, when they met that day at tea-time, his intentions 
 with regard to his son John. 
 
 ** To school, Mr. Easy ? what, send Johnny to school ! a mere 
 infant to school!" 
 
16 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 '* Surely, my dear, you must be aware that at nine years it is 
 high time that he learnt to read." 
 
 *' Why he almost reads already, Mr. Easy; surely I can 
 teach him that. Does he not, Sarah?" 
 
 ** Lord bless him, yes, ma'am, he was saying his letters 
 yesterday." 
 
 ** Oh, Mr. Easy, what can have put this in your head? 
 Johnny, dear, come here — tell me now what's the letter A? 
 You were singing it in the garden this morning. '^ 
 
 ** I want some sugar," replied Johnny, stretching his arm 
 over the table to the sugar-basin, which was out of his reach, 
 
 ** Well, my love, you shall have a great lump if you will tell 
 me what's the letter A.'' 
 
 " A was an archer, and shot at a frog," replied Johnny in a 
 surly tone. 
 
 ** There now, Mr. Easy; and he can go through the whole 
 alphabet — can't he, Sarah?" 
 
 ** That he can, the dear— can't you, Johnny dear?" 
 
 '* No," replied Johnny. 
 
 ** Yes, you can, my love, you know what's the letter B. Now 
 don't you?" 
 
 *' Yes," replied Johnny. 
 
 ** There, Mr. Easy, you see what the boy knows, and 
 how obedient he is too. Come, Johnny dear, tell us what 
 was B ?" 
 
 *' No, I won't," replied Johnny, ** I want some more sugar;" 
 and Johnny, who had climbed on a chair, spread himself over the 
 table to reach it. 
 
 ** Mercy ! Sarah, pull him off — he'll upset the urn," screamed 
 Mrs. Easy. Sarah caught hold of Johnny by the loins to pull 
 him back, but Johnny, resisting the intcf ference, turned round 
 on his back as he lay on the table, and kicked Sarah in the face, 
 just as she made another desperate grasp at him. The rebound 
 from the kick, given as he lay on a smooth mahogany table, 
 brought Johnny's head in contact with the urn, which was 
 upset in the opposite direction, and, notwiihstanding a rapid 
 movement on the part of Mr. Easy, he received a sufficient 
 portion of boiling, liquid on his legs to scald him severely, and 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 17 
 
 induce him to stamp and swear in a very unphilosophical way. 
 In the mean time Sarah and Mrs. Easy had caught up Johnny, 
 and were both holding him at the same time, exclaiming and 
 lamenting. The pain of the scald, and the indifference shown 
 towards him were too much for Mr. Easy's temper to put up with. 
 He snatched Johnny out of their arms, and, quite forgetting his 
 equality and rights of man, belaboured him without mercy. 
 Sarah flew in to interfere, and received a blow which not only 
 made her see a thousand stars, but sent her reeling on the floor. 
 Mrs. Easy went off into hysterics, and Johnny howled so as to be 
 heard at a quarter of a mile. — ^ 
 
 How long Mr. Easy would have continued it is impossible to 
 say; but the door opened, and Mr. Easy looked up while 'still 
 administering the punishment, and perceived Dr. Middleton in 
 mute astonishment. He had promised to come in to tea, and 
 enforce M. Easy's arguments, if it were necessary; but it cer- 
 tainly appeared toliim, that in the argument which Mr. Easy was 
 then enforcing, he required no assistance. However, at the 
 entrance of Dr. Middleton, Johnny was dropped, and lay roaring 
 on the floor ; Sarah too remained where she had been floored, 
 Mrs. Easy had rolled on the floor, the urn was also on the floor, 
 and Mr. Easy, although not floored, hadnof a leg to stand upon. 
 
 Never did a medical man look in more opportunely. Mr. Easy 
 at first was not certainly of that opinion, but his legs became so 
 painful that he soon became a convert. 
 
 Dr. Middleton, as in duty bound, first picked up Mrs. Easy, 
 and laid her on the sofa. Sarah rose, picked up Johnny, and 
 carried him kicking and roaring out of the room; in return for 
 which attention she received sundry bites. The footman, who 
 had announced the doctor, picked up the urn, that being all that 
 was in his department. Mr. Easy threw himself panting and in 
 agony on the other sofa, and Dr. Middleton was excessively 
 embarrassed how to act : he perceived that Mr. Easy required his 
 assistance, and that Mrs. Easy could do without it ; but how to 
 leave a lady who was half really and half pretendedly in hysterics, 
 was difftcult ; for if he attempted to leave her, she kicked and 
 flounced, and burst out the more. At last Dr. Middleton rang 
 the bell, which brought the footman, who summoned all the 
 
18 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 maids, wh6 carried Mrs. Easy up stairs, and then the doctor was 
 able to attend to the only patient who really required his assis- 
 tance. Mr. Easy explained the affair in few words, broken into 
 ejaculations from pain, as the doctor removed his stockings. 
 From the applications of Dr. Middleton, Mr. Easy soon obtained 
 bodily relief ; but what annoyed him still more than his scalded 
 legs, was the doctor having been a witness to his infringement of 
 the equality and rights of man. Dr. Middleton perceived this, 
 and he knew also how to pour balm into that wound. 
 
 ** My dear Mr. Easy, I am very sorry that you have had this 
 • accident, for which you are indebted to Mrs. Easy's foolish in- 
 dulgence of the boy, but I am glad to perceive that you have taken 
 up those parental duties which are inculcated by the Scriptures, 
 Solomon says, * that he who spares the rod, spoils the child, ' 
 thereby implying that it is the duty of a father to correct his 
 children, and in a father, the so doing does not interfere with 
 the rights of man, or any natural equality, for the son being a 
 part or portion of the father, he only is correcting his own self, 
 and the proof of it is, that a father, in punishing his own son, 
 feels as much pain in so doing as if he were himself punished. 
 It is therefore nothing but self-discipline, which is strictly en- 
 joined us by the Scriptures.'' 
 
 ** That is exactly my opinion,^' replied Mr. Easy, comforted 
 at the doctor having so logically got him out of the scrape. 
 '* But — he shall go to school to-morrow, that I'm determi- 
 ned on." 
 
 " He will have to thank Mrs. Easy for that," replied the 
 doctor. 
 
 ** Exactly," replied Mr. Easy. *' Doctor, my legs are get- 
 ling very hot again." 
 
 *< Continue to bathe them with the vinegar and water, Mr. 
 Easy, until I send you an embrocation, which will give you im- 
 mediate relief . I will call to-morrow. By-the-bye, I am to see 
 a little patient at Mr. Bonnycastle's, if it is any accomodation, I 
 will take your son with me." 
 
 '* It will be a great accommodation, doctor," replied Mr. 
 Easy. 
 
 <* Then, my dear sir, I will just go up and see how Mrs. Easy 
 
MR, MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 19 
 
 is, and to-morrow I will call at ten. I can wait an hour. Good 
 Bight.^^ 
 
 " Good night, doctor.'' 
 
 The doctor had his game to play with Mrs. Easy. He ma- 
 gnified her husband's accident— he magnified his wrath, and 
 advised her by no means to say one word, until he was well, and 
 more pacified. The next day he repeated this dose, and, in 
 spite of the ejaculations of Sarah, and the tears of Mrs. Easy, 
 who dared not venture to plead her cause, and the violent re- 
 sistance of Master Johnny, who appeared to have a presentiment 
 of what was to come, our hero wasjput into Doctor Middleton's 
 chariot, and with the exception of one plate of glass which he kick- 
 ed out of the window with his feet, and for which feat, the doctor, 
 now that he had him all to himself, boxed his ears till he was 
 nearly blind, he was, without any further eventful occurrence, car- 
 ried by the doctor's footman into the parlour of Mr. Bonnycastle. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Jack Easy is sent to a school at which there is no flogging. ^^/^ 
 
 Master Jack had been plumped down in a chair by the doctor's 
 servant, who, as he quitted him, first looked at his own hands, 
 from which the blood was drawn in several parts, and then at 
 Master Jack, with his teeth closed, and lips compressed, as much 
 as to say, '^ If I only dared, would not I, that's all?" and then 
 walked out of the room, repaired to the carriage at the front door, 
 when he showed his hands to the coachman, who looked down 
 from his box in great commiseration, at the same time fully 
 sharing his fellow-servant's indignation. But we must repair to 
 
 2. 
 
20 MR. MIDSHlPiMAN EASY. - 
 
 the parlour. Doctor Middleton ran over a newspaper, while 
 Johnny sat on the chair all of a heap, looking like a lump of 
 sulks, with his feet on the upper front bar, and his knees almost 
 up to his nose. He was a promising pupil. Jack. 
 
 Mr. Bonnycastle made his appearance — a tall, well-built, 
 handsome, fair man, with a fine powdered headj dressed in so- 
 lemn black, and knee buckles ; his linen beautifully clean, and 
 with a peculiar bland expression of countenance. When he smiled 
 he showed a row of teeth white as ivory, and his mild blue eye 
 was the ne plus ultra of beneficence. He was the beau ideal of a 
 preceptor, and it was impossible to see him and hear his mild 
 pleasing voice, without wishing that all your sons were under 
 his protection. He was a ripe scholar, and a good one, and at 
 the time we speak of, had the care of upwards of one hundred 
 boys. He was celebrated for turning them out well, and many of 
 his pupils were rising fast in the senate, as well as distinguishing 
 themselves in the higher professions. 
 
 Dr. Middleton, who was on intimate terms with Bonnycastle, 
 rose as he entered the room, and they shook hands. Middleton 
 then turned to where Jack sat, and pointing to him, said, <* Look 
 there." 
 
 Bonnycastle smiled. ** I cannot say that I have had worse, but 
 I have almost as bad. I will apply the Promethean torch, and 
 soon vivify that rude mass. Come, sit down, Middleton,^' 
 
 *' But," said the doctor, as he resumed his chair, '* tell me, 
 Bonnycastle, how you will possibly manage to lick such a cub 
 into shape, when yoi^do not resort to flogging?" 
 
 * ' I have no opinion of flogging, and therefore I do not resort 
 to it. The fact is, I was at Harrow myself, and was rather a 
 Pickle, I was called up as often as most boys in the school, and 
 1 perfectly recollect, that eventually I cared nothing for a flogg- 
 ing. I had become case-hardened. It is the least effective part 
 that you can touch a boy upon. It leaves nothing behind to 
 refresh their memory." 
 
 ** 1 should have thought otherwise." 
 
 * * My dear Middleton, I can produce more effect by one caning 
 than twenty floggings. Observe, you flog upon a part for the 
 most part quiescent ; but you cane upon all parts, from the head 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 21 
 
 to the heels. Now, when once the first sting of the birch is over, 
 then a dull sensation comes over the part, and the pain after 
 that is nothing ; whereas a good sound caning leaves sores and 
 bruises in every part, and on all the parts which are required 
 for muscular action. After a flogging, a boy may run out in the 
 hours of recreation, and join his playmates as well as ever, but 
 a good caning tells a very different tale ; he cannot move one 
 part of his body without being reminded for days by the pain of 
 the punishment he has undergone, and he is very careful how 
 he is called up again." 
 
 * ' My dear sir, I really had an idea that you were excessively 
 lenient," replied Middleton laughing ; ** I am glad thaul am under 
 a mistake.^* 
 
 *' Look at that cub, doctor, sitting there more hke a brule than 
 a reasonable being ; do you imagine that I could ever lick it into 
 shape without strong measures ? At the same time, allow me to 
 say, that I consider my system by far the best. At the pubhc 
 schools, punishment is no check ; it is so trifling, that it is de- 
 rided ; with me punishment is punishment in the true sense of the 
 word, and the consequence is, that it is much more seldom re- 
 sorted to." 
 
 ** You are a terrorist, Bonny castle." 
 
 * * The two strongest impulses in our natures, are fear and love. 
 In theory, acting upon the latter is very beautiful; but in prac- 
 tice, I never found it to answer, and for the best of reasons, our 
 self-love is stronger than our love for others. Now I never yet 
 found fear to fail, for the very same reason that the other does, 
 because with fear we act upon self-love, and nothing else." 
 
 ** And yet we have many now who would introduce a system 
 of schooling without correction; and who maintain that the 
 present system is degrading." 
 
 *' There are a great many fools in this world, doctor." 
 
 ** That reminds me of this boy's father," replied Doctor Midd- 
 leton, who then detailed to the pedagogue the idiosyncracy of 
 Mr. Easy, and all the circumstances attending Jack being sent 
 to his school. ^ 
 
 " There is no time to be lost then, doctor. I must conquer this 
 young gentleman before his parents call to see him. Depend 
 
22 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 upon it, in a week I will have him obedient and well broke in." 
 
 Doctor Middleton wished Jack good-bye, and told liimTo be a 
 good boy. Jack did not vouchsafe to answer. '* Never mind, 
 doctor, he will be more poUshed next lime you call here, depend 
 upon it.'* And the doctor departed. 
 
 Although Mr. Bonnycastle was severe, he was very judicious. 
 Mischief of all kinds was visited but by slender punishment, such 
 as being kept in at play hours, etc.; and he seldom interfered with 
 the boys for fighting, although he checked decided oppression. 
 The great sine qua nonWiih him was attention to their studies. 
 He soon discovered the capabilities of his pupils, and he forced 
 them accordingly; but the idle boy, the bird who ** could sing 
 and wouMn^t sing," received no mercy. The consequence was, 
 that he turned out the cleverest boys^ and hj^ conduct was so 
 aniform and unvarying in its tenor, that if he was feared 
 when they were under his control, he was invariably liked by 
 those whom he had instructed, and they continued his friends 
 in after life. 
 
 Mr. Bonnycastle at once perceived that it was no use coaxing 
 our hero, and that fear was the only attribute by which he could 
 be controHed. Sq, as soon as Dr. Middleton had quitted the room, 
 he addressed him in a commanding tone, ** Now, boy, what is 
 your name?" 
 
 Jack started ; he looked up at his master, perceived his eye 
 fixed upon him, and a countenance not to be played with. Jack 
 was no fool, and somehow or another, the discipline he had re- 
 ceived from his father had given him some intimation of what 
 was to come. All this put together, induced Jack to condescend 
 to answer, with his fore finger between his teeth, '* Johnny.'' 
 
 *' And what is your other name, sir?" 
 
 Jack, who appeared to repent his condescension, dit not at 
 first answer, but he looked again in Mr. Bonny castle's face, and 
 then round the room, there was no one to help him, and he 
 could not help himself, so he replied ** Easy.'' 
 
 '* Do you know why you are sent to school ?" 
 
 "Scalding father." 
 
 " No ; you are sent to learn to read and write." 
 
 ** But I won't read and write," replied Jack sulkily.*' 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 23 
 
 '* Yes, you will; and you are going to read your letters now 
 directly." 
 y^ Jack made no answer. Mr. Bonnycastle opened a sort of book- 
 case, and displayed to John's astonished view, a series of canes, 
 ranged up and down like billiard cues, and continued, '* Do you 
 know what those are for?" 
 
 Jack eyed them wistfully ; he had some faint idea that he 
 was sure to be better acquainted with them, but he made no 
 answer. 
 
 '* They are to teach little boys to read and write, and now I am 
 going to teach you. You'll soon learn. Look now here," conti- 
 nued Mr. Bonnycastle, opening a book with large type, and tak- 
 ing a capital at the head of a chapter , about half an inch long. 
 ''Do you see that letter?" 
 
 *' Yes," replied Johnny, turning his eyes away, and picking 
 his fingers. 
 
 '* Well, that is the letter B. Do you see it? look at it so that 
 you may know it again. Thai's the letter B. Now tell me what 
 letter that is?" 
 
 Jack now determined to resist, so he made no answer. 
 
 '* So you cannot tell ; well, then, we will try what one of these 
 little fellows will do," said Mr. Bonnycastle, taking down a cane. 
 *' Observe, Johnny, that's the letter B. Now, what letter is that? 
 Answer me directly." 
 
 '* I won't learn to read and write." . . 
 
 Whack came the cane on Johnny's shoulders, who burst out 
 into a roar as he writhed with pain. 
 
 . Mr.. Bonnycastle waited a few seconds. '* That's the letter B. 
 Now tell me, sir, directly, what that letter is ?" 
 
 ** I'll tell my ^^ar." Whack! *'01aw! Olaw!" 
 
 *' What letter is that?" 
 
 Johnny with his mouth open, panting, and the tears on his 
 cheeks, answered indignantly. ''Stop till I tell Sarali." 
 
 Whack came the cane again, and a fresh burst from Johnny. 
 
 ''What letter's that?" 
 
 " I won't tell," roared Johnny ; "I won't tell— that I wont't." 
 
 Whack — whack — whack, and a pause. " I told you before, 
 that's the letter B. What letter is that ? Tell me directly." 
 
24 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 Johnny, by way of reply, made a snatch at the cane. Whack- 
 he caught it, certainly, but not exactly as he would have wished. 
 Johnny then snatched up the book, and dashed it to the corner 
 of the room. Whack, whack. Johnny attempted to seize 
 Mr. Bonnycastle with his teeth. Whack, whack, whack, whack 
 and Johnny fell on the carpet, and roared with pain. Mr. Bon- 
 nycastle then left him for a little while, to recover himself, and 
 sat down. 
 
 At last Johnny's exclamations settled down in deep sobs, and 
 then Mr. Bonnycastle said to him, ** Now% Johnny, you perceive 
 that you must do as you are bid, or else you will have more 
 beating. Get up immediately. Do you hear, sir?" 
 
 Somehow or another, Johnny, without intending it, stood upon 
 his feet. 
 
 ** That's a good boy; now you see, by getting up as you were 
 bid, you have not been beaten. Now, Johnny, you must go and 
 bring the book from where you threw it down. Do you hear, sir? 
 bring it directly !" 
 
 Johnny looked at Mr. Bonnycastle and the cane. With every 
 intention to refuse, Johnny picked up the book and laid it on 
 the table. 
 
 < ' That's a good boy ; now we will find the letter B. Here it is : 
 now Johnny, tell me what that letter is ?" 
 
 Johnny made no answer. 
 
 <'Tell me directly, sir," said Mr. Bonnycastle, raising his 
 cane up in the air. The appeal was too powerful. Johnny eyed 
 the cane ; it moved, it was coming. Breathlessly he shrieked out, 
 i< B V 
 
 ** Very well indeed, Johnny— very well. Now your first lesson 
 is over, and you shall go to bed. You have learnt more than you 
 think for. To-morrow we will begin again. Now we'll put the 
 cane by." 
 
 Mr. Bonnycastle rang the bell, and desired Master Johnny to 
 be put to bed, in a room by himself, and not to give him any 
 supper, as hunger would, the next morning, much facilitate his 
 studies. Pain and hunger alone will tame brutes, and the same 
 remedy must be applied to conquer those passions in man which 
 assimilate him with brutes. Johnny was conducted to bed, al- 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 25 
 
 lliougli it was but six o'clock. He was not only in pain, but his 
 ideas were confused ; and no wonder, after all his life having 
 been humoured and indulged — never punished until the day 
 before. After all the caresses of his mother and Sarah, which he 
 never knew the value of — after stuffing himself all day long, and 
 being tempted to eat till he turned away in satiety, to find him- 
 self without his mother, without Sarah , without supper — cover- 
 ed with wheals and, what was worse than all, without his own 
 way. No wonder Johnny was confused; at the same time that he 
 was subdued; and, as Mr. Bonnycastle had truly told him, he 
 had learnt more than he had any idea of. And what would 
 Mrs. Easy have said, had she known all this — and Sarah too? 
 And Mr. Easy, with his rights of man ? At the very time that 
 Johnny was having the devil driven out of him, they were con- 
 soling themselves with the idea, that, at all events, there was 
 no birch used at Mr. Bonnycastle's, quite losing sight of the fact, 
 that as there are more ways of killing a dog besides hanging 
 him, so are there more ways of teaching than a posteriori, 
 Happy in their ignorance, they all went fast asleep, little dream- 
 ing that Johnny was already so far advanced in knowledge, as 
 to have a tolerable comprehension of the mystery oj cane. As for 
 Johnny, he had cried himself to sleep, at least six hours before 
 them. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 In which Jack makes essay of his father's sublime philosophy, and arrives very 
 near to truth at last. 
 
 The next morning Master Jack Easy was not only very sore but 
 very hungry, and as Mr. Bonnycastle informed him, that he 
 
261 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 would not only have plenty of cane, but also no breakfast, if he 
 did not learn his letters, Johnny had wisdom enough to say the 
 whole alphabet, for which he received a great deal of praise , 
 the which, if he did not duly appreciate, he at all events infi- 
 nitely preferred to beating. Mr. Bonnycastle perceived that he 
 had conquered the boy by one hour's^well-timed severity. He 
 therefore handed him over to the ushers in the school , and as 
 they were equally empowered to administer the needful impulse, 
 Johnny very soon became a very tractable boy. 
 
 It may be imagined that the absence of Johnny was severely 
 felt at hpme, but such was not the case. In the first place. 
 Dr. Middleton had pointed out to Mrs. Easy that there was no 
 flogging at the school, and that the punishment received by 
 Johnny from his father would very likely be repeated— and in 
 the next, although Mrs. Easy thought that she never could have 
 survived the parting with her own son, she soon found out that 
 she was much happier without him. A spoilt child is always a 
 source of anxiety and worry, and after Johnny's departure, 
 Mrs. Easy found a quiet and repose much more suited to her 
 disposition. Gradually she weaned herself from him, and satis- 
 fied with seeing him occasionally, and hearing the reports of 
 Dr. Middleton, she, at last, was quite reconciled to his being at 
 school, and not coming back except during the holidays. John 
 Easy made great progress ; he had good natural abilities, and 
 Mr. Easy rubbed his hands when he saw the doctor , saying, 
 *' Yes, let them have him for a year or two longer, and then Til 
 finish him myself.'' Each vacation he had attempted to instil into 
 Johnny's mind the equal rights of man. Johnny appeared to pay 
 but little attention to his father's discourses, but evidently show- 
 ed that they were not altogether thrown away, as he helped 
 himself to every thing he wanted, without asking leave. And 
 thus was our hero educated until he arrived at the age of sixteen, 
 when he was a stout, good-looking boy, with plenty to say for 
 himself, — -indeed when it suited his purpose, he could out-talk 
 his father. 
 
 Nothing pleased Mr. Easy so much as Jack's loquacity, — 
 "That's right; argue the point, Jack— argue the point, boy," 
 would he say, as Jack disputed with his mother. And then he 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. ft? 
 
 would turn to the doctor, rubbing his hands, and observe, 
 ** Depend upon it Jack will be a great, a very great man." And 
 then he would call Jack and give him a guinea for his cleverness; 
 and at last Jack thought it a very clever thing to argue. He never 
 would attempt to argue with Mr. Bonnycastle because he was 
 aware that Mr. Bonny castle's arguments were too strong for 
 him, but he argued with all the boys until it ended in a fight, 
 which decided the point ; and he sometimes argued with the 
 ushers. In short, at the time we now speak of, which was at the 
 breaking up of the Midsummer holidays. Jack was as full of ar- 
 gument as he was fond of it. He would argue the point to the point 
 of a needle, and he would divide that point into as many as there 
 were days of the year, and argue upon each. In short, there was 
 no end to Jack's arguing the point, although there seldom was 
 point to his argument. 
 
 Jack had been fishing in the river, without any success, for a 
 whole morning, and observed a large pond which had the ap- 
 pearance of being well stocked — he cleared the park palings, and 
 threw in his line. He had pulled up several fine fish, when he 
 was accosted by the proprietor, accompanied by a couple of 
 keepers. 
 
 ' * May I request the pleasure of your name, young gentleman ?^' 
 said the proprietor to Jack. 
 
 Now Jack was always urbane and polite. 
 
 '* Certainly, sir; my name is Easy, very much at your 
 service." 
 
 ** And you appear to me to be taking it very easy," replied 
 the gentleman. **Pray, sir, may I inquire whether you are aware 
 that you are trespassing ?" 
 
 ** The word trespass, my dear sir," replied Jack, **will admit 
 of much argument, and I will divide it into three heads. It 
 implies, according to the conventional meaning, coming without 
 permission upon the land or property of another. Now, sir, the 
 question may all be resolved in the following. Was not the 
 world made for all? and has any one, or any portion of its inha- 
 bitants, an exclusive right to claim any part of it, as his pro- 
 perty ? If you please, I have laid down the proposition, and we 
 will now argue the point." 
 
28 [MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 The gentleman who accosted Jack had heard of Mr. Easy, and 
 his arguments ; he was a humourist, and more incUned to laugh 
 than to be angry ; at the same time that he considered it neces- 
 sary to show Jack that under existing circumstances they were 
 not tenable. 
 
 '* But, Mr. Easy, allowing the trespass on the properly to be 
 venial, surely you do not mean to say that you are justified in 
 taking my fish; I bought the fish and stocked the pond, and have 
 fed them ever since. You cannot deny but that they are private 
 property, and that to take them is a theft ?" 
 
 ** That will again admit of much ratiocination, my dear sir," 
 replied Jack; **but, I beg your pardon, I have a fish.'"' Jack 
 pulled up a large carp, much to the indignation of the keepers, 
 and to the amusement of their master, unhooked it, placed it in 
 his basket, renewed his bait with the greatest sang froidy and 
 then throwing in his line, resumed his discourse. ** As I was 
 observing, my dear sir," continued Jack, ** that will admit of 
 much ratiocination. All the creatures of the earth were given to 
 man for his use— man means mankind — they were never in- 
 tended to be made a monopoly of. Water is also thejgift of hea- 
 ven, and meant for the use of all. We now come to the question 
 how far the fish are your property. If the fish only bred on pur- 
 pose to please you, and make you a present of their stock, it 
 might then require a different line of argument ; but as in breed- 
 ing they only acted in obedience to an instinct with which they 
 are endowed on purpose that they may supply man, I submit to 
 you that you cannot prove these fish to be yours more than mine. 
 As for feeding with the idea that they were your own, that 
 is not an unusual case in this world, even when a man is 
 giving bread and butter to his children. Further —but I have 
 another bite — I beg your pardon, my dear sir — Ah I he's off 
 again — " 
 
 . **Then, Mr. Easy, you mean to say that the world and its 
 contents are made for all." 
 
 <* Exactly, sir, that is my father's opinion, who is a very great 
 philosopher." 
 
 ** How then does your father account for some possessing pro- 
 perty and others being without it ?" 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. B 
 
 " Because those who are the strongest have deprived those 
 who are weaker." 
 
 " But would not that be always the case even if we w^ere in 
 that state of general inheritance which you have supposed. For 
 instance, allowing two men to chace the same animal, and both 
 to come up to it at the same time, would not the strongest bear 
 it off r 
 
 '* I grant that, sir.'' 
 
 '* Well, then, where is your equality?" 
 
 ** That does not disprove that men were not intended to be 
 equal ; it only proves that they are not so. Neither does it dis- 
 prove that every thing was not made for the benefit of all, it 
 only proves that the strong will take advantage of the weak, 
 which is very natural." 
 
 *■' Oh ! you grant that to be very natural.— Well, Mr. Easy, 
 I am glad to perceive that Ave are of one mind, and I trust we 
 shall continue so. You'll observe that I and my keepers being 
 three, we are the strong party in this instance, and admitting 
 your argument, that the fish are as much yours as mine, still I 
 take advantage of my strength to re-possess myself of them, 
 which is , as you say , very natural — James , take those 
 fish. " 
 
 *'If you please," interrupted Jack, *' we will argue that 
 point- — " 
 
 *' Not at all, I will act according to your own arguments — I 
 have the fish, but I now mean to have more — that fishing-rod is 
 as much mine as yours, and being the stronger party, I will take 
 possession of it.— James, William, take that fishing-rod, it is 
 ours." 
 
 " I presume you will first allow me to observe," replied Jack, 
 *' that although I have expressed my opinion that the earth and 
 the animals on it were made for us all, that I never yet have 
 asserted, that what a man creates by himself, or has created for 
 him for a consideration, is not his own property." 
 
 '* I beg your pardon, the trees that that rod was made from 
 were made for us all, and if you, or any one for you, have 
 thought proper to make it into a rod, it is no more my fault 
 than it is that I have been feeding the fish, with the supposition 
 
80 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 that they were my own. Every thing being common, and it being 
 but natural that the strong should take advantage of the weak, 
 I must take that rod as my property, until I am dispossessed by 
 one more powerful. Moreover, being the stronger party, and 
 having possession of this land, which you say does not belong 
 to me more than to you — I also shall direct my keepers to see 
 you off this property. James, take the rod, see Mr. Easy over the 
 park palings. Mr. Easy, I wish you a good morning. '^ 
 
 '* Sir, I beg your pardon, you have not yet heard all my ar- 
 guments," replied Jack, who did not approve of the conclusions 
 drawn. 
 
 ** I have no time to hear more, Mr. Easy; I wishyou a good 
 morning. ^^ And the proprietor departed, leaving Jack in company 
 with the keepers. 
 
 *' I'll trouble you for that rod. Master," said William. James 
 was very busy stringing the fish through the gills upon a piece 
 of osier. 
 
 '* At all events you will hear reason," said Jack — **Ihave 
 arguments—" 
 
 **I never heard no good arguments in favour of poaching," 
 interrupted the keeper. 
 
 ** You're an insolent fellow," replied Jack. '* It is by paying 
 such vagabonds as you that people are able to be guilty of in- 
 justice.^' 
 
 " It's by paying us that the land 'ant poached — and if there 
 he some excuse for a poor devil who is 6ut of work, there be none 
 for you, who call yourself a gentleman." 
 
 '* According to his 'count, as we be all equal, he be no more a 
 gentleman than we be." 
 
 '< Silence, you blackguard, I shall not condescend to argue 
 with such as you, if I did I could prove that you are a set of base 
 slaves, who have just as much right to this property as your 
 master or I have." 
 
 "As you have, I dare say, master." 
 
 ** As I have, you scoundrel, this pond is as much my property, 
 and so are the fish in it, as they are of your master, who has 
 usurped the right." 
 
 < * I say, James, what do you say, shall we put the young gent- 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 31 
 
 leman in possession of his property?" said William, winking to 
 the other. 
 
 WilHam took the hint, they seized Jack by the arms and legs and 
 soused him into the pond. Jack rose after a deep submersion, and 
 floundered on shore blowing and spluttering. But in the mean 
 time the keepers had walked away, carrying with them the rod, 
 and line, fish, and tin can of bait, laughing loudly at the practi- 
 cal joke which they had played our hero. 
 
 *' Well," thought Jack, ** either here must be some mistake 
 in my father's philosophy, or else this is a very wicked world. 
 I shall submit this case to my father." 
 
 And Jack received this reply — " I have told you before, Jack, 
 that these important truths will not at present be admitted — but 
 it does not the less follow that they are true. This is the age of 
 iron, in which might has become right — but the time will come 
 when these truths will be admitted, and your father's name will 
 be more celebrated than that of any philosopher of ancient days. 
 Recollect, Jack, that although in preaching against wrong and 
 advocating the rights of man, you will be treated as a martyr, 
 it is still your duty to persevere, and if you are dragged through 
 all the horseponds in the kingdom, never give up your ar- 
 gument.'' 
 
 " That I never will, sir,'' replied Jack; '* but the next time 
 I argue it shall be, if possible, with power on my side, and, at 
 all events, not quite so near a pond." 
 
 '* 1 think," said Mrs. Easy, who had been a silent listener, 
 '* that Jack had better fish in the river, and then if he catches 
 no fish, at all events he will not be soused in the water, and 
 spoil his clothes." 
 
 But Mrs. Easy was no philosopher. 
 
 A few days afterwards. Jack discovered, one fine morning, on 
 the other side of a hedge, a summer apple-tree bearing tempting 
 fruit, and he immediately broke through the hedge and climbing 
 the tree, as our first mother did before him, he culled the fair- 
 est and did eat. 
 
 *' I say, you sir, what are you doing there ?" cried a rough 
 voice. 
 
 Jack looked down, and perceived a stout, thickset personage 
 
n MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 in grey coat and red waistcoat, standing underneath him. 
 
 '' Don't you see what I'm about,'' replied Jack, 'Tm eating 
 apples, shall I throw you down a few?" 
 
 ** Thank you kindly— the fewer that are pulled the better; 
 perhaps as you are so free to give them to others as well as to 
 help yourself, you may think that they are your own property !" 
 
 ** Not a bit more my property than they are yours, my good 
 man." ■' 
 
 **I guess that's something like the truth; but you are not quite 
 at the truth yet, my lad; those apples are mine, and I'll trouble 
 you to come down as fast as you please ; when you're down we 
 can then settle our accounts ; and," continued the man, shaking 
 his cudgel, '* depend upon it you shall have your receipt in 
 fall." 
 
 Jack did not much like the appearance of things. 
 
 ** My good man," said he, ** it is quite a prejudice on your 
 part to imagine that apples were not given, as well as all other 
 fruit, for the benefit of us all — they are common property, be- 
 lieve me." 
 
 ** That's a matter of opinion, my lad, and I may be allowed to 
 have my own." 
 
 '' You'll find it in the Bible," says Jack. 
 
 " I never did yet, and I've read it through and through all, 
 bating the 'Pocryfar." 
 
 ** Then," said Jack, ''go home and fetch the Bible, and I'll 
 prove it to you." 
 
 ** I suspect you'll not wait till I come back again. No, no ; I 
 have lost plenty of apples, and have long wanted to find the 
 robbers out; now I've caught one I'll take care that he don't 
 'scape without apple-sauce, at all events — so come down, you 
 young thief, come down directly— or it will be all the worse for 
 you." 
 
 *' Thank you," said Jack, ''but I am very well here. I will, 
 if you please, argue the point from where I am." 
 
 " I've no time to argue the point, my lad, I've plenty to do, 
 but do not think I'll let you off. If you don't choose to come 
 down, why then you may stay there, and I'll answer for it, as 
 soon as work is done I shall find you safe enough." 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 33 
 
 ** What can be done," thought Jack, " with a man who will 
 not listen to argument? What a world is this I — however, hell 
 not find me here when he comes back, I've a notion." 
 
 But in this Jack was mistaken. The farmer walked to the 
 hedge, and called to a boy, who took his orders and ran to the 
 farm house. In a minute or two a large bull-dog was seen 
 bounding along the orchard to his master. * ' Mark him, Caesar," 
 said the farmer to the dog, '*mark him.'' The dog crouched 
 down on the grass, with his head up, and eyes glaring at Jack, 
 showing a range of teeth, that drove all our hero's philosophy 
 out of his head. 
 
 " I can't wait here, but Caesar can, and I will tell you, as a 
 friend, that if he gets hold of you, he'll not leave a limb of you 
 together, — when work's done I'll come back;" so saying, the 
 farmer walked off, leaving Jack and the dog to argue the point, 
 if so inclined. What a sad jade must philosophy be, to put her 
 votaries in such predicaments ! 
 
 After a while the dog laid his head down and closed his eyes, 
 as if asleep, but Jack observed, that at the least movement on 
 his part one eye was seen to partially unclose, so Jack, like a 
 prudent man, resolved to remain where he was. He picked a 
 few more apples, for it was his dinner-time, and as he chewed 
 he ruminated. 
 
 Jack had been but a few minutes ruminating before he was 
 interrupted by another ruminating animal, no less a personage 
 than a bull, who had been turned out with full possession of the 
 orchard, and who now advanced, bellowing occasionally, and 
 tossing his head at the sight of Caesar, whom he considered as 
 much a trespasser as his master had our hero. Caesar started on 
 his legs and faced the bull, who advanced pawing, with his tail 
 up in the air. When within a few yards the bull made a rush at 
 the dog, who evaded him and attacked him in return, and thus 
 did the warfare continue until the opponents were already at 
 some distance from the apple tree. Jack prepared for immediate 
 flight, but unfortunately the combat was carried on by the side of 
 the hedge at which Jack had gained admission. Never mind, 
 thought Jack, there are two sides to every field, and although 
 the other hedge joined on to the garden near to the farm house, 
 
 3 
 
84 Mil, MIDSHIPMAN EASY- 
 
 there was no option. " At all events," se^id Jack, " Fll try it." 
 Jack was slipping dpwn the trunk, when he heard a tremendous 
 roar ; the buU-dog had been tossed hy the bull ; he was then 
 high ii^ the air, and Jack saw him fall on the other side of the 
 hedge ; and the bull was thus celebrating his victory with a flou- 
 rish of trumpets. Upon which, Jack, perceiving that he was 
 yelieved from his gentry, slipped down the rest of the tree and 
 took to his heels. Unfortunately for Jack, the bull saw him, 
 and, flushed with victory, he ipimediately set up another roar, 
 and bounded after Jack. Jack perceivpd his danger, and fear 
 gave him wings ; he not only flew over the orchard, but he flew 
 over the hedge, which was about five feet high, just as the bull 
 drove his head into it. L.oQk before yon leap, is an old proverb. 
 Had Jack done so, he would have done better ; but as there were 
 cogent reasons to be offered in extenuation of our philosopher, 
 we shall say no more, but merely state that Jack, when he got 
 on the other side of the hedge, found that he had pitched into a 
 small £ipiary, and had upset two hives of bees, who resented the 
 intrusion ; and Jack had hardly time to get upon his legs before 
 he found them very busy stinging him in all quarters. All that 
 Jack could do was to run for it, but the bees flew faster than he 
 could run, and Jack was mad with pain, when he stumbled, half- 
 Minded, over the brick work of a well. Jack could not stop his 
 pitching into the well, but he seized the iron chain as it struck 
 him across the face. Down went Jack, and round went the wind- 
 lass, and after a rapid descent of forty feet our hero found him- 
 self under water, and no longer troubled with the bees, who, 
 whether they had lost scent of their prey from his rapid descent, 
 or being notoriously clever insects, acknowledged the truth of 
 the adage, ''leave well alone," had certainly left Jack with no 
 other companion than Truth. Jack rose from his immersion, 
 and seized the rope to which the chain of the bucke|; was made 
 fast— it had all of it been unwound from the windlass, and there- 
 fore it enabled Jack to keep his head above water. After a few 
 seconds Jack felt something against his legs, it was the bucket, 
 about two feet under the water ; Jack put his feet into it and found 
 himself pretty comfortable, for the water, after the sting of the 
 bees and the heat he had been put into by the race wit Ji tjjp bull, 
 was quite cool and refreshing. 
 
MR. MIDSHIPiMAN EASY. 35 
 
 **Atall events," thought Jack, *'if it had not been for the 
 bull, I should have been watched by the dog, and then thrashed 
 i)y the farmer; but then again, if it had not been for the bull, I 
 should not have tumbled among the bees ; and if it had not been 
 for the bees, I should not have tumbled into the well ; and if it 
 had not been for the chain, I should have been drowned. Such 
 has been the chain of events, all because I wanted to eat an 
 apple, 
 
 *^ However, I have got rid of the farmer and the dog, and the 
 bull, and the bees— all's well that ends well; but how the devil 
 am I to get out of the well?— All creation appear to have con- 
 spired against the rights of man. As my father said, this is an 
 iron age, and here I am swinging to an iron chain.*' 
 
 We have given the whole of Jack's soliloquy, as it will prove 
 that Jack was no fool, although he was a bit of a philosopher ; 
 and a man who could reason so well upon cause and effect, at the 
 bottom of a well up to his neck in water, showed a good deal of 
 presence of mind. But, if Jack's mind had been a little twisted 
 by his father's philosophy, it had still sufficient strength and 
 elasticity to recover itself in due time. Had Jack been a com- 
 mon personage, we should never have selected him for our hero. 
 
 9 ■ ». ■! - ■ ' "V 
 
 CH4PTER VII. i 
 
 In wliich Jack makes some yeyy sage refleelipns, and comes tp> a very unwise decision. 
 
 After all, it must be acknowledged that although there are eases 
 of distress in which a well may become a place of refuge, a well 
 is not at all calculated for a prolonged residence — so thought 
 Jack. After he had been there some fifteen minutes, his teeth 
 chattered, and his limbs trembled ; he felt a numbness all over, 
 
 3. 
 
 
 fy^J 
 
 Of m^ 
 
36 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 and he thought it high time to call for assistance, which at first 
 he would not, as he was afraid he should he pulled up to encounter 
 the indignation of the farmer and his family. Jack was arranging 
 his jaws for a halloo, when he felt the chain pulled up, and he 
 slowly emerged from the water. At first he heard complaints of 
 the weight of the bucket, at which Jack was not surprised, then 
 he heard a tittering and laughing between two parties, and soon 
 afterwards he mounted up gaily. At last his head appeared 
 above the low wall, and he was about to extend his arms so as 
 to secure a position on it, when those who were working at the 
 windlass, beheld him. It was a heavy farming man and a maid 
 servant. 
 
 " Thank you," said Jack. 
 
 One never should be too quick in returning thanks; the girl 
 screamed and let go the winch, the man, frightened, did not hold 
 it fast ; it slipped from his grasp, whirled round, struck him 
 under the chin and threw him over it headlong, and before the 
 ** Thank you" was fairly out of Jack's lips, down he went again 
 like lightning to the bottom. Fortunately for Jack, he had not 
 yet let go the chain, or he might have struck the sides and have 
 been killed ; as it was he was merely soused a second time, and 
 in a minute or two regained his former position. 
 
 *'This is mighty pleasant," thought Jack, as he clapped his 
 w^et hat once more on his head ; '* at all events, they can't now 
 plead ignorance, they must know that I'm here.'' 
 
 In the mean time the girl ran into the kitchen, threw herself 
 down on a stool from which she reeled off in a fit upon sundry 
 heaps of dough waiting to be baked in the oven, which were laid 
 to rise, on the floor before the fire. • 
 
 ** Mercy on me, what is the matter with Susan?" exclaimed 
 the farmer's wife. '^Here — where's Mary — where's John? — 
 Dearyme, if the bread won't all be turned to pancakes." 
 
 John soon followed, holding his under jaw in his hand, looking 
 very dismal and very frightened, for two reasons, one because he 
 thought that his jaw was broken, and the other, because he 
 thought he had seen the devil. 
 
 ** Mercy on us, what is the matter?" exclaimed the farmer's 
 wife again. <'Mary, Mary, Mary]" screamed she, beginning 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 37 
 
 to be frightened herself, for with all her efforts she could not 
 remove Susan from the bed of dough, where she lay senseless 
 and heavy as lead. Mary answered to her mistress's loud ap- 
 peal, and with her assistance they raised up Susan, but as for 
 the bread, there was no hopes of it ever rising again. ** Why 
 don't you come here and help Susan, John ?'' cried Mary. 
 
 ** Aw-yaw-awi" was all the reply of John, who had had 
 enough quite of helping Susan, and who continued to hold his 
 head, as it were, in his hand. 
 
 ** What's the matter here, missus?'' exclaimed the farmer 
 coming in. ** Highty-tighty, what ails Suzan , and what ails 
 you ?" continued the farmer, turning to John. ** Dang il , but 
 every thing seems to go wrong this blessed day. First there be 
 all the apples stolen — then there be all the hives turned topsy- 
 turvy in the garden, — then there be Csesar with his flank open- 
 ed by the bull,— then there be the bull broken through the hedge 
 and tumbled into the saw-pit, — and now I come to get more help 
 to drag him out, I find one woman dead hke, and John looks as 
 if he had seen the devil." 
 
 ** Aw-yaw-aw !" replied John nodding his head very signi- 
 ficantly. 
 
 ** One would think that the devil had broke loose to-day. 
 What is it, John? Have you seen him, and has Susan seen 
 him?" 
 
 ** Aw-yaw." 
 
 " He's stopped your jaw then, at all events, and I thought the 
 devil himself wouldn't have done that— we shall get nothing of 
 you. Is that wench coming to her senses ?" 
 
 *' Yes, yes, she's better now.— Susan, what's the matter?" ^ 
 *' Oh, oh, ma'am ! the well, the well ! " 
 " The well! Something wrong there, I suppose : well, I will 
 go and see." 
 
 The farmer trotted off to the well; he perceived the bucket 
 was at the bottom and all the rope out ; he looked about him, and 
 then he looked into the well. Jack, who had become very im- 
 patient, had been looking up some time for the assistance which 
 he expected would have come sooner ; the round face of the 
 farmer occasioned a partial eclipse of the round disk which 
 
38 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 bounded his view> just as one of the satelUtes of Jupitef sOftie^ 
 times obscures the face of the planet round which he revolves. 
 
 <*HereI am/' cried Jack, "get me Up quick, or I shall be 
 dead 5" and what Jack said was true, for he was quite done up 
 by having been so long down, although his courage had not fail- 
 ed him. 
 
 "Dang it, but there be somebody fallen into the well/' cried 
 the farmer; " no end to mishaps this day. Well, we must get a 
 Christian out of a well afore we get a bull out of a saw^pitj soFll 
 go call the men." 
 
 In a very short time the men who were assembled round the 
 saw-pit were brought to the well* 
 
 '* Down below there^ hold on now/' 
 
 " Never fear," cried Jack. 
 
 Away went the winch> and once more Jack had an extended 
 horizon to survey* As soon as he was at the top, the men hauled 
 him over the bricks and laid him down upon the ground, for 
 Jack's strength had failed him. 
 
 " Dang it, if it bean't that chap who was on my apple*tree,'' 
 cried the farmer— "hoWsomever he must not die for stealing a 
 few apples ; lift him up, lads, and take him in — he is dead with 
 cold—no wonder." 
 
 The farmer led the way, and the men carried Jack into the 
 house, when the farmer gave him a glass of brandy; this 
 restored Jack's circulation, and in a short time he was all right 
 again. 
 
 After some previous conversation, in which Jack narrated all 
 that had happened, "what may be your name?" inquired the 
 farmer. 
 
 "My name is Easy," replied Jack. 
 
 "What, be you the son of Mr. Easy, of Forest Hill?" V ** 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " Dang it, he be my landlord, and a right good landlord too 
 — ^why didn't you say so when you were up in the apple-tree? 
 You might have picked the whole orchard and welcome." 
 
 " My dear sir," rephed Jack who had taken a second glass of 
 brandy, and was quite talkative again, "let this be a warning 
 to you, and when a man proposes to argue the point, always, in 
 
Mk. Midshipman easY. B 
 
 futtirfe, lisifen. Had yoii Waited, I woilld have proved to yoii ihost 
 incontestably that you had no more right to the apples than t 
 had ; but you would not listen to argument, and without dis- 
 cussion We can never arrive at truth. You isehd for your dog^^ 
 who is ripped up by the bull — the bull breaks his leg in a saw- 
 pit— the bee-hives are overturned and you lose all your hohey — 
 your man John breaks his jaw— your maid Siisan spoils all the 
 bread— and why ? because you would not allow me to argue the 
 point." 
 
 " Well, Mr. Easy, it be all true that all these mishaps have 
 happened because 1 would not allow you to argue the point, 
 perhaps, although, as I rent the orchard from your father, I 
 cannot imagine how you could have proved to me that the ap- 
 ples were not mine; but now let's take your side of the question, 
 and I don't see how you be much better Off — you get up in a 
 tree for a few apples, with plenty of inohey to buy them if you 
 like- — you are kept there by a dog — yoii are nearly gored by a 
 bull — you are stung by the bees, and yoii tumble soiice into a 
 well, and are nearly killed a dozen timi6s, and dll for a few apples 
 not worth twopence.'' 
 
 "All very true, my good man," replied Jack; *'hut you 
 forget that I, as a philosopher, was defending the rights ot 
 man." 
 
 " Well, I never knew before. that a lad who stole apples was 
 called a philosopher — we calls it petty larceny in the indict- 
 ments ; and as for your rights of man, I cantiot see how they can 
 be defended by doing what's wrong." 
 
 " You do not comprehend the matter, farmer.'' 
 
 '* No, I don't — and I be too old to learn, Master Easy. All 
 I have to say is this, you are welcome to all the apples in the 
 orchard if you please, and if you prefers, as it seems you do, to 
 steal them, instead of asking for them, which I only can account 
 for by the reason that they say, that * stolen fruit be sweetest,^ 
 I've only to say that I shall give orders that you be not interfered 
 with. My chaise be at the door. Master Easy, and the man will 
 drive you to your father's— make my compliments to him, and 
 say, that I'm very sorry that you tumbled into our well.*' 
 
 As Jack was much more inclined for bed than argument, he 
 
40 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 wished the farmer good night, and allowed himself to be driven 
 home. 
 
 The pain from the sting of the bees, now that his circulation 
 had fully returned, was so great, that he was not sorry to find 
 Dr. Middleton taking his tea with his father and mother. Jack 
 merely said that he had been so infortunate as to upset a hive, 
 and had been severely stung. He deferred the whole story till 
 another opportunity. Dr. Middleton prescribed for Jack, but 
 on taking his hand found that he was in a high fever, which, 
 after the events of the day, was not to be wondered at. Jack 
 was bled, and kept his bed for a week , by which time he was 
 restored ; but during that time, Jack had been thinking very 
 seriously, and had made up his mind. 
 
 But we must explain a circumstance which had occurred, 
 which was probably the cause of Jack's decision. When Jack 
 returned on the evening in question, he found seated with his 
 father and Dr. Middleton, a Captain Wilson, a sort of cousin to 
 the family, who but occasionally paid them a visit, for he lived 
 at some distance ; and having a wife and large family, with 
 nothing but his half-pay for their support, he could not afford 
 to expend even shoe-leather in compliments. The object of this 
 visit on the part of Captain Wilson was to request the aid of 
 Mr. Easy He had succeeded in obtaining his appointement to 
 a sloop of war, (for he was in the king's service,) but was with- 
 out the means of fitting himself out, without leaving his wife 
 and family pennyless. He therefore came to request Mr. Easy 
 to lend him a few hundred pounds, until he should be able, by 
 his prize money, to repay them. Mr. Easy was not a man to 
 refuse such a request, and, always having plenty of spare cash 
 at his banker's, he drew a cheque for a thousand pounds, which 
 he gave to Captain Wilson, requesting that he would only re- 
 pay it at his convenience. Captain Wilson wrote an acknow- 
 ledgment of the debt, promising to pay upon his first prize 
 money, which receipt, however binding it might be to a man of 
 honour, was, in point of law, about as valuable as if he had 
 agreed to pay as soon * ' as the cows came home." The affair had 
 been just concluded, and Captain Wilson had returned into the 
 parlour with Mr. Easy, when Jack returned from his expedition. 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 41 
 
 Jack greeted Captain Wilson, whom he had long known ; but, 
 as we before observed, he suffered so much pain, that he soon 
 retired with Dr. Middleton, and went to bed. ' :\aM 
 
 During a week there is room for much reflection even in a lad 
 of fourteen, although at that age we are not much inclined to 
 think. But Jack was in bed ; his eyes were so swollen with the 
 stings of the bees that he could neither read nor otherwise amuse 
 himself; and he preferred his own thoughts to the gabble of 
 Sarah , who attended him ; so Jack thought, and the result of 
 his cogitations we shall soon bring forward. 
 
 It was on the eighth day that Jack left his bed and came 
 down into the drawing-room. He then detailed to his father 
 the adventures which had taken place, which had obliged him 
 to take to his bed. 
 
 '^ You see. Jack," replied his father, *^ it's just what I told 
 you ; the world is so utterly demoralized by what is called social 
 compact, and the phalanx supporting it by contributing a por- 
 tion of their unjust possessions for the security of the remainder, 
 is so powerful, that any one who opposes it, must expect to pass 
 the hfe of a martyr ; but martyrs are always required previous 
 to any truth, however sublime, being received, and, like Abra- 
 ham, whom I have always considered as a great philosopher, I 
 am willing to sacrifice my only son, in so noble a cause." 
 
 ** That's all very good on your part, father, but we must ar- 
 gue the point a little. If you are as great a philosopher as 
 Abraham, I am not quite so dutiful a son as Isaac, whose blind 
 obedience, in my opinion, is very contrary to your rights of 
 man — but the fact, in few words, is simply this. In promulga- 
 ting your philosophy, in the short space of two days, I have been 
 robbed of the fish I caught, and my rod and line — I have been 
 soused into a fish pond— I have been frightened out of my wits 
 by a bull-dog — been nearly killed by a bull — been stung to death 
 by bees, and twice tumbled into a well. Now if all that hap- 
 pens in two days, what must I expect to suffer in a whole year? 
 It appears to be very unwise to attempt making further con- 
 verts, for people on shore seem determined not to listen to rea- 
 son or argument. But it has occurred to me, that although 
 the whole earth has been so nefariously divided among the few. 
 
42 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 that the waters at least are the property of all. No man claims 
 his share of the sea — every one may there plough as he pleases^ 
 without being taken up for a trespasser. Even war makes ho 
 difference ; every one may go on as he pleases, and if they meet, 
 it is nothing but a neutral ground on which the parties contend. 
 It iS) then, only upon the ocean that I am likely to find that 
 equality and rights of man, which we are so anxious to esta-* 
 blish on shore ; and therefore I have resolved not to go to school 
 ilgain^ which I detest, but to go to sea> and propagate our Opi- 
 nions as much as I can." 
 
 ** I cannot hsten to that, Jack. In the first place, you mUst 
 return to school ; in the next place, you shall not go to sea." 
 
 ** Then, father^ all I have to say is, that I swear by the rights 
 of man I will not go back to school, and that I will go to sea. 
 Who and what is to prevent ime ?— was not I born my own mas- 
 ter, has any one a right to dictate to me as if I were riot his 
 equal? Have I not as much right to my share of the sea as any 
 other mortal ? I stand upon perfect equality,'' continued Jack, 
 stamping his right foot on the floors 
 
 What had Mr. Easy to^ffer in reply ? He must either, as k 
 philosopher, have sacrificed his hypothesis, or, as a father, 
 have sacrificed his son. Like all philosophers, he preferred 
 what life considered as the less important of the two, he sacri- 
 ficed his son; but we will do him justice, he did it with a sigh. 
 
 '* Jack^ you shall, if you wish itj gt) to sea? 
 
 ** That of course," replied Jack, with the air of a conqueror, 
 * ' but the question is, with whom ? Now it has occurred to me, 
 that Captain Wilson has just been appointed to a ship, and I 
 should like to sail with him." 
 
 " I will write to him," said Mr. Easy, mournfully, '* but I 
 should have liked to have felt his head first;" and thus was the 
 matter arranged. 
 
 The answer from Captain Wilson was, of coursCj in the af- 
 firmative, and he promised that he would treat Jack as his own 
 son. 
 
 Our hero mounted his father's horse, and rode off to Mr. Bon- 
 ny castle i 
 
 " I am going to sea, Mr. Bonnycastle." 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 4d 
 
 ** The TTery best thing for you/' replied Mt^ Bohny Castle. 
 
 Our hero met Dr. Middleton. 
 
 *' I am going to sea, Dr. Middleton.'' 
 
 *' The very best thing for you," replied the tBLoctor. 
 
 *' I am going to sea, mother/' said John. 
 .-o *' To sea, John^ to sea; no, no, dear John> you are not going 
 to sea," replied Mrs. Easy with horror. 
 
 ** Yes, I am, father has agreed, and says he will obtain your 
 consent." 
 
 " My consent I Oh, my dear, dear boy i" — and Mrs. Easf 
 wept bitterly, as Radiel mourning for her children. 
 
 ■■;?57 i Vi;.i^: '* 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 in whicB Mr* Sasy ha* Ihs first lessoti as to ze&l In his Majesty's service. 
 
 As there was no time to lose, our hero very soon bade adieu to 
 his paternal roof, as the phrase is, and found his way down to 
 Portsmouth. As Jack had plenty of money, and was very much 
 pleased at finding himself his own master, he was in no hurry 
 to join his ship, and five or six companions not very creditable, 
 whom either Jack had picked up, or had picked up Jack, and who 
 lived upon him, strongly advised him to put it off until the very 
 last moment. As this advice happened to coincide with Jack's opi- 
 nion, our hero was three weeks at Portsmouth before any one 
 knew of his arrival, but at last Captain Wilson received a letter 
 from Mr. Easy, by which he found that Jack had left home at the 
 period we have mentioned, and he desired the first lieutenant 
 to make inquiries, as he was afraid that some accident might 
 have happened to him. As Mr. Sawbridge, the first lieutenant, 
 
44 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 happened to be going on shore on the same evening for the last 
 time previous to the ship's sailing, he looked into the Blue Posts, 
 George and Fountain Inns, to inquire if there was such a per- 
 son arrived as Mr. Easy. " yes," replied the waiter at the 
 Fountain, — " Mr. Easy has been here these three weeks.'' 
 
 *' The devil he has," roared Mr. Sawbridge, with all the in- 
 dignation of a first lieutenant, defrauded three weeks of a mid- 
 shipman ; *' where is he ; in the coffee-room ?" 
 
 '* Oh dear no, sir," replied the waiter, " Mr. Easy has the 
 front apartments on the first floor.'' 
 
 *' Well, then, show me up to the first floor." 
 
 '' May I request the pleasure of your name, sir?" said the 
 waiter. 
 
 " First lieutenants don't send up their names to midship- 
 men," replied Mr. Sawbridge ; ** he shall soon know who 
 I am." 
 
 At this reply, the waiter walked up stairs followed by 
 Mr. Sawbridge, and threw open the door. 
 
 *' A gentleman wishes to see you, sir," said the waiter. 
 
 " Desire him to walk in," said Jack; " and, waiter, mind 
 that the punch is a little better than it was yesterday ; I have ask- 
 ed two more gentlemen to dine here." 
 
 In the mean time Mr. Sawbridge, who was not in his uni- 
 form, had entered, and perceived Jack alone with the dinner 
 table laid out in the best style for eight, a considerable show of 
 plate for even the Fountain Inn, and every thing, as well as 
 the apartment itself, according to Mr. Sawbridge's opinion, 
 much more fit for a commander-in-chief than a midshipman of a 
 sloop of war. 
 
 Now Mr. Sawbridge was a good officer, one who had really 
 worked his way up to the present rank, that is to say he had 
 served seven-and- twenty years, and had nothing but his pay. 
 He was a little soured in the service, and certainly had an aver- 
 sion to the young men of family who were now fast crowding 
 into it— and with some grounds, as he perceived his own chance 
 of promotion decrease in the same ratio as the numbers increased. 
 He considered that in proportion as midshipmen assumed a 
 cleaner mi morp gentlemanly appearance, so did they become 
 
/ 
 
 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. m 
 
 more useless, and it may therefore be easily imagined that his 
 bile was raised by this parade and display in a lad, who was very 
 shortly to be, and ought three weeks before to have been, 
 shrinking from his frown. Nevertheless, Sawbridge was a good- 
 hearted man, although a little envious of luxury , which he could 
 not pretend to indulge in himself. 
 
 *' May I beg to ask,^' said Jack, who was always remarkably 
 polite and gentlemanly in his address, ** in what manner I may 
 be of service to you ?" 
 
 ** Yes, sir, you may — by joining your ship immediately. And 
 may I beg to ask in return, sir, what is the reason you have staid 
 on shore three weeks without joining her?" 
 
 Hereupon Jack, who did not much admire the peremptory 
 tone of Mr. Sawbridge, and who during the answer had taken a 
 seat, crossed his legs, and played with the gold chain to which 
 his watch was secured, after a pause very coolly replied, 
 
 *' And pray, who are you ?" 
 
 '*Who am I, sir?" replied Sawbridge, jumping out of his 
 chair — *'my name is Sawbridge, sir, and I am the first lieute- 
 nant of the Harpy. Now, sir, you have your answer.'' 
 
 Mr. Sawbridge, who imagined that the name of the first lieu- 
 tenant would strike terror to a culprit midshipman, threw him- 
 self back in the chair, and assumed an air of importance. 
 
 *' Really, sir/' replied Jack, ''what may be your exact situa- 
 tion on board, my ignorance of the service will not allow me to 
 guess, but if I may judge from your behaviour, you have no small 
 opinion of yourself." 
 
 ** Look ye, young man, you may not know what a first lieute- 
 nant is, and I take it for granted that you do not, by your beha- 
 viour; but depend upon it, Fll let you know very soon. In the 
 mean time, sir, I insist upon it, that you go immediately on 
 board.'' 
 
 * * I'm sorry that I cannot comply with your very moderate 
 request," replied Jack, coolly. *' I shall go on board when it 
 suits my convenience, and I beg that you will give yourself no 
 further trouble on my account." 
 
 Jack then rang the bell; the waiter, who had been listening 
 outside, immediately entered, and before Mr. Sawbridge, who 
 
46 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 was dumb with astonishment at Jack's impertinence, could have 
 time to reply, 
 
 ^,iAi Waiter," said Jack, *^ show this gentleman down stairs.*^ 
 -'' << By the god of war I" exclaimed the first lieutenant, ** but 
 I'll soon show you down to the boat, my young bantam; and 
 when once I get you safe on board, V\\ make you know the dif- 
 ference between a midshipman and a first lieutenant.^' 
 
 ^* I can only admit of equality, sir, replied Jack; ** we are all 
 born equal, I trust you'll allow that." 
 
 ^' Equality — daqinit, I suppose you'll take the command of 
 the ship. However, sir, your ignorance will be a little enlighten- 
 ed by-and-bye. I shall now go and report your conduct to Cap- 
 tain Wilson; and I tell you plainly, that, if you are not on board 
 this evening, to-morrow morning, at daylight, I shall send a ser- 
 geant and a file of marines, to fetch you." 
 
 ** You may depend upon it, sir," replied Jack, *< that I also 
 shall not fail to mention to Captain Wilson, that I consider you 
 a very quarrelsome, impertinent fellow, and recommend him 
 not to allow you to remain on board. It will be quite uncomfor- 
 table to be in the same ship with such an un gentlemanly bear.'^ 
 
 ** He must be mad — quite mad," exclaimed Sawbridge, whose 
 astonishment even mastered his indignation. " Mad as a March 
 hare — by God." 
 
 ** No, sir," repUed Jack, *' I am not mad, but I am a philo- 
 sopher." 
 
 f « A what ?*' exclaimed Sawbridge, ** damme, what next ?--*- 
 well, my joker, all the better for you, I shall put your philosophy 
 to the proof.' ■ 
 
 " It is for that very reason, sir,*' replied Jack, **that I have 
 decided upon going to sea ; and if you do remain on board, I hope 
 to argue the point with you, and make you a convert to the truth 
 of equality and the rights of man." 
 
 ** By the Lord that made us both, I'll soon make you a con- 
 vert to the thirty-six articles of war — that is, if you remain on 
 board ; but I shall now gp to the captain, and report your con- 
 duct, sir, and leave you to your dinner with what appetite you 
 may." #5 
 
 ^ * Sir, I am infinitely obliged to you ; but you need not be afraid 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 47 
 
 of my appetite; I am only sorry, as you happen to belong to the 
 same ship, that I cannot, ii^ justice to the gentlemanly young 
 men whom I expect, ask you to join them. I wish you a very 
 •good morning, sir." 
 
 *' Twp^ity years have I been \n the service," roared Saw- 
 bridgej" *^ and, damme, — -— but he's mad— downright, stark, 
 staring mad." And the first ^e^fenaIlt bounced out of the 
 room. 
 
 Jack was a little astonished himself. Had Mr. Sawbridge 
 made his appearance in uniform it might have been different , 
 but that a plain-looking man, with black whiskers, shaggy hair, 
 and old blue frock coat, and yellow casimere waistcoat, should 
 venture to address him in such a manner, was quite incompre- 
 hensible ; — he cajls me mad, thought Jack, I shall tell Captain 
 Wilson what is my opinion about his lieutenant. Shortly 
 afterwards, the company arrived, and Jack soon forgot all 
 about it. 
 
 In the mean time, Sawbridge called at the captain's lodg- 
 ings, and found him at home, he made a very faithful report of 
 all that had happened, and concluded his request by demanding, 
 in great wrath ^ either an instant dismissal or a court martial on 
 our hero. Jack. 
 
 '* Stop, Sawbridge," replied Captain Wilson , <Uake a chair: 
 as Mr. Easy says, we must argue the point, and then I will leave 
 it to your better feelings. As for the court martial , it will not 
 hold good, for Mr. Easy, in the first place, has not yet joined the 
 ship, and in the next place, could not be supposed to know 
 that you were the first heutenant, or ^yen «^n officer, for you 
 went to him out of uniform." 
 
 ** Very true, sir," replied Sawbridge, " I had forgotten 
 thai," 
 
 *f Th^n, as for his dismissal, or rather, Qpt allowing him to 
 join, Mr. Easy has been brought up in the country, and has 
 never seen any thing aquatic larger than a fish pond, perhaps, 
 in his life; and as for the service, or the nature of it, I believe 
 he is as ignorant of it as a child not a year old— Idoubt whethey 
 he knows the rank of a lieutenant; certainly, he can have no 
 idea of the power of a first lieutenant, by his treatment of you." 
 
48 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 *' I should think not," repUed Sawhridge, dryly. " - 
 
 '*I do not think, therefore, that conduct which must have 
 proceeded from sheer ignorance, should he so severely punished 
 —I appeal to you, Sawhridge." 
 
 *' Well, sir, perhaps you are right — hut still he told me he 
 was a philosopher, and talked ahout equality and rights of man. 
 Told me that he could only admit of equality hetween us, and 
 hegged to argue the point. Now, sir, if a midshipman is to argue 
 the point every time that an order is given, the service will come 
 to a pretty pass." 
 
 *^' That is all very true, Sawhridge ; and now you remind me 
 of what never occurred to me at the time that I promised to 
 take Mr. Easy in the ship. I now recollect that his father, who 
 is a distant relation of mine, has some very wild notions in his 
 head, just like what have heen repeated hy his son on your in- 
 terview with him. I have occasionally dined there, and Mr. Easy 
 has always heen upholding the principles of natural equality 
 and of the rights of man, much to the amusement of his guests, 
 and I confess, at the time , of mine also. I recollect telling him 
 that I trusted he would never he ahle to disseminate his opinions 
 in the service to which I belonged, as we should have an end of 
 all discipline. I little thought, at the time, that his only son, 
 who has no more occasion to go to sea than the archbishop of 
 Canterbury, for his father has a very handsome property — I 
 believe seven or eight thousand a year — would ever have sailed 
 with me, and have brought these opinions with him into any ship 
 that I commanded. It is a pity, a great pity—" 
 
 *' He never could have brought his pigs to a worse market," 
 observed Sawhridge. 
 
 *' I agree with you, and, as a father myself, I cannot but help 
 feeling how careful we should be, how we inculcate any thing 
 hke abstract and philosophical ideas to youth. Allowing them 
 to be in themselves correct, still they are dangerous as sharp 
 instruments are in the hands of a child; — allowing them to be 
 erroneous, they are seized upon with an avidity by youn^-and 
 ardent minds, and are not-to be eradicated without the greatest 
 difficulty, and very often not until they have accomplished their 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY^w , 40 ^ 
 
 t*- -, -.. ■ 
 
 « Then you think, sir, that these ideas have taken deep root ' 
 in this young man, and we shall not easily rid kim of them." '% 
 ** I do not say so; but still, recollect they have been instill- j 
 ed, perhaps, from the earliest period, by one from whom they 
 must have been received with all confidence — from a father to a 
 son, and that son has never yet been sufficiently in the world to 
 have proved their fallacy," 
 
 ** Well, sir, " replied Sawbridge, <* if I may venture to offer 
 an opinion on the subject, and in so doing I assure you that I 
 only shall from a feeling for the service, — if, as you say, these 
 opinions will not easily be eradicated, as the young man is inde- 
 pendent, would it not be both better for himself, as well as for 
 the service, that he is sent home again ? As an officer he will 
 never do any good for himself, and he may do much harm to 
 others. I submit this to you. Captain Wilson, with all respect, 
 but as your first lieutenant, I feel very jealous at any chance 
 of the discipline of the ship being interfered with by the intro- 
 duction of this young man, to whom it appears that a profession 
 is no object." 
 
 *' My dear Sawbridge," replied Captain Wilson, after taking 
 one or two turns up and down the room, ** we entered the ser- 
 vice together, we were messmates for many years, and you must 
 be aware that it is not only long friendship but an intimate 
 knowledge of your unrewarded merit, which has induced me to 
 request you to come with me as my first lieutenant.- Now I 
 will put a case to you, and you shall then decide the question — 
 and moreover, I will abide by your decision. 
 
 ' * Suppose that you were a commander like myself, with a wife 
 and seven children, and that, struggling for many years to sup- 
 port them, you found yourself, notwithstanding the utmost par- 
 simony, gradually running into debt. That, after many long 
 applications, you had at last succeeded in obtaining employment 
 by an appointment to a fine sloop, and there was every prospect, 
 by prize-money and increased pay, of recovering yourself from 
 your difficulties, if not realizing a sufficient provision for your 
 family — then suppose that all this prospect and all these hopes 
 were likely to be dashed to the ground by the fact of having no 
 means of fitting yourself out, no credit, no means of paying debts 
 
 4 
 
50 ]\1R* MIDSHIPMAN^EASY. 
 
 you have contracted, for which you would have been arrested, 
 or any thing sufficient to leave for the support of your family 
 during your absence, your agent only consenting to advance one 
 half of what you require. Now suppose, in this awkward di- 
 lemma, without any one in this world upon whom you have any 
 legitiinate claim, as a last resource you were to apply to one 
 with whom you have but a distant connexion, and but an occa- 
 sional acquaintance — and that when yon had made your request 
 for the loan of two or three hundred pounds, fully anticipating a 
 refusal, (from the feeling that he who goes a borrowing goes a 
 sorrowing,) — I say, suppose, to your astonishment, that this ge- 
 nerous person was to present you with a cheque on his banker 
 for one thousand pounds^ demanding no interest, no legal secu- 
 rity, and requests you only to pay it at your convenience, — 
 I ask you, Sawbridge, what would be your feelings towards such 
 a man ?" 
 'f* 1 would die for him," replied Sawbridge, with emotion* 
 
 'f'And suppose, that, by the merest chance, or from a whim 
 of the moment, the son of that man was to be placed under your 
 protection ?" 
 
 * * I would be a father to him," repHed Sawbridge. 
 
 " But we must proceed a little further : suppose that you were 
 to find the lad was not all that you could wishj — that he had 
 imbibed erroneous doctrines, which would probably, if not era- 
 dicated, he attended with consequences fatal to his welfare and 
 happiness, would you therefore, on that account, withdraw your 
 protection, and leave him to the mercy of others who had no 
 claims of gratitude to sway them in his favour ?" 
 
 <*Most certainly not, sir," replied Sawbridge; on the 
 '< contrary, I would never part with the son until, by precept 
 or otherwise, I had set him right again, and thus, had, as far as 
 it was possible^ paid the debt of gratitude due to the generous 
 father." -i 
 
 <* I hardly need say to you, Sawbridge, after what has passed^ 
 that this lad you have just come from, is the son, and that 
 M. Easy of Forest Hill is the father." si 
 
 ** Then, 'sir, I can only say that not only to please you, but 
 also from respect to a man who has shown such good-will 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY; SI 
 
 towafds dine at our cloth, I shall most cheerfully forgive all that 
 has passed between the lad and me, and all that may probably 
 take place bijfore we friake hiitt what he ought to be." 
 
 ** Thank you, Sawbridge^ I expected as much, and &m not dis- 
 appointed in my opinioti of you." 
 
 *' And noWj Captain Wilson, pray what is to be done?" mi 
 
 '* We must get him oti board, but not with a file of marined> 
 that will do itiore harm than good. I will send a note requesting 
 him to breakfast with me to-m5rrow morning, and have a little 
 conversation with him. I do not wish to frighten him; he 
 would not scruple to run back to Forest Hill — now I wish to keep 
 him, if I possibly can." 
 
 '* You are right, sir ; his father appears his greatest enemy. 
 What a pity that a man with so good a heart should be so weak 
 in the head I Then, sir, I shall take no notice of this at present^ 
 but leave the whole affair in your hands." 
 
 '* Do, Sawbridge ; you have obliged me very much by your 
 kindness in this business.*' 
 
 Mr. Sawbridge then took his leave, and Captain Wilson dis- 
 patched a note to our hero, requesting the pleasure of his com- 
 pany to breakfast at nine o'clock the ensuing morning. The 
 answer was in the Affirmative, but verbal, for Jack had drunk 
 too tiruch champagne to trust his pen to paper. 
 
 mi . r- -v-^-— >i 
 
 .Olid, ki i.'tiji ii'..;r;iJi ?? iiAi.-i'.th- 
 
 eftAPTfiRti. 
 
 ja?*i:iii, 
 
 Irf wMefc Mr. Easy ands himself on the elher sicle of the Bay of Biscay. 
 
 Thk xstxi Hioriilng Jack Eaaiy would hatB forgbtteii all about 
 
 4. 
 
52 m\, MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 his engagement with the captain, had it not been for the waiter, 
 who thought that after the reception which our hero had given 
 the first lieutenant, it would be just as well that he should not be 
 disrespectful to the captain. Now Jack had not, hitherto, put 
 on his uniform, and he thought this a fitting occasion, particu- 
 larly as the waiter suggested the propriety of his appearance in 
 it. Whether it was from a presentiment of what he was to 
 suffer, Jack was not at all pleased, as most lads are, with the 
 change in his dress. It appeared to him that he was sacrificing 
 his independence ; however, he did not follow his first impulse, 
 which was, to take it off again, but took his hat, which the 
 waiter had brushed and handed to him, and then set off for the 
 captain's lodgings. Captain Wilson received him as if he had not 
 been aware of his delay in joining his ship, or his interview with 
 his first lieutenant, but before breakfast was over. Jack himself 
 narrated the affair in few words. Captain Wilson then entered 
 into a detail of the duties and rank of every person on board of 
 the ship, pointing out to Jack, that where discipline was re- 
 quired, it was impossible, when duty was carried on, that more 
 than one could command ; and that that one was the captain, 
 who represented the king in person, who represented the coun- 
 try ; and that, as the orders were transmitted from the captain 
 through the lieutenant, and from the lieutenant to the midship- 
 men, who, in their turn, communicated them to the whole 
 ship's company, in fact, it was the captain alone who gave the 
 orders, and that every one was equally obliged to obey. Indeed, 
 as the captain himself had to obey the orders of his superiors, 
 the admiral and the admiralty ; all on board might be said to be 
 equally obliged lo obey. Captain Wilson laid a strong emphasis 
 on the word equally^ as he cautiously administered his first dose ; 
 indeed, in the whole of his address, he made use of special 
 pleading, which would have done credit to the bar; for at the 
 same time that he vas explaining to Jack that he was entering a 
 service in which equality could never for a moment exist, if the 
 service was to exist, he contrived to show that all the grades 
 were levelled, by all being equally bound to do their duty to 
 their country, and that, in fact, whether a seaman obeyed his 
 orders, or he obeyed the orders olhis superior o£[icer, they were 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 53 
 
 in reality only obeying the orders of the country, which were 
 administered through their channels. 
 
 Jack did not altogether dislike this view of the subject, and 
 the captain took care not to dwell too long upon it. He then 
 entered upon other details which he was aware would be more 
 agreeable to Jack. He pointed out that the articles of war were 
 the rules by which the service was to be guided, and that every 
 body, from the captain to the least boy in the ship, was equally 
 bound to adhere to them — that a certain allowance of provisions 
 and wine were allowed to each person on board, and that this 
 allowance was the same to all ; the same to the captain as to the 
 boy ; the same in quantity as in quality ; every one equally en- 
 titled to his allowance ; — that, although there were, of necessity, 
 various grades necessary in the service, and the captain's orders 
 were obliged to be passed and obeyed by all, yet still whatever 
 was the grade of the officer, they were equally considered as 
 gentlemen. In short. Captain Wilson, who told the truth, and 
 nothing but the truth, without telling the whole truth, actually 
 made Jack fancy that he had at last found out that equahty he 
 had been seeking for in vain on shore, when, at last, he recol- 
 lected the language used by Mr. Sawbridge the evening before, 
 and asked the captain why that personage had so conducted 
 himself. Now, as the language of Mr. Sawbridge was very 
 much at variance with equality, Captain Wilson was not a little 
 puzzled. However, he first pointed out that the first lieutenant 
 was, at the time being, the captain^ as he was the senior officer on 
 board, as would Jack himself be if he were the senior officer on 
 board ; and that, as he before observed, the captain or senior of- 
 ficer represented the country. That in the articles of war, 
 every body who absented himself from the ship, committed an 
 error, or breach of those articles ; and if any error or breach of 
 those articles was committed by any one belonging to the ship, 
 if the senior officer did not take notice of it , he then himself 
 committed a breach of those articles, and was liable himself to 
 be punished, if he could not prove that he had noticed it ; it was 
 therefore to save himself that he was obliged to point out the 
 error ; and if he did it ia strong language, it only proved his 
 zealiQ)X\v\^ country. ^^m\ bius ^ji -loi si? 'Jijiiio «.)iw w97n a/ji lo 
 
M MR, MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 ^^ Upon my honour, then,- replied Jack, 'Uhere pan be 
 no doubt of his zeal ; for if the whole pountry had been at stake, 
 he could not have put himself in s^ greater passion." 
 
 *^ Then he did his duty; but depend upon it it was not a 
 pleasant one to him : and I'll answer for it^ when you meet him 
 on board, he will be as friendly with yon as if nothing had hap- 
 pened." 
 
 f^ He told me that he'd soon make me know what a first lieu- 
 tenant was : what did he mean by that?'' inquired Jacfe. 
 
 *' All zeal.'? 
 
 ** Yes, but he said that as soon as he got on board, he'd show 
 me the difference between a first lientonant mi % i^idsj^ip- 
 ij^an. '' 
 
 "All zeal." 
 
 *^Hesaidmy ignorance should be ^ littj^ ei^ljghtpp^d by- 
 and-bye.'' 
 
 ^' All zeal." , 
 
 i f ^ And that he'd send a sergeant a?id pj^^rjigp fcfi fgt(5h pei - - . 
 
 ;; 4* Allzeal." ' M>t\ y ^r'^fu^ - 
 
 M That he would put my philosophy to the proof." 
 
 5? All zeal, Mr. Easy. Zeal will break out in this way; but 
 we should do nothing in the service without it, Hecollect that 
 I hope and trust one day to see you also a zealous officer." 
 
 Here Jack cogitated considerably, and gave no answer. 
 
 ** You will, I am sure," continued Captain Wilson, ^'fin^l 
 Mr. Sawbridge one of your best friends." 
 
 ** Perhaps so," replied Jack ; ** but I did npt mHftl> a4niir§Pyi' 
 first acquaintance." =fl brm ? b'l^Od 
 
 "It will perhaps be your unpleasant duty to find ^s mntth 
 fault yourself; we are all equally bound to do our di^ty 'to 
 our country. But, Mr. Easy, I sent for you to say that we shall 
 sail to-morrow ; and, as I shall send my things oft this afternoon 
 by the launch, you had better send yours off also. At eight 
 o'clock I shall go on board, and we can both go in the same 
 boat." 
 
 To this Jack made no sort of objection, and having paid his 
 bill at the Fountain, he sent his chest down to the boat by some 
 of the crew who came up for it, and attended the summons of 
 
lilR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 55 
 
 the captain to embark. By nine o'clock that evening, Mr, Jack 
 Easy was safe on board his Majesty's sloop Harpy. 
 
 When Jack' arrived on board, it was dark, and he did not know 
 what to do with himself. ' The captain was received by the of- 
 ficers on deck, who took off their hats to salute him. The cap- 
 tain returned the salute, and so did Jack very politely, after 
 which, the captain entered into conversation with the first lieu- 
 tenant, and for a while Jack was left to himself. It was too dark 
 to distinguish faces, and to one who had never been pn board of 
 a ship, too dark to move, so Jack stood where he was, wfiich 
 was not far from the main bitts, but he did not stay long ; the 
 boat had been hooked on to the quarter davits, and the boatswain 
 had called out, / cir wd ■::-. j j i; ;^ii jjk. li 
 
 *' Set taut, my lads ! " .-r^r-h ^f^^- 
 
 And then with the shrill whistle, and ** Away with her ! " 
 forward came galloping and bounding along, the men with the 
 tackles ; and in the dark Jack was upset, and half a dozen ma- 
 rines fell upon him ; the men, who had no idea that an officer was 
 floored among the others, were pleased at the joke, and continued 
 to dance over those who were down, until they rolled them- 
 selves out of the way. Jack, who did not understand this, 
 fared badly, and it was not until the calls piped belay, that he 
 could recover his legs, after having been trampled upon by half 
 the starboard watch, and the breath completely jammed out of 
 his body. Jack reeled to a earronade slide, when the officers, 
 who had been laughing at the lark as well as the men, perceived 
 his situation — among others, Mr. Sawbridge, the first lieu- 
 tenant. 
 
 *' Are you hurt, Mr. Easy ?" said he kindly. **.?»toiIiiB{d 
 
 * ' A little," replied Jack, catching his breath . 
 
 ** You've had but a rough welcome," replied the first lieute- 
 nant, ** but at certain times on board ship, it is every man for 
 himself and God for us all. Harpur," continued the first lieu- 
 tenant to the doctor, ** take Mr. Easy down in the gun-room 
 with you, and I will be down myself as soon as I can. Where 
 is Mr. JoUiffe?" 
 
 *' Here, sir/' replied Air. JoUiffe, a master's mate, coming aft 
 from the booms. ;u' ,<M*yAo t J Tyro boirfnio ^xr^uml 
 
56 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 ** There is a youngster come on board with the captain. Order 
 one of the quartermasters to get a hammock slung/' 
 
 In the mean time Jack went down into the gun-room, where a 
 glass of wine somewhat recovered him. He did not stay there 
 long, nor did he venture to talk much. As soon his hammock 
 was ready, Jack was glad to go to bed — and as he was much 
 bruised he was not disturbed the next morning till past nine 
 o'clock. He then dressed himself, went on deck, found that the 
 sloop was just clear of the Needles, that he felt very queer, then 
 very sick, and was conducted by a marine down below, put into 
 his hammock where he remained during a gale of wind of three 
 days, bewildered, confused, puzzled and every minute knocking 
 his head against the beams with the pitching and tossing of 
 the sloop. 
 
 And this is going to sea, thought Jack ; no wonder that no 
 one interferes with another here, or talks about a trespass ; for 
 I'm sure any one is welcome to my share of the ocean ; and if I 
 once get on shore again, the devil may have my portion if he 
 chooses. 
 
 Captain Wilson and Mr. Sawbridge had both allowed Jack 
 more leisure than most midshipmen, during his illness. By the 
 time that the gale was over, the sloop was off Cape Finisterre. 
 The next morning the sea was nearly down, and there was but 
 a slight breeze on the waters. The comparative quiet of the 
 night before had very much recovered our hero, and when the 
 hammocks were piped up, he was accosted by Mr. JoUiffe, the 
 master's mate, who asked, '* whether he intended to rouse and 
 bit, or whether he intended to sail to Gibraltar between his 
 blankets." 
 
 Jack, who felt himself quite another person, turned out of his 
 hammock and dressed himself. A marine had^ by the captain's 
 orders, attended Jack during his illness, and this man came to 
 his assistance, opened his chest, and brought him all which he 
 required, or Jack would have been in a sad dilemma. 
 
 Jack then inquired where he was to go for he had not yet 
 been in the midshipmen's berth, although five days on board. 
 The marine pointed it out to him, and Jack, who felt excessively 
 hungry, crawled over and between chests, until he found himself 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. AT 
 
 fairly in a hole infinitely inferior to the dog-ketinels which re- 
 ceived his father's pointers. 
 
 " I'd not only give up the ocean," thought Jack, '* and my 
 share of it, but also my share of the Harpy, unto any one who 
 fancies it. Equality enough here ! for every one appears equally 
 miserably off." 
 
 As he thus gave vent to his thoughts, he perceived that there 
 was another person in the berth — Mr. Jolliffe, the master's 
 msile, who had fixed his eye upon Jack, and to whom Jack re- 
 turned the compliment. The first thing that Jack observed was, 
 that Mr. Jolliffe was very deeply pockmarked, and that he had 
 but one eye, and that was a piercer ; it appeared like a little ball 
 of fire, and as if it reflected more light from the solitary candle 
 than the candle gave. 
 
 ** I don't like your looks," thought Jack ; ** we shall never be 
 friends." 
 
 But here Jack fell into the common error of judging by appea- 
 rances, as will be proved hereafter. 
 
 "I'm glad to see you up again, youngster," said Jolliffe; 
 ** you've been on your beam ends longer than usual, but those 
 who are strongest suffer most — you made your mind up but late 
 to come to sea. However, they say, *' Better late than never." 
 
 ** I feel very much inclined to argue the truth of that saying," 
 replied Jack; *' but it's no use just now. I'm terribly hungry 
 — when shall I get some breakfast ?" 
 
 " To-morrow morning at half-past eight," replied Mr. JoUiffe. 
 *' Breakfast for to-day has been over these two hours." .; 
 
 * * But must I then go without ?" 
 
 ** No, I do not say that, as we must make allowances for your 
 illness ; but it will not be breakfast ?" 
 
 ** Call it what you please," replied Jack, " only pray desire 
 the servants to give me something to eat. Dry toast or muffins 
 — any thing will do, but I should prefer coffee." 
 
 ** You forget that you are off Finisterre, in a midshipman's 
 berth : coffee we have none — muffins we never see, — dry toast 
 cannot be made, as we have no soft bread ; but a cup of tea, and 
 ship's biscuit and butter, I can desire the steward to get ready 
 for you." :u')m ?fiw vifi*il/i 
 
m MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 '< Well then,'* replied Jack, ** I will thank you to procure me 
 that.'' 
 
 ''Marine,'^ cried JoUiffe, ^* call Mesty.'^ 
 
 *' Pass the word fpr Mesty," cried the marine — and the two 
 syllables were handed forward until lost in the fore part of the 
 vessel. 
 
 The person so named must he introduced to the reader. He 
 was a curious anomaly— a black man who had been brought to 
 America as a slave, and there sold. 
 
 He was a very tall, spare built, yet muscular form, and had 
 a face by no means common with his race. His head was long 
 and narrow, high cheek-bones from whence his face descended 
 down to almost a point at the chin ; his nose was very small, but 
 it was straight and almost Roman ; his mouth also was unusually 
 Small ; and his lips thin for an African ; his teeth very white, 
 and filed to sharp points. He claimed the rank of prince in his 
 own country, with what truth could not of course be substan- 
 tiated. His master had settled at New York, and there Mesty 
 had learned English, if it could be so called : the fact is, that all 
 the emigrant labourers at New York being Irishmen, he had 
 learned English with the strong brogue and peculiar phraseology 
 of the sister kingdom dashed with a little Yankeeism. 
 
 Haying been told that there was no slavery in England, Mesty 
 had concealed himself on board an English merchant vessel and 
 escaped. On his arrival in England he had entered on board of a 
 man-of-Avar. Having no name, it was necessary to christen him 
 on the ship's books, and the first lieutenant who had entered 
 him, struck with his remarkable expression off countenance, 
 and being a German scholar, had named him Mephistopheles 
 Faust, from whence his christian name had been razeed to Mesty. 
 Mesty in other points was an eccentric character ; at one mo- 
 ment, when he remembered his lineage he was proud to excess, 
 at others he was grave and almost sullen — but when nothing 
 either in daily occurrences or in his mind ran contrary, he 
 exhibited the drollery so often found in his nation, with a spice 
 of Irish humour, as if he had caught up the latter with his Irish 
 |)rogue. 
 
 IMesty was soon seen coming aft, but almost double as he 
 
HR, MIDSHIPMAN EASY. <fi9 
 
 f ouched under the heams, and taking large strides with his naked 
 feet, 
 
 '* By the powers, Massa YoUiffe, but it is not seasonable at 
 all to send for me just now, any how, seeing how the praters 
 are in the copper and so many blackguard Spalpeens all ready to 
 change net for net, and better themselves by the same mistake, 
 '*damum." 
 
 " Mesty, you know I never send for you myself or allow others 
 to do so, unless it is necessary, '^ replied Jolliffe ; *^ but this poor 
 lad has eaten nothing since he has been on board and is very 
 hungry— you must get him a little tea." 
 
 ** Is it tay you mane^ sir?^ — I guess, to Ptiake tay^ ^n the first 
 place I must ab water, and in the next must ah room in the galley 
 to put the kettle on — and 'pose you wanted to burn the tip of 
 your little finger just now, it's not in the galley that you find a 
 berth for it — and den the water before seven bells. I've a no- 
 tion it's just impassible." 
 
 * ' But he must have something, Mesty." 
 
 <* Nevej mind the tea then,", replied Jack, " Fll take some 
 milk." • ■ - . £js>!:>fi. 
 
 '* Is it milk massa manes, and the bumboat woman on the oder 
 side of the bay ?" 
 
 ** We have no milk, Mr. Easy ; you forgot that we are on blue 
 water," replied Jolliffe, ** and I really am afraid that you'll have 
 to wait till dinner-time. Mesty tells the truth." 
 ';' *' I tell you what, Massa YoUiffe, it just seven bells, and if the 
 young gentleman would, instead of tay, try a little out of the 
 coppar, it might keep him asy. It but a little difference, tay 
 soup ixndj)ay soup. Now a bowl of that, with some nuts and a 
 flourish of pepper, will do him good, any how." 
 
 ** Perhaps the best tjiing he ^ap. take, Mesty ; get it as fast as 
 you can."^^^-' -/-'----^.--- ~^.v.-.orjq oih, j:u,i..i,.. ..:T . 
 
 In a few thiiiutes the tl^Ck broiight down a hX)w\ 6f soup attd 
 whole peas swimming in it, put before our hero a tin bread-basket 
 full of small biscuit, called midshipmen's nuts, and the pepper- 
 castor. Jack's visions of tea, coffee, ipuffins, dry toast and inilk, 
 vanished as he perceived the mess ; but he was very hungry, and 
 he found it much better than he expected ; and he mereover 
 
60 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 found himself much the belter after he had swallowed it. It 
 struck seven bells, and he accompanied Mr. Jolliffe on deck. 
 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Showing how Jack trausgresses against his own philosophy. 
 
 When Jack Easy had gained the deck, he found the sun shining 
 gaily, a soft air blowing from the shore, and the whole of the 
 rigging and every part of the ship loaded with the shirts, trow- 
 sers, and jackets of the seamen, which had been wetted during 
 the heavy gale, and were now hanging up to dry ; all the wet sails 
 were also spread on the booms or triced up in the rigging, and 
 the ship was slowly forging through the blue water. The captain 
 and first lieutenant were standing on the gangway in converse, 
 and the majority of the officers were with their quadrants and 
 sextants ascertaining the latitude at noon. The decks were 
 white and clean, the sweepers had just laid by their brooms, and 
 the men were busy coiling down the ropes. It was a scene of 
 cheerfulness, activity, and order, which lightened his heart after 
 the four days of suffering, close air, and confinement, from which 
 he had just emerged. 
 
 The captain, who perceived him, beckoned to him, asked him 
 kindly how he felt, the first lieutenant also smiled upon him, and 
 many of the officers, as well as his messmates, congratulated him 
 upon his recovery. 
 
 The captain's steward came up to him, touched his hat, and 
 requested the pleasure of his company to dinner in the cabin. 
 Jack was the essence of politeness, took off his hat, and accepted 
 
wn^^ 
 
 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 61 
 
 the invitation. Jack was standing on a rope which a seaman 
 was coiling down ; the man touched his hat and requested he 
 would he so kind as to take his foot off. Jack took his hat off 
 his head in return, and his foot off the rope. The master 
 touched his hat, and reported twelve o'clock to the first lieute- 
 nant,— the first lieutenant touched his hat, and reported twelve 
 o'clock to the captain, — the captain touched his hat, and told 
 the first lieutenant to make it so. The officer of the watch 
 touched his hat, and asked the captain whether they should , 
 pipe to dinner, — the captain touched his hat and said. — ** If you 
 please." 
 
 The midshipman received his orders, and touched his hat, 
 which he gave to the head boatswain's mate, who touched his ^ 
 hat, and then the calls whistled cheerily. 
 
 Well, thought Jack, politeness seems to he the order of the 
 day, and every one has an equal respect for the other. Jack 
 stayed on deck ; he peeped through the ports which were open, 
 and looked down into the deep blue wave ; he cast his eyes up 
 aloft, and watched the tall spars sweeping and tracing with their 
 points, as it were, a small portion of the clear sky, as they acted 
 in obedience to the motion of the vessel ; he looked forward at 
 the range of carronades which lined the sides of the deck, and 
 then he proceeded to climb one of the carronades, and lean over 
 the hammocks to gaze on the distant land. 
 
 ** Young gentleman, get off those hammocks,'' cried the mas- 
 ter, who was officer of the watch, in a surly tone. 7 oalr 
 Jack looked round. t 
 ** Do you hear me, sir? I'm speaking to you," said the master^ 
 again. 
 
 Jack felt very indignant, and he thought that politeness was 
 not quite so general as lie supposed. 
 
 It happened that Captain Wilson was upon deck. 
 *' Come here^ Mr. Easy," said the captain; ** it is a rule in 
 the service, that no one gets on the hammocks, unless in case of 
 emergency — 1 never do— nor the first lieutenant— nor any of 
 the officers or men, — therefore, upon the principle of equality^ 
 you must not do it either." 
 
 * * Certainly not, sir," replied Jack, * * but still I do not see why; 
 
62 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 that officer in the shining hat, should be so ^ngry, ind tiot speak 
 to me as if I were a gentleman, as well as himself*" 
 iuV I have already explained that to you, Mr. Eslsy." 
 - ** O yes> 1 recollect now, it's zeal ; but this zeal appeats to me 
 to be the,only unpleasant thing in the service. It's a pity, as 
 you said^ that the service cannot do without it.'* 
 
 Captain Wilson laughed, and walked away, and shortly 
 afterwards, as he turned up and down the deck with the master > 
 he hinted to him, that he should not speak so sharply to a lad 
 who had committed such a trifling error, through ignorance* 
 Now Mr. Smallsole, the master, who was a surly sort of a per- 
 sonage, atid did not like even a hint of disapprobation of his 
 conduct j although very regardless of the feehng of others, 
 determined to pay this off on Jack, the very first convenient 
 oppoi'tunity* Jack dined in the cabin, and was very much 
 pleased to find that etery one drank wine with him, and that 
 every body at the captain's table appeared to be oti an equality. 
 Before the dessert had been on the table five minutes, Jack 
 became loquacious on his favourite topic ; all the company stared 
 with surprise at such an unheard-of doctrine being broached on 
 board of a man-of-war ; the captain argued the point, so as to 
 controvert, without too much offending. Jack's notions, laughing 
 the whole time that the conversation was carried on. 
 
 It will be observed, that this day ihay be considered as the 
 first in which Jack really made his appearance on board, and it 
 also was on this first day that Jack made known, at the captain's 
 table, his very peculiar notions. If the company at the captain's 
 table, which consisted of the second lieutenant, purser, Mr. Jol- 
 liffe, and one of the midshipmen^ were astonished at such hete- 
 rodox opinions being started in the presence of the captain, they 
 were equally astonished at the cool, good-humoured ridicule 
 with which they wfere received by^Captain Wilson. The report 
 of Jack's boldness, and every word and opinion that he had 
 uttered, (of course much magnified,) was circulated that evening 
 through the whole ship ; it was canvassed in the guit-room by 
 the officers, it was descanted upon by the midshipmen as they 
 walked the deck ; the captain's steward held a levee abreast of 
 tke ship's funnell) in Which he narrated this new doctrine. The 
 
'W^'- 
 
 MR^ MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 63 
 
 sergeant of marines gave his opinion, in his berth, that it was 
 damnable. The boatswain talked over the matter with the other 
 warrant officers, till the grog was all gone^ and then dismissed it 
 as too dry a subject ; and it was the general opinion of the ship^s 
 company, that as soon as they arrived at Gibraltar Bay, our hero 
 would bid adieu to the service, either by being sentenced to 
 death by a court-martial, or by being dismissed, and towed on 
 shore on a grating. Others, who had more of the wisdom of 
 the serpent, and who had been informed by Mr. Sawbridge that 
 our hero was a lad who would inherit a large property, argued 
 differently, and considered that Captain Wilson had very good 
 reason for being so lenient — and among them was the second 
 lieutenant. There were but four who were well inclined towards 
 Jack, — to wit, the captain, the first lieutenant, Mr. JoUiffe, the 
 one-eyed master's mate, and Mephistopheles, the black, who, 
 having heard that Jack had uttered such sentiments, loved himt 
 with all his heart and soul. /tyri yhb ^iorJ 
 
 We have referred to the second lieutenant, Mr. Asper. This 
 young man had a very high respect for birth, and particularly 
 for money, of which he had very little. He was the son of an 
 eminent merchant who, during the time that he was a midship- 
 man, had allowed him a much larger sum for his expenses than 
 was necessary or proper; and, during his career, he found that 
 his full pocket procured him consequence, not only among his 
 own messmates, but also with many of the officers of the ships 
 that he sailed in. A man who is able and mUing to pay a large 
 tavern bill, will always find followers— that is, to the tavern ; and 
 lieutenants did not disdain to dine, walk arm-in-arm, and be 
 *'liail fellow well met" with a midshipman, at whose expense 
 they lived during the time they were on shore. Mr. Asper had 
 just received his commission and appointment, when his father 
 became a bankrupt, and the fountain was dried up from which 
 he had drawn such liberal supplies. Since that, Mr. Asper had 
 felt that his consequence was gone : he could no longer talk about 
 the service being a bore, or that he should give it up ; he could 
 no longer obtain that deference paid to his purse, and not to 
 himself; and he had contracted very expensive habits, without 
 having any longer the means of gratifying them. It was there- 
 
64 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY." 
 
 fore no wonder that he imbibed a great respect for money ; and, • 
 as he could no longer find'the means himself, he was glad to pick 
 up any body else at whose cost he could indulge in that extrava- 
 gance and expense to which he had been so long accustomed, 
 and still sighed for. Now, Mr. Asper knew that our hero was 
 well supplied with money, as he had obtained from the waiter 
 the amount of the bill paid at the Fountain, and he had been 
 waiting for Jack's appearance on deck to become his very dearest 
 and most intimate friend. The conversation in the cabin made 
 him feel assured that Jack would require and be grateful for 
 support, and he had taken the opportunity of a walk with 
 Mr. Sawbridge, to offer to take Jack in his watch. Whether it 
 was that Mr. Sawbridge saw through the design of Mr. Asper, or 
 whether he imagined that our hero would be better pleased with 
 him than with the master considering his harshness of deport- 
 ment ; or with himself, who could not, as first lieutenant, over- 
 look any remission of duly, the offer was accepted, and Jack 
 Easy was ordered, as he now entered upon his duties, to keep 
 watch under Lieutenant Asper. 
 
 But not only was this the first day that Jack may be said to 
 have appeared in the service, but it was the first day in which 
 he had entered the midshipman's berth, and was made acquainted 
 with his messmates. 
 
 We have already mentioned Mr. JoUiffe, the master's mate, 
 but we must introduce him more particularly. Nature is some- 
 times extremely arbitrary, and never did she show herself more 
 so than in insisting that Mr. JoUiffe should have the most 
 sinister expression of countenance that ever had been looked 
 upon. 
 
 He had suffered martyrdom whith the smallpox, which pro- 
 bably had contracted his lineaments ; his face was not only deeply 
 pitted but scarred with this cruel disorder. One eye had been 
 lost, and all eyebrows had disappeared— and the contrast between 
 the dull, sightless opaque orb on one side of his face, and the 
 brilliant, piercing, little ball on the other, was almost terrifying. 
 His nose had been eaten away by thq disease till it formed a sharp 
 but irregular point ; part of the muscles of the chin were con- 
 tracted, and it was drawn in with unnatural seams and puckers. 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 65 
 
 He was tall, gaunt, and thin, seldom smiled, and when he did, the 
 smile produced a still further distortion. 
 
 IWr. Jolliffe was the son of a warrant officer. He did not con- 
 tract this disease until he had been sent out to the West Indies, 
 where it swept away hundreds. He had now been long in the 
 service, with little or no chance of promotion. He had suffered 
 from indigence, from reflections upon his humble birth, from 
 sarcasms on his appearance. Every contumely had been heaped 
 upon him at one time or another, in the ships in which he serv|^d ; 
 among a crowd he had found himself desolate — and now, although 
 no one dared treat him to his face with disrespect, he was only 
 respected in the service from a knowledge of his utility and 
 exemplary performance of his duties — he had no friends or even 
 companions. For many years he had retired within himself, he 
 had improved by reading and study, had felt all the philan- 
 thropy of a Christian, and extended it towards others. Silent 
 and reserved, he seldom spoke in the berth iinless his authority, 
 as calerer, was called for; all respected Mr. Jolliffe, but no one 
 liked, as a companion, one at whose appearance the very dogs 
 would bark. At the same time every one acknowledged his 
 correct behaviour in every point, his sense 'of justice, his for- 
 bearance, his kindness, and his good sense. With him life was 
 indeed a pilgrimage, and he wended his way in all christian cha- 
 rity and all christian zeal. 
 
 In all societies, howewer small they may be, provided that they 
 do but amount to half-a-dozen, you will invariably meet with a 
 bully. And it is also generally the case that you will find one 
 of that society who is more or less the butt. You will discover 
 this even in occasional meetings, such as a dinner party, the major 
 part of which have never met before. 
 
 Previous to the removal of the cloth, the bully will have shown 
 himself by his dictatorial manner, and will also have selected 
 the one upon whom he imagines that he can best practise. In 
 a midshipman's berth, this fact has become almost proverbial, 
 although now perhaps it is not attended with that disagreeable 
 despotism which was permitted at the time that our hero entered 
 the service. 
 
 The bully of the midshipman's berth of H. M. sloop Harpy, 
 
 5 
 
M MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 was a young man about seventeen, with light, curly hair, and 
 florid countenance, the son of the clerk in the dockyard at Ply* 
 mouth, and his name was Vigors. 
 
 The butt was a pudding-faced Tartar physyognomied boy of fif- 
 teen, whose intellects with fostering, if not great, might at least 
 have been respectable, had he not lost all confidence in his own 
 powers from the constant jeers and mockeries of those who had 
 a greater fluency of speech without perhaps so much real power 
 (^ mind. Although slow, what he learnt he invariably retained. 
 This lad's name was Gossett. Hisfather was a wealthy yeoman 
 of Lynn, in Norfolk. There were at the time but three other 
 midshipmen in the ship, of whom it can only be said that they 
 were like midshipmen in general, with little appetite for learning, 
 but good appetites for dinner, haling every thing like work, fond 
 of every thing like fun, fighting a Voutrance one minute, and 
 sworn friends the next — with general principles of honour and 
 justice, but which were occasionally warped according to cir- 
 cumstances; with all the virtues and vices so heterogeneously 
 jumbled and heaped together, that it was almost impossible to 
 ascribe any action to its true motive, and to ascertain to what 
 point their vice was softened down into almost a virtue, and 
 their virtues from mere excess degenerated into vice. Their 
 manus were O'Connor, Mills, and Gascoigne. The other ship- 
 mates of our hero it will be better to introduce as they appear on 
 the stage. 
 
 After Jack had dined in the cabin, he followed his messmates 
 JoUiffe and Gascoigne down into the midshipman's berth. 
 
 ** I say. Easy," observed Gascoigne, **you are a devilish free 
 and easy sort of a fellow, to tell the captain that you considered 
 yourself as great a man as he was." 
 
 ** I beg your pardon," replied Jack, '*I did not arg'je indivi- 
 dually, but generally, upon the principles of the rights of 
 man." 
 
 «* Well,"' replied Gascoigne, *'it's the first time I ever heard 
 a middy do such a bold thing ; take care your rights of man don't 
 get you in the wrong box — there's no arguing on board of a man- 
 of-war. The captain took it amazingly easy, but you'd better 
 not broach that subject too often." 
 
/ 
 
 f:^^^ Of TIDI 
 
 ^5 f" f p 
 
 
 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 " Gascoigne gives you very good advice, Mr. Easy,*' observed 
 JoUiffe ; ^* allowing that your ideas are correct, which it appears 
 to me they are not, or at least impossible to be acted upon, there 
 is such a thing as prudence, and however much this questiou 
 may be canvassed on shore, in his majesty's service it is not only 
 dangerous in itself, but will be very prejudicial to you." 
 
 * * Man is a free agent," replied Easy. ■ ' 
 
 ** ril be shot, if a midshipman is," replied Gascoighe, 
 laughing, **and that you'll soon find." 
 
 ** And yet it was with the expectation of finding that equality 
 that I was induced to come to sea." 
 
 **Onthefirstof April, I presume," replied Gascoigne. "But 
 are you really serious ?" 
 
 Hereupon Jack entered into a long argument, to which Jolliffe 
 and Gascoigne listened without interruption, and Mesty with 
 admiration— at the end of it Gascoigne laughed heartily, and 
 Jolliffe sighed. 
 
 *< From whence did you learn all this ?" inquired Jolliffe. 
 
 '* From my father, who is a great philosopher, and has con- 
 stantly upheld these opinions." 
 
 ** And did your father wish you to go to sea ?" 
 
 ** No, he was opposed to it," replied Jack, *<but of course he 
 could not combat my rights and free will." 
 
 <*Mr. Easy, as a friend," replied Jolliffe, " I request that you 
 would as much as possible keep your opinions to yourself, I shall 
 have an opportunity of talking to you on the subject , and will 
 then explain to you my reasons." 
 
 As soon as Mr. Jolliffe had ceased, down came Mr. Vigors 
 and O'Connor, who had heard the news of Jack's heresy. 
 
 ** You do not know Mr. Vigors and Mr. O'Connor," said Jol- 
 liffe to Easy. 
 
 Jack, who was the essence of politeness, rose and bowed, at 
 which the others took their seats, without returning the saluta- 
 tion. Vigors had, from what he had heard and now seen of Easy, 
 thought that he had somebody else to play upon, and without 
 ceremony he commenced. 
 
 **So, my chap, you are come on board to raise a mutiny here 
 with your equality— you came off scot free at the captain's 
 
 5. 
 
68 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 table ; but it won't do , 1 can tell you, even in the midshipman's 
 berth : some must knock under, and you are one of them.'* 
 
 ** If sir," replied Easy, <'you mean by knock under, that! 
 must submit, I can assure you that you are mistaken. Upon the 
 same principle that I would never play the tyrant to those 
 weaker than myself, so will I resent oppression if attempted." 
 
 ** Damme, but he's a regular sea lawyer already : how veer, 
 my boy, we'll soon put your metal to the proof." 
 
 ** Am I then to infer that I am not on an equality with my 
 messmates ?" replied Jack, looking at Jolliffe. The latter was 
 about to answer him, but Vigors interrupted. 
 
 *' Yes, you are on an equality as far as this, that you have an 
 equal right to the berth, if you are not knocked out of it for in- 
 solence to your masters ; that you have an equal share to pay for 
 the things purchased for the mess, and an equal right to have 
 your share, provided you can get it ; you have an equal right to 
 talk, provided you are not told to hold your tongue. The fact is, 
 you have an equal right with every one else to do as you can, 
 get what you can, and say what you can, always provided that 
 you can do it ; for here the weakest goes to the wall, and that is 
 midshipman's berth equality. Now, do you understand all that ; 
 or will you wait for a practical illustration?" 
 
 *' I am then to infer that the equality here is as much destroyed 
 as it even will be among savages, where the strong oppress the 
 weak, and the only law is club law — in fact, much the same as 
 it is at a public or large school on shore ?" 
 
 *'I suspect you are right for once. You were at a public 
 school : how did they treat you there ?" 
 
 ** As you propose treating people here, *Hhe weakest went to 
 the wall." 
 
 ** Well, then, a nod's as good as a wink to a blind horse : that's 
 all, my hearty," said Vigors. 
 
 Rut the hands being turned up, ** Shorten sail" put an end to 
 the altercation for the present. 
 
 As our hero had not yet received orders to go to his duty, he 
 remained below with Mesty. 
 
 **Ry de powers, Massa Easy, but I lub you with my hole 
 soul," said Mesty. " By Jasus, you really tark fine, Massa Easy ; 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. * 69 
 
 dat Mr. Vigor — nebber care for him, wouldn't you lik him — and 
 sure you would," continued the Black, feeling the muscle of 
 Jack's arm. '* By the soul of my fader, I'd bet my week's allow- 
 ance on you any how. Nebber be 'fraid, Massa Easy." 
 
 ** I am not afraid," replied Jack; ''I've thrashed bigger fel- 
 lows than he ;" and Jack's assertion was true. Mr. Bonnycastle 
 never interfered in a fair fight, and took no notice of black eyes, 
 provided the lessons were well said. Jack had fought and fought 
 again, until he was a very good bruiser, and although not so 
 tall as Vigors, he was much better built for fighting. A knowing 
 Westminster boy would have bet his half-crown upon Jack, had 
 he seen him and his anticipated adversary. 
 
 The constant battles which Jack was obliged to fight at school, 
 had been brought forward by Jack against his father's arguments 
 in favour of equality, but they had been overruled by Mr. Easy's 
 pointing out that the combats of hoys had nothing to do with the 
 rights of man. 
 
 As soon as the watch was called. Vigors, O'Connor, Gosselt, 
 and Gascoigne, came down into the berth. Vigors, who was 
 the strongest in the berth, except Jolliffe, had successively had 
 his superiority acknowledged, and, when on deck, he had talked 
 of Easy's impertinence, and his intention of bringing him to his 
 senses. The others, therefore, came down to see the fun. 
 
 ** Well, Mr. Easy," observed Vigors, as he came into the 
 berth, '*you take after your name, at all events ; I suppose you 
 intend to eat the king's provision, and do nothing." 
 
 Jack's mettle was already up. 
 
 * * You will oblige me, sir, by minding your own business," 
 replied Jack. 
 
 ** You impudent blackguard, if you say another word, I'll give 
 you a good thrashing, and knock some of your equality out of 
 you." 
 
 '* Indeed,'* replied Jack, who almost fancied himself back at 
 Mr. Bonny castle's , ''we'll try that." 
 
 Whereupon Jack very coolly divested himself of his upper 
 garments, neckkerchief, and shirt, much to the surprise of Mr. 
 Vigors, who little contemplated such a proof of decision and 
 confidence, and still more to the delight of the other midship- 
 
70 # MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 men, who would have forfeited a week's allowance to see Vigors 
 well thrashed. Vigors, however, knew that he had gone too 
 far to retreat : he therefore prepared for action ; and, when 
 ready, the whole party went out into the steerage to settle the 
 business. 
 
 Vigors had gained his assumed authority more by bullying 
 than fighting ; others had submitted to him without a sufficient 
 trial; Jack, on the contrary, had won his way up in school by 
 hard and scientific combat : the result, therefore, may easily be 
 imagined. In less than a quarter of an hour Vigors, beaten 
 dead, with his eyes closed, and three teeth out, gave in ; while 
 Jack, after a basin of water, looked as fresh as ever, with the 
 exception of a few trifling scratches. 
 
 The news of this victory was soon through the ship ; and 
 before Jack had resumed his clothes, it had been told confiden- 
 tially by Sawbrjdge to the captain. 
 
 ** So soon !" said Captain Wilson, laughing ; ** I expected that 
 a midshipman's berth would do wonders ; but I did not expect 
 this, yet awhile. This victory is the first severe blow to Mr. 
 Easy's equality, and will be more valuable than twenty defeats. 
 Let him now go to his duty : he will soon find his level." 
 
 CHAPTER XI. ^/ 
 
 In which our Hero proves that all on board should equally sacrifice decency 
 
 to duty. 
 
 The success of any young man in a profession very much depends 
 upon the occurrences at the commencement of his career, as from 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 7i 
 
 those is his character judged, and he is treated accordingly. 
 Jack had chosen to enter the service at a much later period than 
 most lads ; he was tall and manly for his age, and his counte- 
 nance, if not strictly handsome, wore that expression of honesty 
 and boldness which is sure to please. His spirit in not submitting 
 to, and meeting Vigors when he had hardly recovered from bis 
 severe prostration of sea-sickness, had gained him with the many- 
 respect, and with all, except his antagonist and Mr. Smallsole* 
 goodwill. Instead of being laughed at by his messmates, he was 
 played with ; for Jolliffe smiled at his absurdities, and attempted 
 to reason him out of them, and the others liked Jack for himself 
 and his generosity, and, moreover, because they looked up to 
 him as a protector against Vigors, who had persecuted them all ; 
 for Jack had declared, that as might was right in a midship- 
 man's '. rth, he would so far restore equality, that if he could 
 not put down those who were the strongest, at all events he 
 would protect the weak, and, let who would come into the berth, 
 they must be his master before they should tyr^fli)}:^ avi^f thiO^g 
 weaker than he. 
 
 Thus did Jack Easy make the best use that he could of his 
 strength, and become, as it were, the champion and security of 
 those who, although much longer at sea and more experienced 
 than he was, were glad to shelter themselves under his courage 
 and skill, the latter of which had excited the admiration of the 
 butcher of the ship, who had been a pugilist by profession. 
 Thus did Jack at once t^gBfe^rank of an oldster, and soon became 
 the leader of all the ^j^^V* We particularly observe this, 
 because had it so hap^JR^hat our hero had succumbed to Vi- 
 gors, the case would have been the very reverse. He then 
 would have had to go through the ordeal to which most who 
 enter the naval service are exposed, which cannot be better ex- 
 plained than by comparing it to the fagging carried to such an 
 iniquitous extent in public schools. 
 
 Mr. Asper, for his own reasons, made him his companion : 
 they walked the night-watch together, and he listened to all 
 Jack's nonsense about the rights of man. And here Mr. Asper 
 did good without intending it, for, at the same time that he 
 appeared 19 a^ree with Jack, to secure his feypp^ J^^ f^Hfj^PHSji 
 
72 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 him, and pointed out why this equality could not exist altogether 
 on board of a man-of-war. 
 
 As for himself, he said, he saw no difference between a lieu- 
 tenant, or even a captain and a midshipman, provided they were 
 gentlemen : he should choose his friends where he liked, and 
 despised that power of annoyance which the service permitted. 
 Of course. Jack and Mr. Asper were good friends, especially as 
 when half the watch was over, to conciliate his goodwill and to 
 get rid of his eternal arguing, Mr. Asper would send Jack down 
 to bed. 
 
 They were now entering the Straits, and expected to anchor 
 the next day at Gibraltar, and Jack was forward on the forecastle, 
 talking with Mesty, with whom he had contracted a great 
 friendship, for there was nothing that Mesty Would not have 
 done for Jack, although he had not been three weeks in the ship ; 
 but a little reflection will show that it was natural. 
 
 Mesty had been a great man in his own country ; he had suf- 
 fered all the horrors of a passage in a slave ship ; he had been 
 sold as a slave twice ; he had escaped, but he found that the 
 universal feeling was strong against his colour, and that on board 
 of a man-of-war he was condemned, although free, to the hum- 
 blest of offices. 
 
 He had never hear any one utter the sentiments, which now 
 beat in his own heart, of liberty and equality— we say now, 
 for when he was in his own country before his captivity, he had 
 no ideas of equality ; no one has vd|^^ in power : but he had 
 been schooled ; and although peopl^Pfced of liberty and equa- 
 lity at New York, he found that what they preached for them- 
 selves, they did not practise towards others, and that, in the midst 
 of liberty and equality, he and thousands more were enslaved 
 and degraded beings. 
 
 Escaping to England, he had regained his liberty, but not his 
 equality; his colour had prevented the latter, and in that 
 feeling, all the world appeared to conspire together against him, 
 until, to his astonishment, he heard those sentiments boldly ex- 
 pressed from the lips of Jack, and that in a service where it was 
 almost tantamount to mutiny. Mesty, whose character is not 
 yet developed, immediately took a fondness for our hero, and in 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 73 
 
 a hundred ways showed his attachment. Jack also Hked Mesly, 
 and was fond of talking with him, and every evening since the 
 combat with Vigors, they had generally met in the forecastle to 
 discuss the principles of equality and the rights of man. 
 
 The boatswain, whose name was Biggs, was a slight, dapper, 
 active little man, who, as captain of the foretop, had shown an 
 uncommon degree of courage in a hurricane, so much so, as to 
 recommend him to the admiral for promotion. It was given to 
 him ; and after the ship to which he had been appointed was 
 paid off, he had been ordered to join H. M. sloop Harpy. Jack's 
 conversation with Mesty was interrupted by the voice of the 
 boatswain, who was haranguing his boy. *' It's now ten mi- 
 nutes, sir, by my repeater," said the boatswain, *' that I have 
 sent for you ;" and Mr. Biggs pulled out a huge silver watch, 
 almost as big as a Norfolk turnip. A Jew had sold him the 
 watch ; the boatswain had heard of repeaters, and wished to have 
 one. Moses had only shown him watches with the hour and 
 minute hands ; he now produced one with a second hand, telling 
 him it was a repeater. 
 
 '* What makes it a repeater?" inquired the boatswain. 
 
 *' Common watches," said the cunning Jew, only tell the mi- 
 " nules and hours; but all repeaters tell the seconds." 
 
 The boatswain was satisfied— bought the watch, and, although 
 many had told him it was no repeater, he insisted that it was, 
 and would call it so. 
 
 ** I swear," continued the boatswain, *' it's ten minutes and 
 twenty seconds by my repeater." 
 
 ** If you please, sir," said the boy, ''I was changing my 
 trousers when you sent for me, and then I had to stow away my 
 bag again." 
 
 ** Silence, sir; Td have you to know that when you are sent 
 for by your officer, trousers or no trousers, it is your duty to 
 come up directly." 
 
 '* Without trousers, sir!" replied the boy. 
 
 *'Yes, sir, without trousers; if the captain required me, I 
 should come without my shirt. Duty before decency." So 
 saying, the boatswain lays hold of the boy. 
 
74 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 '* Surely, Mr. Biggs'* said Jack, **you are not going to pii. 
 nish that boy for not coming up without his trousers 1" 
 
 <* Yes, M. Easy, I am — I must teach him a lesson. We are 
 bound, now that new-fangled ideas are brought into the ship, to - 
 uphold the dignity of the service ; and the orders of an officer 
 are not to be delayed ten minutes and twenty seconds be* 
 cause a boy has no trousers on." Whereupon the boatswain 
 administered several smart cuts with his rattan upon the boy, 
 proving that it was quite as well that he had put on his trousers 
 before he came on deck, ** There," said M. Biggs, ** is a lesson 
 for you, you scamp— and, Mr. Easy, it is a lesson for you also," 
 continued the boatswain, walking away with a most consequen- 
 tial air. 
 
 ** Murder Irish!" said Mesty — *<how him cut caper. De 
 Oder day he bawl out de weather ear-ring, and touch him hat to 
 a midshipman. Sure enough, make um cat laugh." 
 
 The next day, the Harpy was at anchor in Gibraltar Bay ; 
 the captain went on shore, directing the gig to be sent for him 
 before nine o'clock; after which hour the Sally Port is only 
 opened by special permission. There happened to be a ball 
 given by the officers of the garrison on that evening, and a 
 polite invitation was sent to the officers of H. M, sloop Harpy. 
 As those who accepted the invitation would be detained late, it 
 was not possible for them to come off that night. And as their 
 services were required for the next day. Captain Wilson allowed 
 them to remain on shore until seven o'clock the next morning, 
 at which hour, as there was a large party, there would be two 
 boats sent for them. 
 
 Mr. Asper obtained leave, and asked permission to take our 
 hero with him; to which IMr. Sawbridge consented. Many 
 other officers obtained leave, and, among others, the boatswain, 
 who, aware that his services would be in request as soon as the 
 equipment commenced, asked permission for this evening. And 
 Mr. Sawbridge, feeling that he could be better spared at this 
 than at any other time, consented. Asper and Jack went to an 
 inn, dined, bespoke beds, and then dressed themselves for the 
 ball, which was very brilliant, and, from the company of the 
 
MR, MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 75 
 
 officers, very pleasant. Captain Wilson looked on at the com- 
 mencement, and then returned on board. Jack behaved with 
 his usual politeness, danced till two o'clock, and then, as the ball 
 thinned, Asper proposed that they should retire. Having once 
 more applied to the refreshment-room, they had procured their 
 hats, and were about to depart, when one of the officers of the 
 garrison asked Jack if he would like to see a baboon, which had 
 just been brought down from the rock ; and, taking some of the 
 cakes, they repaired to the court where the animal was chained 
 down to a small tank. Jack fed the brute till all the cakes were 
 gone, and then, because he had no more to give him, the baboon 
 flew at Jack, who, in making his retreat, fell back into the tank, 
 which was about two feet deep. This was a joke ; and having 
 laughed heartily, they wished the officer good night, and went 
 to the inn. 
 
 Now, what with the number of officers of the Harpy on shore, 
 who had all put up at the same inn, and other occupants, the land- 
 lord was obliged to put his company into double and treble- 
 bedded rooms ; but this was of little consequence. Jack was 
 shown into a double-bedded room, and proceeded to undress ; the 
 other was evidently occupied, by the heavy breathing which 
 saluted Jack's ear. 
 
 As Jack undressed, he recollected that his trousers were wet 
 through and to dry them he opened the window, hung them 
 out, and then jammed down the window again upon them, to 
 hold them in their position, after which he turned in and fell 
 fast asleep. At six o'clock he was called, as he had requested, 
 and proceeded to dress, but to his astonishment found the 
 window thrown open and his trousers missing. It was evident, 
 that his partner in the room had thrown the window open 
 during the night, and that his trousers having fallen down 
 into the street, had been walked off with by somebody or ano- 
 ther. Jack looked out of the window once more, and perceived 
 that whoever had thrown open the window had been unwell 
 during the night. A nice drunken companion I have had, 
 thought Jack ; but what's to be done ? And in saying this, he 
 walked up to the other bed, and perceived that it was tenanted 
 by the boatswain. Well, thought Jack, as Mr. Biggs has thought 
 
76 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 proper to lose my trousers, I think I have a right to take his, 
 or at least the wear of them to go on board. It was but last 
 night he declared that decency must give way to duty, and that 
 the orders of a superior officer were to be obeyed, with or 
 without garments. 1 know he is obliged to be on board, and 
 now he shall try how he likes to obey orders in his shirt tails. 
 So cogitating, Jack took the trousers of the boatswain, who still 
 snored, although he had been called, and, putting them on, 
 completed the rest of his dress, and quitted the room. He went 
 to that of Mr. Asper, where he found him just ready, and, having 
 paid the bill — for Asper had forgotten his purse — they pro- 
 ceeded down to the Sally Port, where they found other officers 
 waiting, sufficient to load the first boat, which shoved off, and 
 they went on board. As soon as he was down below. Jack 
 hastened to change his trousers, and, unobserved by any one, 
 threw those belonging to Mr. Biggs on a chair in his cabin, and, 
 having made a confidant of Mesty, who was delighted, he went 
 on deck, and waited the issue of the affair. 
 
 Before Jack left the hotel, he had told the waiter that 
 there was the boatswain still fast asleep, and that he must 
 be roused up immediately; and this injunction was obeyed. 
 The boatswain, who had drunk too much the night before, and, 
 as Jack had truly imagined, had opened the window because he 
 was unwell, was wakened up, and, hearing how late it was, has- 
 tened to dress himself. Not finding his trousers, he rang the 
 bell, supposing that they had been taken down to be brushed, 
 and, in the mean time, put on every thing else, that he might 
 lose no time : the waiter who answered the bell, denied having 
 taken the trousers out of the room, and poor M. Biggs was in a 
 sad quandary. What had become of them, he could not tell : 
 he had no recollection of having gone to bed the night before ; 
 he inquired of the waiter, who said that he knew nothing about 
 them — that he was very tipsy when he came home, and that 
 when he called him, he had found the window open, and it ap- 
 peared that he had been unwell — he supposed that he had 
 thrown his trousers out of the window. Time flew, and the 
 boatswain was in despair. '* Could they lend him a pair ?" 
 *' He would call his master." A 
 
/ 
 
 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 77 
 
 The master of the inn knew very well the difference of rank 
 between officers, and those whom he could trust and those 
 whom he could not. He sent up the bill by the waiter, and 
 stated that, for a deposit, the gentleman might have a pair of 
 trousers. The boatswain felt in his pockets and remembered 
 that all his money was in his trousers* pocket. He could not 
 only not leave a deposit, but could not pay his bill. The land- 
 lord was inexorable. It was bad enough to lose his money, but 
 he could not lose more. 
 
 ** I shall be tried by a court-martial by heavens!" exclaimed 
 the boatswain. *' It's not far from the Sally Port : I'll make a run 
 for it, and I can slip into one of the boats and get another pair 
 of trousers before I report myself as having come on board ;" 
 so making up his mind, the boatswain took to his heels, and 
 with his check shirt tails streaming in the wind, ran as hard as 
 he could to where the boat was waiting to receive him. He was 
 encountered by many, but he only ran the faster the more they 
 jeered, and, at last, arrived breathless at his goal, flew down 
 the steps, jumped into the boat, and squatted on the stern 
 sheets, much to the surprise of the officers and men, who 
 thought him mad. He stated in a few words that somebody had 
 stolen his trousers during the night ; and as it was already late, 
 the boat shoved off, the men as well as officers convulsed with 
 laughter. 
 
 *' Have any of you a pea jacket?" inquired the boatswain of 
 the men — but the weather was so warm that none of them had 
 brought a pea jacket. The boatswain looked round, he per- 
 ceived that the officers were sitting on a boat-cloak. 
 *< Whose boat-cloak is that?" inquired the boatswain. 
 ** Mine," replied Gascoigne. 
 
 ** I trust, Mr. Gascoigne, you will have the kindness to lend it 
 to me to go up the side with." 
 
 ** Indeed I will not," re[>iied Gascoigne, who would sooner 
 have thrown it overboard and have lost it, than not beheld the 
 anticipated fun : ** recollect I asked you for a fishing line, when 
 we were becalmed off Cape St. Vincent, and you sent word that 
 you'd see me d— d first. Now I'll just see you the same before 
 you have my boat-cloak." 
 
7S MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 "Oh, Mr. Giascoigne, I'll give you three lines, directly 1 get 
 on board." 
 
 ** I dare say you will, but that won't do now. ' Tit for tat/ 
 Mr. Boatswain, and hang all favours," replied Gascoigne, who 
 was steering the boat, having been sent on shore for the others. 
 ** In bow — rowed of all." The boat was laid alongside— the 
 relentless Gascoigne caught up his boat cloak as the other of* 
 fleers rose to go on board, and rolling it up, in spite of the 
 earnest entreaties of Mr. Biggs, tossed it into the main chains, to 
 the man who had thrown the sternfast; and to make the situation 
 of Mr, Biggs still more deplorable, the first lieutenant was 
 standing looking into the boat, and Captain Wilson walking the 
 quarter deck. 
 
 '* Come, Mr. Biggs, I expected you off in the first boat," cried 
 Mr. Sawbridge; ** be as smart as you please, for the yards are 
 not yet squared." 
 
 <* Shall I go a-head in this boat, and square them, sir?" 
 
 " That boat, no; let her drop a-stern, jump up here and 
 lower down the dingey. What the devil do you sit there for, 
 Mr. Biggs?— you'll oblige me by showing a little more activity, 
 or, by Jove, you may save yourself the trouble of asking to go 
 on shore again. Are you sober, sir?" 
 
 The last observation decided Mr. Biggs. He sprung up from 
 the boat just as he was, and touched his hat as passed the first 
 lieutenant. 
 
 ** Perfectly sober, sir, but I've lost my trousers." 
 
 <* So it appears, sir," replied Mr. Sawbridge, as Mr. Biggs 
 stood on the planeshear of the sloop where the hammock netting 
 divides for an entrance, with his shirt tails fluttering in the sea 
 breeze; but Mr, Sawbridge could not contain himself any longer, 
 he ran down the ship ladder which led on the quarter-deck 
 choked with laughter. Mr. Biggs could not descend until after 
 Mr. Sawbridge, and the conversation had attracted the notice 
 of all, and every eye in the ship was on him. 
 
 *' What's all this?" said Captain Wilson, coming to the 
 gangway. 
 
 "Duty before decency," replied Jack, who stood by, en- 
 joying the joke. 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 79 
 
 Mr. Biggs recollected the day before — he cast a furious look 
 at Jack, as he touched his hat to the captain, and then dived 
 down to the lower deck. 
 
 If any thing could add to the indignation of the boatswain it 
 was to find that his trousers had come on board before him. 
 He now felt that a trick had been played him, and also that our 
 hero must have been the party, but he could prove nothing ; he 
 could not say who slept in the same room, for he was fast 
 asleep when Jack went to bed and fast asleep when Jack quitted 
 the room. 
 
 The truth of the story soon became known to all the ship, 
 and ** duty before decency'* became a bye-word. All that the 
 boatswain could do he did, which was to revenge himself upon 
 the poor boy— and Gascoigne and Jack never got any fishing 
 tackle. The boatswain was as obnoxious to ihe men as Vigors, 
 and in consequence of Jack's known opinions upon I he rights of 
 man, and his having floored their two greatest enemies, he be- 
 came a great favourite with the seamen, and as all favourites are 
 honoured by them with a sobriquet^ our hero obtained that of 
 Equality Jack, 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 In which our hero prefers going down to going up ; a choice , it is to he hoped , 
 he will reverse upon a more important occasion. 
 
 The next day being Sunday, the hands were turned up to divi- 
 sions, and the weather not being favourable, instead of the ser- 
 vice, the articles of war were read with all due respect showed 
 to the same, the captain, officers and crew, with their hats off 
 
80 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 in a mizzling rain. Jack, who had been told by the captain that 
 these articles of war were the rules and regulations of the ser- 
 vice by which the captain, officers, and men, were equally 
 bound, listened to them as they were read by the clerk with 
 the greatest attention. He little thought that there were about 
 five hundred orders from the Admiralty tacked on to them, 
 which, like the numerous codicils of some Avills, contained the 
 most important matter, and to a certain degree make the will 
 nugatory. 
 
 Jack listened very attentively, and, as each article was pro- 
 pounded, felt that he was not likely to commit himself in that 
 point, and, although he was rather astonished to find such a po- 
 sitive injunction against swearing, considered quite a dead letter 
 in the ship, he thought that, altogether, he saw his way very 
 clear. But to make certain of it, as soon as the hands had 
 been piped down he begged the clerk to let him have a copy of 
 the articles. 
 
 Now the clerk had three, being the allowance of the ship, or at 
 least all that he had in his possession, and made some demur at 
 parting with one ; but at last he proposed —** some rascal, as he 
 said, having stolen his tooth-brush," — that if Jack would give 
 him one he would give him one of the copies of the articles of 
 war. Jack replied that the one he had in use was very much 
 worn, and that unfortunately he had but one new one, which he 
 could not spare. Thereupon the clerk, who was a very clean 
 personage, and could not bear that his teeth should be dirty, 
 agreed to accept the one in use, as Jack could not part with the 
 other. The exchange was made, and Jack read the articles of 
 war over and over again, till he thought he was fully master of 
 them. 
 
 * * Now," says Jack, ** I know what I am to do, and what 1 am 
 to expect, and these articles of war I will carry in my pocket as 
 long as Vm in the service ; that is to say, if they last so long, 
 and provided they do not, I am able to replace them with ano- 
 ther old tooth brush, which appears to be the value attached 
 to them." 
 
 The Harpy remained a fortnight in Gibraltar Bay, and Jack 
 had occasionally a run on shore, and Mr. Asper invariably went 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 81 
 
 with him to keep him out of mischief; that is to say, he allowed 
 him to throw his money away on nobody more worthless than 
 himself. 
 
 One morning Jack went down in the berth and found young 
 Gossett blubbering. 
 
 " What's the matter, my dear Mr. Gossett?" inquired Jack, 
 who was just as polite to the youngster as he was to any body 
 else. 
 
 ** Vigors has been thrashing me with a ropers end," replied 
 Gossett, rubbing his arm and shoulders. 
 
 ** What for?" inquired Jack. 
 
 " Because he says the service is going to hell— (I'm sure it's 
 no fault of mine)— and that now all subordination is destroyed, 
 and that upstarts join the ship who, because they have a five 
 pound note in their pocket, are allowed to do just as they please. 
 He said he was determined to uphold the service, and then he 
 knocked me down— and when I got up again he told me that I 
 could stand a little more— and then he took out his colt, and said 
 he was determined to ride the high horse — and that there 
 should be no Equality Jack in future." 
 
 **Well," replied Jack. 
 
 ** And then he colted me for half an hour, and that's all." 
 
 ** By de soul of my fader, but it all for true Massa Easy — he 
 larrup um, sure enough— all for noteing, bad luck to him — 1 
 tink," continued Mesty, ** he hab debelish bad memory— and 
 he want a little more of Equality Jack." 
 
 ** And he shall have it too," replied our hero ; why' it's against 
 the articles of war, * all quarrelling, fighting, etc.* I say, 
 Mr. Gossett, have you got the spirit of a louse ?" 
 
 *' Yes," replied Gossett. 
 
 *' Well, then, will you do what I tell you next time, and trust 
 to me for protection ?" 
 
 *' I dontcare what I do," replied the boy, " if you will back me 
 against the cowardly tyrant ?" 
 
 " Do you refer to me ?" cried Vigors, who had stopped at the 
 door of the berth. 
 
 ** Say yes," said Jack. 
 
 « Yes, I do," cried Gossett, 
 
 6 
 
8$ MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 *<you do, do you?— -well, then, my chick, I must trouble 
 you with a little more of this/' said Vigors, drawing out his 
 colt. 
 
 ** I think that you had better not, Mr. Vigors," observed 
 Jack. 
 
 <* Mind your own business, if you please," returned Vigors? 
 not much liking the interference. '^ I am not addressing my 
 conversation to you, and I will thank you never to interfere with 
 t»e# 1 presume 1 have a right to choose my own acquaintance, 
 and, depend upon it, it will not be that of a leveller." 
 
 ** All that is at your pleasure, Mr. Vigors," replied Jack; 
 ^* you have a right to choose your own acquaintance, and so have 
 I a right to choose my own friends, and further, to support them. 
 That lad is my friend, Mr. Vigors." 
 
 *<Then," replied Vigors, who could not help bullying even 
 at the risk of another combat which he probably intended to 
 stand, *' I shall take the liberty of giving your friend a thrashing;" 
 and he suited the action to the word. 
 
 <* Then I shall take the liberty to defend my friend," replied 
 Jack; **andas you call me a leveller. Til try if I may not deserve 
 the name""— whereupon Jack placed a blow so well under the 
 ear, that Mr. Vigors dropped on the deck, and was not in con- 
 dition to come to the scratch, even if hehadbeen inclined. '* And 
 now, youngster," said Jack, wresting the colt out of Vigor's 
 hand, ** do as I bid you— give him a good colting — if you don't 
 rU thrash you." 
 
 Gossett required no second threat, the pleasure of thrashing 
 his enemy, if only for once, was quite enough— and he laid well 
 on. Jack with his fists doubled ready to protect him if there was 
 a show of resistance, but Vigors was half stupified with the blow 
 under the ear, and quite cowed ; he took his thrashing in the 
 most passive manner. 
 
 *^ That will do," said Jack; ** and now do not be afraid, Gos- 
 sett, the very first time he offers to strike you when I am not 
 present, I will pay him off for it as soon as you tell me. 1 won't 
 be called Equality Jack for nothing." 
 
 When JoUiffe, who heard of this, met our hero alone, he said 
 to him, '< Take my advice, boy, and do not in future fight the 
 
MR. MIDSfflPMAN EASY. P 
 
 battles of others, you'll find very soon that you will h^\^ enougb 
 to do to fight your own." 
 
 Whereupon Jack argued the point for half an hour, and then 
 they separated. But Mr. JoUiffe was right. Jack began to find 
 himself constantly in hot water, and the captain and first lieuter 
 nant, although they did not really withdraw their protection, 
 tliought it high time that Jack should fiad out that, on board 
 a man-of-war, every body and every thing must find its 
 level. 
 
 There was on board of his majesty's sloop Harpy, a man of the 
 name of Easthupp, who did the duty of purser's steward; this 
 was the second ship that he had served in ; in the former he had 
 been $ent with a draft of men from the Tender, lying off the 
 Tower. How he had come into the service was not known in 
 the present ship, but the fact was, that he had been one of the 
 swell mob — and had been sent on board the Tender with a letter 
 <)f recommendation from the magistrates to Captain Crouch. 
 He was a cockney by birth, for he had been left at the workhouse 
 of St. Mary Axe, where he had been taught to read and write, 
 and had afterwards made his escape. He joined the juvenile 
 thieves of the metropolis, had been sent to Bridewell, obtained 
 his liberty, and by degrees had risen from petty thieving of goods 
 exposed outside of the shops and market-stalls, to the higher class 
 of gentlemen pickpockets. His appearance was somewhat 
 genteel, with a bullying sort of an impudent air, which is mis- 
 taken for fashion by those who know no better. A remarkable 
 neat dresser, for that w«is part of his profession ; a very plausible 
 manner and address, a great fluency of language, although he 
 clipped the king's English ; and, as he had suffered more than 
 once by the law, it is not to be wondered at, that he was as he 
 called himself, a hout-and-hout radical. During the latter part 
 of his service, in his last ship, he had been employed under the 
 purser's steward, and having offered himself in this capacity to 
 the purser of H. M. sloop Harpy, with one or two forged certifi- 
 cates, he had been accepted. 
 
 Now, wh^n Mr. Easthupp heai-d of Jack's opinions, he wished 
 t0 cultivate his acquaintance, and with a bow and flourish, 
 introduced himself before they arrived at Gibraltar, but our hero 
 
 6. 
 
84 BIR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 took an immediate dislike to this fellow from his excessive and 
 imperiinent familiarity. 
 
 Jack knew a gentleman when he met one, and did not choose 
 to be a companion to a man beneath him in every way, but who, 
 upon the strength of Jack's liberal opinions, presumed to be his 
 equal. Jack's equality did not go so far as that; in theory it 
 was all very well, but in practice it was only when it suited his 
 own purpose. 
 
 Bui the purser's steward was not to be checked — a man who 
 has belonged to the swell mob is not easily repulsed; and^ 
 although Jack would plainly show him that his company was not 
 agreeable, Easthupp would constantly accost him familiarly on 
 the forecastle and lower deck, with his arms folded, and with 
 an air almost amounting to superiority. At last. Jack told him 
 to go about his business, and not to presume to talk to him, 
 whereupon Easthupp rejoined, and after an exchange of hard 
 words, it ended by Jack kicking Mr. Easthupp, as he called 
 himself, down the after-lower-deck hatchway. This was but a 
 sorry specimen of Jack's equality — and Mr. Easthupp, who 
 considered that his honour had been compromised, went up to 
 the captain on the quarter-deck, and lodged his complaint — ■ 
 whereupon Captain Wilson desired that Mr. Easy might be 
 summoned. 
 
 As soon as Jack made his appearance, Captain Wilson called 
 to Easthupp. ** Now, purser's steward, what is this you have 
 to say?" 
 
 ** If you please. Captain Vilson, I am wery sorry to be obliged 
 to make hany complaint of hany hofficer, but this Mr. Heasy 
 thought proper to make use of language quite hunbecoming of a 
 gentleman, and then to kick me as I vent down the atchvay." 
 
 *' Well, Mr. Easy, is this true?" 
 
 ** Yes, sir," replied Jack: ** I have several limes told the 
 fellow not to address himself to me, and he will. I did tell him 
 he was a radical blackguard, and I did kick him down the 
 hatchway." 
 
 '* You told him he was a radical blackguard, Mr. Easy ?" 
 
 ** Yes, sir : he comes bothering me about his republic, and 
 asserting that we have no want of a king and aristocracy.". 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 85 
 
 Captain Wilson looked significantly at Mr. Sawbridge. 
 
 *' I certainly did hoffer my political opinions, Captain Vilson, 
 but you must be avare that ve hal ave an hequal stake in the 
 country —and it's a Hinglishman*s birth-right." 
 
 *' I*m not aware what your stake in the country may be, 
 Mr. Easthupp," observed Captain Wilson, '* but I think that if 
 you used such expressions, Mr. Easy was fully warranted in telling 
 you his opinion." 
 
 ** I ham villing. Captain Vilson, to make hany hallowance for 
 the eat of political discussion— but that is not hall that I ave to 
 complain hof. Mr. Heasy thought proper to say that I was a 
 swindler and a liar." 
 
 " Did you make use of those expressions, Mr. Easy?" 
 
 « Yes, sir, he did," continued the steward ; ** and, moreover, 
 told me not to cheat the men, and not to cheat my master, the 
 purser. Now, Captain Vilson, is it not true that I am ia a very 
 hostensible sitevation? but I flatter myself that I ave been veil 
 edecated, and vos wonce moving in a wery different society — 
 misfortains will appin to us hall, and I feel my character has been 
 severely injured by such importations ;" whereupon Mr. Easlhupp 
 took out his handkerchief, flourished, and blew his nose. *' I 
 told Mr. Heasy, that I considered myself quite as much of a 
 gentleman as himself, and at hall hewents did not keep company 
 with a black feller, ( Mr. Heasy vill hunderstand the insineva- 
 tion,) vereupon Mr. Heasy, as 1 before said, your vorship, I 
 mean you. Captain Vilson, thought proper to kick me down the 
 atchvay." 
 
 '* Very well, steward, I have heard your complaint, and now 
 you may go." 
 
 Mr. Easthupp took his hat off with an air, made his bow, and 
 went down the main ladder. 
 
 ** Mr. Easy," said Captain Wilson," *' you must be aware, 
 that by the regulations of the service by which we are all equally 
 bound, it is not permitted that any officer shall take the law into 
 his own hands— now, although I do not consider it necessary to 
 make any remark as to your calling the man a radical blackguard, 
 for I consider his impertinent intrusion of his opinions deserved 
 it, still you have no right to attack any man's character without 
 
m MR. MIDSHIPMAIV EASY. 
 
 grounds - krii as that man i^ in an office of trust, yott tvdre not 
 at all Warranted in asserting that he was a cheat. Will you 
 explain to me why you made use of such language?" 
 
 Now our hero had no proofs against the man, he had nothing 
 to offer in extenuation, until he recollected, all at once, the 
 reason assigned by the captain, for the language used by Mr. Saw- 
 bridge. Jack had the wit to perceive that it would hit home, so 
 he replied, very quietly and respectfully, 
 
 ** If you please. Captain Wilson, that was all zeal." '"'V ' 
 
 ** Zeal, Mr. Easy? I think it but a bad excuse, feut pfSy, 
 then, why did you kick the man down the hatchway— you must 
 have known that that was contrary to the rules of the service." 
 
 *' Yes, sir," replied Jack, demurely, " but that was all zeal, 
 too." 
 
 '* Then allow me to say," replied Captain Wilson, biting his 
 lips, '* that I think that your zeal has in this instance been very 
 much misplaced, and I trust you will not show so much again." 
 
 " And yet, sir," replied Jack, aware that he was giving the 
 captain a hard hit, and therefore looked proportionally humble, 
 ** we should do nothing in the service without it,— and I trust 
 one day, as you told me, to become a very zealous officer." 
 
 ' * I trust so too, Mr. Easy," replied the captain. ** There, you 
 may go now, and let me hear no more of kicking people down the 
 hatchway. That sort of zeal is misplaced." 
 
 ** More than my foot was, at all events,'' muttered Jack, as he 
 walked off. 
 
 Captain Wilson, as soon as our hero disappeared, laughed 
 heartily, and told Mr. Sawbridge *' he had ascribed his language 
 to our hero as all zeal. — He has very cleverly given me it all 
 back again ; and really, Sawbridge, as it proves how weak was my 
 defence of you, you may gain from this lesson." 
 
 Sawbridge thought so too — but both agreed that Jack's rights 
 of man were in considerable danger. 
 
 The day before the ship sailed, the captain and Mr. Asper 
 dined with the governor, and as there was little more to do, 
 Mr. Sawbridge, who had not quitted the ship since she had been 
 in port, and had some few purchases to make, left her in the 
 afternoon in the charge of Mr. Smallsole, the master. Now, as 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 8t 
 
 we have observed, he was Jack's inveterate enemy — ^indeed 
 Jack had already made three, Mr. Smallsole, Mr. Biggs, the 
 boatswain, and Easthupp, the purser's steward. Mr. Smallsole 
 was glad to be left in command, as he hoped to have an oppor- 
 tunity of punishing our hero, who certainly laid himself not a 
 little open to it. 
 
 Like all those who are seldom in command^ the master was 
 proportionally tyrannical and abusive— he swore at the men, 
 made them do the duty twice and thrice over on the pretence that 
 it was not smartly done, and found fault with every officer re- 
 maining on board. 
 
 ** Mr, Biggs, — by God, sir, you seem to be all asleep forward ; 
 I suppose you think that you are to do nothing, naw the first lieu- 
 tenant is out of the ship ? How long will it be, sir, before you 
 are ready to sway away?" 
 
 " By de holy poker, I link he sway away finely, Massa Easy," 
 obser>ied Mesty, who was in converse with our hero on the 
 forecastle. 
 
 M. Smallsole*s violence made Mr. Biggs violent, which made 
 the boatsvain's mate violent,— and the captain of the forecastle 
 violent also ; all which is practically exemplified by philosophy 
 in the laws of motion, communicated from one body to another ; 
 and as Mr. Smallsole swore, so did the boatswain swear — also the 
 boatswain's mate, the captain of the forecastle, and all the men, 
 showing the force of example. 
 
 Mr. Smallsole came forward — "Damnation, Mr. Biggs, what 
 the devil are you about ? can't you move here ?" 
 
 *' As much as we can, sir," replied the boatswain, *' lumbered 
 as the forecastle is with idlers " — and here Mr. Biggs looked 
 at our hero and Mesty, who were standing against the 
 bulwark. ir 
 
 ''What are you doing here, sir ?" cried Mr. Smallsole to our 
 hero. 
 
 " Nothing at all^ sir," replied Jack. 
 
 "Then FU give you something to do, sir. — Go up to the mast- 
 head, and wait there till I call you down. Gome, sir, I'll show 
 you the way," continued the master, walking aft. Jack followed 
 till they were on the quaterdeck. 
 
88 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 < *' Now, sir, up to the main-top gallant mast-head, perch your- 
 self upon the cross trees — up with you." 
 
 '* What am I to go up there for, sir?" inquired Jack. 
 
 *'For punishment, sir," replied the master. 
 
 «' What have I done, sir?" 
 
 **No reply, sir — up with you." 
 
 *'If you please, sir," replied Jack, *<I should wish to argue 
 this point a little." 
 
 ** Argue the point," roared Mr. Smallsole — *'By Jove, Fll 
 teach you to argue the point— away with you, sir." 
 
 '* If you please, sir," continued Jack, * * the captain told me 
 that the articles of war were the rules and regulations by which 
 every one in the service was to be guided. Now, sir," said Jack, 
 **I have read them over till I know them by heart, and there is 
 not one word of mast-heading in the whole of them." Here Jack 
 took the articles out of his pocket and unfolded them. 
 
 ** Will you go to the mast-head, sir, or will you not?" said Mr. 
 Smallsole. 
 
 ** Will you show me the masthead in the articles of war, sir," 
 replied Jack ; * * here they are." 
 
 **Itell you, sir, to go to the mast-head : if not, Til be d — d if 
 I don't hoist you up in a bread-bag." 
 
 "There's nothing about bread-bags in the articles of war," 
 replied Jack; "but I'll tell you what there is, sir;" and Jack 
 commenced reading. 
 
 "All flag officers and all persons in or belonging to his majes- 
 ty's ships or vessels of war, being guilty of profane oaths, 
 execrations, drunkenness, uncleanness, or other scandalous 
 actions in derogation of God's honour, and corruption of good 
 manners, shall incur such punishment as" 
 
 ** Damnation," cried the master, who was mad with rage, 
 hearing that the whole ship's company were laughing. 
 
 **No, sir, not damnation," replied Jack, "that's when he's 
 tried above ; but according to the nature and degree of the 
 offence." 
 
 * * Will you go to the mast-head, sir, or will you not ?" 
 
 "If you please," replied Jack, "I'd rather not." 
 
 "Then, sir, consider yourself under an arrest — I'll try 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 89 
 
 you by a court martial, by G— d. Go down below, sir.^' 
 
 ** With the greatest pleasure, sir,'' replied Jack, "that's all 
 right, and according to the articles of war, which are to guide us 
 all." Jack folded up his articles of war, put them into his pocket, 
 and went down into the berth. 
 
 Soon after Jack had gone down, JoUiffe, who had heard the 
 whole of the altercation, followed him : '* My lad," said Joliffe, 
 " I'm sorry for all this; you should have gone to the mast-head." 
 
 " I should like to argue that point a little," replied Jack. 
 
 ** Yes, so would every body; but if that were permitted, the 
 service would be at a stand still — that would not do; — you must 
 obey an order first and then complain afterwards, if the order is 
 unjust." 
 
 *' It is not so in the articles of war." 
 
 *' But it is so in the service." 
 
 ** The captain told me that the articles of war were the guides 
 of the service, and we were all equally bound to obey them." 
 
 * * Well, but allowing that , I do not think your articles of war will 
 bear you out. You observe, they say any officer, mariner, etc., 
 guilty of disobedience to any lawful command. Now are you not 
 guilty under that article?" 
 
 **That remains to be argued still," replied Jack. "A lawful 
 command means an order established by law; now where is that 
 law? — besides, the captain told me when I kicked that blackguard 
 down the hatchway, that there was only the captain who could 
 punish, and that officers could not take the law into their own 
 hands ; why then has the master ?" 
 
 *'His doing wrong as superior officer is no reason why you as 
 an inferior should disobey him. If that were permitted, if every 
 order were to be cavilled at and argued upon, as just or unjust, 
 there would be an end of all discipline. Besides, recollect, that in 
 the service, there is custom, which is the same as law." 
 
 ** That admits of a little argument," replied Jack. 
 
 "The service will admit of none, my dear boy : recollect that, 
 even on shore, we have two laws, that which is written and the 
 lex non scripta, which is custom; of course we have it in 
 the service, for the articles of war cannot provide for every 
 thing." 
 
90 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY.^ 
 
 ''They provide a court-martial for every thing though," 
 replied Jack. 
 
 "Yes, with death or dismissal from the service — neither of 
 Which would he very agreeahle. You have got yourself into a 
 scrape, and although the captain is evidently your friend, he 
 cannot overlook it : fortunately, it is with the master, which is 
 of less consequence than with the other officers ; hut still, you 
 will have to submit, for the captain cannot overlook it." 
 
 **ril tell you whatj'JoUiffe," replied Jack, '*my eyes now begin 
 to be opened to a great many things. The captain tells me 
 when i am astonished at bad language, that it is all zeal, and 
 then I found out that what is all zeall in a superior to an inferior, 
 is insolence when reversed. He tells me, that the articles of war 
 are made to equally guide us all— the master breaks what is posi- 
 tively mentioned in the second article twenty times over and 
 goes scot free, while I am to be punished, because I do not 
 comply with what the articles do not mention. How was I to 
 know that I ought to go to the mast-head for punishment? Par- 
 ticularly when the captain tells me that he alone is to punish in 
 the ship. If I obey an order in opposition to the captain's order, 
 is not that as bad as disobeying the captain ? I think that I have 
 made out a very strong case, and my arguments are not to be 
 confuted." 
 
 '* I'm afraid that the master will make out a very strong case, 
 and that your arguments will never be heard." 
 
 **That will be contrary to all the rules of justice.^' 
 
 ''But according to all the rules of service." 
 
 " I do believe that I am a great fool," observed Jack, after a 
 pause. *' What do you imagine made me come to sea, Joliiffe ?" 
 
 " Because you did not know when you were well off," replied 
 the mate drily. 
 
 *' That's true enough ; but my reason was, because I thought 
 I should find that equality here that I could not findon shore." 
 
 Joliiffe stared, 
 
 "My dear boy, I heard you say thatyoti obtained those opi- 
 nions from your father ; I mean no disrespect to him, but he 
 must be eitheir mad or foolish, if at his age he has not yet disco* 
 vered, that there is no such thing in existence." 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 91 
 
 ** I begin to think so," replied Jack ; <* but that does not prove 
 that there ought not to be.'* 
 
 '*I beg your pardon, the very non-existence proves that it 
 ought not to be — 'whatever is, is right,' — you might as well 
 expect to find perfect happiness or perfection in the individual. 
 Your father must be a visionary." 
 
 '*The best thing that I can do is to go home again." 
 
 ** No, my dear Easy, the best thing that you can do is, to stay 
 in the service, for it will soon put an end to all such nonsensical 
 ideas ; and it will make you a clever, sensible fellow. The service 
 is a rough, but a good school, where every body finds his level 
 — not the level of equality, but the level which his natural talent 
 and acquirements will rise or sink him to, in proportion as they 
 dre plus or.minus. It is a noble service, but has its imperfec- 
 tions, as every thing in this world must have. I have little 
 reason to speak in its favour, as far as I am concerned, for it has 
 been hard bread to me, but there must be exceptions in every 
 rule. Do not think of quitting the service until you have given 
 it a fair trial. I am aware that you are an only son, and your 
 father is a man of property, and therefore, in the common par- 
 lance of the world, you are independent ; but, believe me, no 
 liian, however rich, is independent, unless he has a profession, 
 and you will find no better than this, notwithstanding. " 
 
 ''What?" 
 
 "That you will be, most certainly, sent to the mast-head to- 
 tiiorrow." 
 
 " ** We'll argue that point," replied Jack ; " at all events, I will 
 go and turn in to-night." 
 
 ft l yfrxi ;» ■ HI 
 
CHAPTER XIII, 
 
 III which our hero begins lo act and think for himself. 
 
 Whatever may have been Jack's thoughts, at all events, Ihey 
 did not spoil his rest. He posse;ssed in himself all the materials 
 of a true philosopher, but there v^^as a great deal of weeding 
 still required. Jolliffe*s arguments, sensible as they were, had 
 very little effect upon him, for, strange to say, it is much more 
 easy to shake a man's opinions when he is wrong, than when he 
 is right ; proving that we are all of a very perverse nature. 
 ** Well,'' thought Jack, **if I am to go to the mast-head, I am, 
 that's all ; but it does not prove that my arguments are not good, 
 only that they will not be listened to;" and then Jack shut his 
 eyes, and in a few minutes was fast asleep. 
 
 The master had reported to the first lieutenant, and the first 
 lieutenant to the captain, when he came on board the next mor- 
 ning, the conduct of Mr. Easy, who was sent for in the cabin, 
 to hear if he had any thing to offer in extenuation of his offence. 
 Jack made an oration, which lasted more than half an hour, in 
 which, all the arguments he had brought forward to Jolliffe in 
 the preceding chapter, were entered fully into. M. Jolliffe was 
 then examined, and also M. Smallsole was interrogated : after 
 which the captain and the first lieutenant were left alone. 
 
 *' Sawbridge," said Captain Wilson, **how true it is, that any 
 deviation from what is right invariably leads us into a scrape. 
 I have done wrong : wishing to get this boy out of his father's 
 hands, and fearful that he would not join the ship, and imagi- 
 ning him to be by no means the shrewd fellow that he is in 
 reality, I represented the service in a much more favourable 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 9$ 
 
 light than I should have done ; all that he says I told him I did 
 tell him, and it is I who really led the boy into error. Mr. Small- 
 sole has behaved tyrannically and unjustly; he punished the lad 
 for no crime ; so that what between the master and me, I am 
 now on the horns of a dilemma. If I punish the boy, I feel that 
 I am punishing him more for my own fault and the fault of others 
 than his own. If I do not punish him, I allow a flagrant and 
 open violation of discipline to pass uncensured, which will be in- 
 jurious to the service." 
 
 '* He must be punished, sir," replied Sawbridge. 
 
 ** Send for him," said the captain. 
 
 Jack made his appearance, with a very polite bow. 
 
 ** Mr. Easy, as you suppose that the articles of war contained 
 all the rules and regulations of the service, I take it for granted 
 that you have erred through ignorance. But recollect, that 
 although you have erred through ignorance^ such a violation of 
 discipline, if passed unnoticed, will have a very injurious effect 
 with the men, whose obedience is enforced by the example shown 
 to them by the officers. I feel so convinced of your zeal, which 
 you showed the other day in the case of Easthupp, that I am 
 sure you will see the propriety of my proving to the men, by 
 punishing you, that discipline must be enforced, and I shall the- 
 refore send for you on the quarter-deck, and order you to go to 
 the mast-head in presence of the ship^s company, as it was in 
 presence of the ship's company that you refused." 
 
 ** With the greatest pleasure, Captain Wilson," replied Jack. 
 
 ** And in future, Mr. Easy, although I shall ever set my face 
 against it, recollect that if any officer punishes you, and you 
 imagine that you are unfairly treated, you will submit to the pu- 
 nishment, and then apply to me for redress." 
 
 "Certainly, sir," replied Jack, ''now that I am aware of 
 your wishes." 
 
 '* You will oblige me, Mr. Easy, by going on the quarter- 
 deck, and wait there till I come up." 
 
 Jack made his best bow, and exit. 
 
 ** Old Jolliffe told me that I should have to go," said Jack to 
 himself, *' and he was right, so far; but hang me if I hadn't the 
 best of the argument, and that's all I care about." 
 
m MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 Captain Wilson sent for the master, and reprimanded hiitt 
 for his oppression, as it was evident that there was no ground 
 for punishment, and he forbade him ever to mast-head another 
 midshipman, but to report his conduct to the first Ueutenant or 
 bimself. He then proceeded to the quarter-deck, and, calling 
 for Mr. Easy, gave him what appeared to be a very severe re- 
 J)rimand, which Jack looked upon very quietly, because it was 
 all zeal on the captain's part to give it, and all zeal on his own 
 to take it. Our hero was then ordered up to the mast-head. 
 
 Jack took off his hat, and took three or four steps, in obe- 
 dience to the order — and then returned and made his best bow 
 — inquired of Captain Wilson whether he wished him to go to 
 the fore or to the main>mast head. 
 
 **To the main, Mr. Easy,'' replied the captain^ biting his 
 lips. 
 
 Jack ascended three spokes of the Jacob's ladder, when he 
 again stopped, and took off his hat. 
 
 *' I beg your pardon, Captain Wilson — you have not informed 
 me whether it is your wish that I should go to the top -mast, or 
 the top-gallant cross-trees." 
 
 **To the top-gallant cross-trees, Mr. Easy," replied the 
 captain. 
 
 Jack ascended, taking it very easy : he stopped at the main- 
 top for breath ; at the main-top-mast head, to look about him ; 
 and, at last, gained the spot agreed upon, where he seated 
 himself, and, taking out the articles of war, commenced them 
 again, to ascertain whether he could not have strengthened his 
 arguments. He had not, however, read through the seventh 
 article before the hands were turned up — **up anchor.'" and 
 M. Sawbridge called, * * All hands down from aloft?" Jack took 
 the hint, folded up his documents, and came down as leisurely as 
 he went up. Jack was a much better philosopher than his 
 father. 
 
 The Harpy was soon under weigh, and made all sail, steering 
 for Cape de Gatte, where Captain Wilson hoped to pick up a 
 Spanish vessel or two, on his way to Toulon to receive the orders 
 of the admiral. 
 
 A succession of light breezes and calms rendered the passage 
 
f 
 
 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY* 95 
 
 very tedious ; but the boats were constantly out, chasing the 
 vessels along shore, and Jack usually asked to be employed on 
 this serwice : indeed, although so short a time afloat, he was, 
 from his age and strength, one of the most effective midship- 
 men, and to be trusted, provided a whim did not come into his 
 head; but hitherto Jack had always been under orders, and 
 had always acquitted himself very well. 
 
 When the Harpy was off Tarragona, it so happened that there 
 were several cases of dysentery in the ship, and Mr. Asper and 
 Mr. JoUiffe were two of those who were suffering. This reduced 
 the number of officers; and, at the same time, they had re- 
 ceived information from the men of a fishing-boat, who, to obtain 
 their own release, had given the intelligence, that a small convoy 
 was coming down from Rosas as soon as the wind was fair, 
 under the protection of two gun-boats. 
 
 Captain Wilson kept well off shore until the wind changed, 
 and then, allowing for the time that the vessels would take to 
 run down the distance between Tarragona and Rosas, steered in 
 the night, to intercept them; but it again fell calm, and the 
 boats were therefore hoisted out, with directions to proceed 
 along the shore, as it was supposed that the vessels could not 
 now be far distant. Mr. Sawbridge had the command of the 
 expedition in the [pinnace ; the first cutter was in charge of 
 the gunner, Mr. Minus; and, as the other officers wTre sick, 
 Mr. Sawbridge, who liked Jack more and more every day, at 
 his particular request gave him the command of the second 
 cutter. As soon as he heard of it, Mesty declared to our hero 
 that he would go with him ; but without permission that was 
 not possible. Jack obtained leave for Mesty to go in lieu of a 
 marine : there were many men sick of the dysentery, and 
 Mr. Sawbridge was not sorry to take an idler out of the ship 
 instead of a working man, especially as Mesty was known to be 
 
 good hand. 
 
 It was ten o'clock at night when the boats 'quitted the ship ; 
 and, as it was possible that they might not return till late the 
 next day, one day's biscuit and rum were put on board each, 
 that the crews might not suffer from exhaustion. The boats 
 pulled in shore, and then coasted for three hours, without 
 
96 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 seeing anything : the night was fine overhead, hut there was no 
 moon. It still continued calm, and the men began to feel fati- 
 gued, when, just as they were within a mile of a low point, they 
 perceived the convoy over the land, coming down with their 
 sails squared, before a light breeze. 
 
 Mr. Sawbridge immediately ordered the boats to lie upon 
 their oars, awaiting their coming, and arranging for the attack. 
 
 The white latteen sails of the gun-boat in advance were now 
 plainly distinguishable from the rest, which were all huddled 
 together in her wake. Down she came like a beautiful swan in 
 the water, her sails just filled with the wind, and running 
 about three knots an hour. Mr. Sawbridge kept her three 
 masts in one, that they might not be perceived, and winded the 
 boats with their heads the same way, so that they might dash 
 on board of her with a few strokes of the oars. So favourable 
 was the course of the gun-boat, that she stood right between the 
 launch on one bow and the two cutters on the other ; and they 
 were not perceived until they were actually alongside ; the resi- 
 stance was trifling, but some muskets and pistols had been fired, 
 and the alarm was given. Mr. Sawbridge took possession, with 
 the crew of the launch, and brought the vessel to the wind, as he 
 perceived that at the alarm all the convoy had done the same, 
 directing the cutters to board the largest vessels, and secure as 
 many as they could, while he would do the same with the 
 launch, as he brought them to : but the other gun-boat, which 
 had not yet been seen, and had been forgotten, now made her 
 appearance, and came down in a gallant manner to the support 
 of her comrade. 
 
 Mr. Sawbridge threw half his men into the launch, as she 
 carried a heavy cannonade, and sent her to assist the cutters, 
 which had made right for the gun-boat. A smart firing of 
 round and grape was opened upon the boats, which continued 
 to advance upon her ; but the officer commanding that gun-boat,\« 
 finding that he had no support from his consort, and concluding • % 
 that she had been captured, hauled his wind again, and stood 
 out in the offing. Our hero pulled after her, although he could 
 not see the other boats; but the breeze had freshened, and all 
 pursuit was useless : he therefore directed his course to the 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 97 
 
 convoy, and, after a hard pull, contrived to get on board of a 
 one-masted xebecque, of about fifty tons. Mesty, who had eyes 
 as sharp as a needle, had observed that when the alarm was 
 given, that several of the convoy had not rounded the point, 
 and he therefore proposed, as this vessel was very light, that 
 they should make short tacks with her, to weather the point, as 
 if they were escaping, and by that means be able, particularly 
 if it fell calm again, to capture some others. Jack thought this 
 advice good. The convoy who had rounded the point, had all 
 stood out to seaward with the gun-boat, and had now a fresh 
 breeze. To chase them was therefore useless; and the only 
 chance was to do as Mesty had proposed. He therefore stood 
 out into the breeze, and, after half an hour, tacked in shore, 
 and fetched well to windward of the low point; but finding no 
 vessels, he stood out again. Thus had he made three or four 
 tacks, and had gained, perhaps, six or seven miles, when he 
 perceived signals of recall made to leeward, enforced with guns. 
 
 "Mr. Sawbridge wants us to come back, Mesty." 
 
 ** Mr. Sawbridge mind him own business,*' replied Mesty, 
 *' we nebber take all dis trubble to ply to windward for noting." 
 
 *^ But, Mesty, we must obey orders." 
 
 "Yes, sar, when he have him thnmb upon you; but now, 
 must do what tink most proper. By de powers, he catch me 
 'fore I go back." 
 
 " But we shall lose the ship." 
 
 "Find her again, by-and-bye, Massa Easy." 
 
 " But they will think that we are lost." 
 
 "So much the better, nebba look after us, Massa Easy; I 
 guess we have a fine cruise any how. Morrow we take large 
 vessel — make sail, take more, den we go to Toulon." 
 
 * * But I don't know my way to Toulon ; I know it lies up this 
 way, and that's all." 
 
 * * Dat enough, what you want more ? Massa Easy, 'pose you 
 not find fleet, fleet soon find you. By God, nobody nebba lost 
 here. Now, Massa Easy, let um go 'bout gain. Somebody else 
 burn biscuit and boil kettle to-morrow for de gentlemen. Mur- 
 der Irish ! only tink, Massa Easy —I boil kettle, and prince in my 
 own country !" 
 
 7 
 
m MR. MIDSHIPMAN EA^If. 
 
 Easy was t6ty much of a mind with Mesiy ; ^' for,** argued 
 Jack, '* if I go back now, I only bring a small vessel half full of 
 beans, and I shall be ashamed to show my face. Now it is true, 
 that they may suppose that we have been sunk by the fire of the 
 gun-boat. Well, what then ? they have a gun-boat to show for 
 their night's work, and it will appear that there was harder 
 fighting than there has been, and Mr. Sawbridge may benefit by 
 it." ( Jack was a very knowing fellow to have learnt so much 
 about the service already.) ** Well, and when they discover 
 that we are not lost, how glad they will be to find us, especially 
 if we bring some prizes— which I will do, or I'll not go back 
 again. It's not often that one gets a command before being two 
 monthsatsea, and, hang me, now rvegotitifIwon'tkeepit;and 
 Mr. Smallsole may mast-head whom he pleases. I'm sorry for 
 poor Gossett though ; if Vigors supposes me dead how he will 
 murder the poor little fellow— however it's all for the good of the 
 service, and I'll revenge him when I come back. Hang me if I 
 won't take a cruise." 
 
 '* I talk to the men, they say they all tick to you like leech. 
 Now dat job settled, I tink we better go 'bout again." 
 
 A short time after this decision on the part of our hero, the 
 day broke : Jack first looked to the leeward, and perceived the 
 gun-boat and convoy standing in for the shore about ten miles 
 distant, followed by the Harpy, under all sail. He could also 
 perceive the captured gun-boat lying to in shore to prevent 
 their escape. 
 
 *' Harpy hab um all, by Gosh !" cried Mesty, * ' I ab notion dat 
 she soon settle um hash." 
 
 They were so busy looking at the Harpy and the convoy, that, 
 for some time, they quite forgot to look to windward. At last 
 Mesty turned his eyes that way. 
 
 ** Dam um, I see right last night; look, Massa Easy — one chip, 
 one brig tree lateen— dem for us. By de power, but we make 
 bon prize to-night." 
 
 The vessels found out by Mesty were not above three miles to 
 Avindward ; they were under all sail, beating up for the protection 
 of a battery, not far distant. 
 
 ** Now, Massa, suppose they see our boat, dey link? jmething ; 
 
keep boat alongside, aud shift her when we go 'bout evefy time : 
 belter not sail so fast now— keep further off till they drop anchor 
 for de night ; and den, when it dark, we take *em." 
 
 All Mesty's advice was good, with the exception perhaps of 
 advising our hero how to disobey orders and take a cruise. To 
 prevent the vessel from approaching too near the others, and at 
 the same time, to let her have the appearance of doing her best, 
 a sail was towed overboard under the bows, and after that they 
 watched the motions of the Harpy. 
 
 The distance was too great to distinguish very clearly, but 
 Mesty shinned up the mast of the vessel, and reported progress. 
 
 ** By Jasus, dare one gun-two gun — go it. Harpy. Won't she 
 ah um, sure enough. Now gun-boat fire-dat our gun-boat— no, 
 dat not ours. Now our gim-boat fire— dat pretty — fire away. 
 Ah, now de Harpy cum up. All 'mung 'em. Bung, bung, bung 
 — rattle de grape, by gosh. I ab notion de Spaniard is very 
 pretty considerable trouble just now, any how. All hove to, so 
 help me gosh — not more firing ; Harpy lake um all — dar e gun- 
 boat hove to, she strike um colours. By all powers, but suppose 
 dey link we 210 share prize-money — they find it not little mistake. 
 Now, my lads, it all over, and," continued Mesty, sliding down 
 the mast, ** I tink you better not show yourself too much ; only 
 two men stay on deck, and dem two take off um jackets." 
 
 Mesly's report was correct; the Harpy had captured the other 
 gun -boat, and the whole convoy. The only drawback to their 
 good fortune was the disappearance of Mr. Easy and the cutter : 
 it was supposed that a shot from the gun-boat must have sunk 
 her, and that the whole crew were drowned. Captain Wilson 
 and Mr. Sawbridge seriously regretted the loss of our hero, as 
 they thought that he would have turned out a shining character 
 as soon as he had sown his wild oats ; so did Mr. Asper, because 
 our hero's purse went with him ; so did Jolliffe, because he had 
 taken an affection for him ; so did little Gossett, because he anti- 
 cipated no mercy from Vigors : on the other hand, there were 
 some who were glad that he was gone ; and as for the ship's com- 
 pany in general, they lamented the loss of the poor cutter's crew, 
 for twenty four hours, which, in a man-of-war, is a very long 
 while , and then they thought no more about them. We must 
 
 7- 
 
100 MR. MIDSHIPMA.N EASY. 
 
 leave the Harpy to make the hest of her way to Toulon, and now 
 follow our hero. 
 
 The cutter's crew knew very well that Jack was acting contrary 
 to orders, but any thing was to them a change from the monotony 
 of a man-of-war; and they, as well as Mesty, highly approved of 
 a holiday. 
 
 It was, however, necessary that they should soon proceed to 
 business , for they had but their allowance of bread and grog 
 for one day, and in the vessel they found nothing except a few 
 heads of garlic, for the Spaniards coasting down shore had 
 purchased their provisions as they required them. There were 
 only three prisoners on board, and they had been put down in 
 the hold among the beans ; a bag of which had been roused on 
 deck, and a part put into the kettle to make soup. Jack did not 
 much admire the fare of the first day— it was bean-soup for 
 breakfast, bean-soup for dinner, and if you felt hungry during 
 the intervals it was still bean-soup, and nothing else. 
 
 One of the men could speak a little Lingua Franca, and the 
 prisoners were interrogated as to the vessels to windward. The 
 ship was stated to be valuable, and also one of the brigs. The 
 ship carried guns, and that was all that they knew about them. 
 As the sun went down the vessels dropped their anchors off the 
 battery. The breeze continued light, and the vessel, which 
 contained Jack and his fortunes, was about four miles to leeward. 
 As for the Harpy, they had long lost sight of her, and it was now 
 lime to proceed to some arrangement. As soon as it was dark 
 Jack turned his hands up and made a very long speech. He 
 pointed out to the men that his zeal had induced him not to return 
 to the ship until he had brought something with him worth 
 having — that they had had nothing but beans to eat during the 
 whole (lay, which was any thing but agreeable, and that, the- 
 refore, it was absolutely necessary that they should better their 
 condition : that there was a large ship not four miles off, and that 
 he intended to take her ; and as soon as he had taken her he in- 
 tended to take some more ; that he trusted to their zeal to support 
 him on this occasion, and that he expected to do a great deal during 
 the cruise. He pointed out to them, that they must consider 
 themselves as on board of a man-of-war, and be guided by the 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 101 
 
 articles of war, which were written for them all — and that in 
 case they forgot them, he had a copy in his pocket, which he 
 would read to them to-morrow morning, as soon as they were 
 comfortably settled on board of the ship. He then appointed 
 Mesty as first lieutenant; the marine as sergeant; the cockswain 
 as boatswain ; two men ad midshipmen to keep watch ; two others 
 as boatswain's mates, leaving two more for the ships company, 
 who were divided into the larboard and starboard watch. The 
 cutter's crew were perfectly content with Jack's speech, and their 
 brevet rank, and after that, they commenced a more important 
 topic, which was, how they were to take the ship. After some 
 discussion, Mesty's advice was approved of ; which was, that they 
 should anchor not far a-head of the ship, and wait till about two 
 o'clock in the morning, when they would drop silently down upon 
 her in the cutter, and take possession. 
 
 About nine o'clock the vessel was anchored as they proposed, 
 and Jack was a little astonished to find that the ship was much 
 larger than he had any idea of; for, although polacca rigged, 
 she was nearly the same tonnage as the Harpy. The Spanish 
 prisoners were first tied hand and foot, and laid upon the beans, 
 that they might give no alarm, the sails were furled, and all was 
 kept quiet. 
 
 On board of the ship, on the contrary, there was noise and 
 revelry ; and about half-past ten a boat was seen to leave her and 
 pull for the shore; after which, the noise gradually ceased, the 
 lights one by one disappeared, and then all was silent. 
 
 ** What do you think, Mesty," said Jack? *' do you think we 
 shall take her?" 
 
 ** It is take her you mane ; sure enough we'll take her, stop a 
 bit — wait till urn all fast asleep." 
 
 About twelve o'clock there came on a mizzling heavy rain, 
 which was very favourable for our hero's operations. But as it 
 promised soon to clear up^ by Mesty's advice, they did not delay 
 any longer. They crept softly into the boat, and with two oars 
 to steer her, dropped under the bows of the vessel, climbed up 
 the fore chains, and found the deck empty. ** Take care not fire 
 pistol," said Mesty to the men, as they came up, putting his 
 
lOSf MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 finger to their lips to impress them with the necessity of silence, 
 for Mesty had been an African warrior, and knew the advantage 
 of surprise. All the men being on deck, and the boat made 
 fast, Jack and Mesty led the way aft; not a soul was to be seen : 
 indeed, it was too dark to see any body unless they were walking 
 the deck. The companion-hatch was secured, and the gratings 
 laid on the after hatchways, and 1 hen they went aft to the binnacle 
 again, where there was a light burning. Mesty ordered two of 
 the men to go forward to secure the hatches, and then to remain 
 there on guard — and then the rest of the men and our hero con- 
 sulted at the wheel. 
 
 **By the power we ab the ship!" said Mesty, " but must 
 manage plenty yet. I tink der so^le d — n lazy rascal sleep 
 'tween the guns. A lilly while it no raiq, md den we see belter. 
 Now keep all quiet." 
 
 ** There must be a great many men in this ship," replied our 
 liero ; ** she is very large, and has twelve or fourteen guns — how 
 shall we manage to secure them?" 
 
 ** All right," replied Mesty, '< manage all d^t by-and-bye. 
 Don't care how soon daylight come." 
 
 ** It has left off raining already," observed Easy; " there is 
 a candle in the binnacle, suppose we light it and look round the 
 decks." 
 
 ** Yes," replied Mesty, '' one man sentry over cabin-hatch, 
 and another over after-hatch. Now den we light candle, and 
 all the rest go round the ^epk. Mind you le^v^ ^\\ yqwr pi§iQl§ 
 on capstern." -i, ^,„-. lys^^r oli iiiti W '"' 
 
 Jack lighted the candle, and they proceeded round the deck^ : 
 they had not walked far, when, between two of the guns, they 
 discovered a heap covered with gregos. ** Tiiere de watch,* 
 whispered Mesty ; ** all fast— not ready for dem yet." 
 
 ** Mesty blew out the candle, and they all retreated to the 
 binnacle, where Mesty took out a coil of the ropes about the 
 mizen-mast, and cutting it into lengths, gave them to the other 
 men to unlay. In a few minutes they had prepared a great many 
 seizings to tie the men with. 
 
 " Now den we light candle again, and make sure of them lazy 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 103 
 
 hounds," said Mesty; ** very much oblige to dem all de same ; 
 they let us lake de ship — mind now, wake one at a time, and 
 shut him mouth.'* 
 
 ** But suppose ihey get their mouths free and cry out?" replied 
 Jack. 
 
 *' Den, Mr. Easy," replied Mesty, changing his countenance 
 to an expression almost demoniacal— ** there no help for it," 
 — and Mesty showed his knife which he held in his right hand. 
 
 ** no ! do not let us murder them." 
 
 **No, massa — suppose can help it ; but suppose they get upper 
 hand — what become of us ? Spaniards hab knives, and use dem 
 too,byde power!" 
 
 The observation of Mesty was correct, and the expression of 
 his countenance when he showed his knife proved what a 
 relentless enemy he could be, if his blood was once roused — but 
 Mesty had figured in the Ashantee wars in former days, and after 
 that the reader need not be surprised. Tbey proceeded cau- 
 tiously to where the Spaniards lay. The arrangements of Mesty 
 were very good. There were two men to gag them while the 
 others were to tie their limbs. Mesty and Easy were to kneel 
 by them with the candle, with raised knives to awe them into 
 silence, or to strike home, if their own safely required it. 
 
 The gregos were removed off the first man, who opened his 
 eyes at the sight of the candle, but the coxswain's hand was on 
 his mouth —he was secured in silence. The other two men were 
 awaked, and threw off their coverings, but ihey were also secured 
 without there being occasion to resort to bloodshed. 
 
 ** What shall we do now, Mesty?" 
 
 '* Now, sar," said Mesty, "open the afterhatch and watch — 
 suppose more men come up we make them fast; suppose no 
 more come up, we wait till daylight — and see what take 
 place." 
 
 Mesty then went forward to see if the men were watchful on 
 the forecastle; and having again gone round the whole of the 
 deck to see if there were any more men on it, he blew out the 
 candle, and took his station with the others at the after- 
 hatchway . 
 
104 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 It was just at break of day that the Spaniards, who had to keep 
 the morning watch, having woke up, as people generally do at 
 that hour at which they expect to be called, dressed themselves 
 and came on deck, imagining, and very truly, that those of the 
 middle watch had fallen asleep, but little imagining that the 
 deck was in possession of EngUshmen. Mesty and the others 
 retreated, to allow them all to come up before they could 
 perceive them, and fortunately this was accomplished. Four 
 men came on the deck, looked round them, and tried to make 
 out in the dark where their shipmates might be. The grating 
 was slapped on again by Jack, and before they could well gain 
 their eyesight, they were seized and secured, not however 
 without a scuffle and some noise. 
 
 By the time that these men were secured and laid between 
 the guns it was daylight, and they now perceived what a fine 
 vessel they had fairly taken possession of — but there was much 
 to be done yet. There was , of course, a number of men in the 
 ship, and moreover they were not a mile from a battery of ten 
 guns. Mesty, who was foremost in every thing, left four men 
 abaft and went forward on the forecastle, examined the cable, 
 which was coir rope, and therefore easily divided, and then 
 directed the two men forward to coil a hawser uj^on the fore- 
 grating, the weight of which would make all safe in that quarter, 
 and afterwards to join them on the quarter-deck. 
 
 **Now, Mr. Easy, the great ting will be to get hold of captain; 
 we must get him on deck. Open cabin-hatch now, and keep 
 the after-hatch fast. Two men stay there, the others all come 
 aft.'» 
 
 *' Yes," replied Jack, *' it will be a great point to secure the 
 captain — but how are we to get him ui> ?" 
 
 **You no know how to get captain up? By de holy, I know 
 very well." 
 
 And Mesty took up the coils of rope about the mizen-mast, and 
 threw them upon deck, one after another, making all the noise 
 possible. In a short time, there was a violent pull of a bell at 
 the cabin-door, and in a minute afterwards a man in his shirt 
 came up the cabin-hatchway, who was immediately secured. 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 105 
 
 *^Dis de captain's servant," said Mesty, **he come say no 
 make such d— d noise. Stop a little— captain get in passion, 
 and come up himself.'^ 
 
 And Mesty renewed the noise wiih the ropes over the cabin. 
 Mesty was right ; in a few minutes the captain himself came up 
 boiling with indignation. At the sound of the cabin-door 
 opening, the seamen and our hero concealed themselves behind 
 the companion-hatch, which was very high, so as to give the 
 captain time to get fairly on deck. The men already secured 
 had been covered over with the gregos. The captain was a most 
 powerful man, and it was with difficulty that he was pinioned, 
 and then not without his giving the alarm, had there been any 
 one to assist him, but as yet no one had turned out of his 
 hammock. 
 
 ** Now we all right," said Mesty, * ' and soon ab de ship ; but I 
 must make him 'fraid." 
 
 The captain was seated down on the deck against one of the 
 guns, and Mesty, putting on the look of a demon, extended above 
 him his long nervous arm, with the sharp knife clutched, as if 
 ready every instant to strike it into his heart. The Spanish 
 captain felt his situation anything but pleasant. He was then 
 interrogated as to the number of men in the ship, officers, etc., 
 to all which questions he answered truly : he cast his eyes at the 
 firm and relentless countenance of Mesty, vho appeared but to 
 wait the signal. 
 
 * 'I tink all pretty safe now," said Mesty. "Mr. Easy, we 
 now go down below and beat all men into the hold." 
 
 Our hero approved of this suggestion. Taking their pistols 
 from the capstern, they rushed down with their cutlasses, and 
 leaving two men to guard the cabin-door, they were soon among 
 the crewj who were all naked in their hammocks : the resistance, 
 although the numbers were more than double of the English, was 
 of course trifling. In a few minutes, the Spaniards were all 
 thrown down into the hold of the vessel, and the hatches placed 
 over them. Every part of the ship was now in their possession, 
 except the cabin, and to that they all repaired. Our hero tried 
 the door^ and found it fast; they beat it open, and were received 
 with loud screams from one side of the cabin, and the discharge 
 
106 MR. MIDSHIPINUN EASY. 
 
 of two pistols from the other, fortunately without injury : those 
 who had fired the pistols were an elderly man and a lad about the 
 age of our hero. They were thrown down and secured ; the 
 cabin was searched, and nobody else found in it but three 
 women; one old and shrivelled, the other two, although with 
 their countenances distorded with terror, were lovely as Houris. 
 So thought Jack, as he took off his hat, and made them a very 
 low bow with his usual politeness, as they crouched, half dres- 
 sed, in a corner. He told them in English that they had nothing 
 to fear, and begged that ihey would attend to their toilets. 
 The ladies made no reply, because, in the first place, they did 
 not know what Jack said, and in the next, they could not speak 
 English. 
 
 Mesty interrupted Jack in his attentions, by pointing out that 
 they must all go upon deck — so Jack again took off his hat and 
 bowed, and then followed his men, who led away the two 
 prisoners taken in the cabin. It was now five o'clock in the 
 morning, and there was movement on board of the other vessels, 
 which laid not far from the ship. 
 
 **Now, then," said Jack, *'what shall we do with the pri- 
 soners ? —could we not send the boat and bring our own vessel 
 alongside, and put them all in, tied as they are ^ We should 
 then get rid of them." 
 
 ** IMassa Easy, you be one very fine officer one of dese days. 
 Dat d — ^n good idea, any how; —but suppose we send our own 
 boat, what they tink on board of de oder vessel ? Lower down 
 lilly boat from stern, put in four men, and drop vessel longside 
 —da it." 
 
 This was done, the cutter was on the seaward side of the ship, 
 and, as the ship was the outer-most vessel, was concealed from 
 the view of the Spaniards on board of the other vessels, and in 
 the battery on shore. As soon as the latteen vessel was along- 
 side, the men who had already been secured on deck, amount- 
 ing to seven, were lowered into her, and laid upon the beans in 
 the hold ; all, except the captain, the two cabin-prisoners, and 
 the captain's servant. They then went down below, took off one 
 part of the hatches, and ordered the Spaniards up from the hold ; 
 as they came on deck they were made fast and treated in the same 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 107 
 
 manner. Mesty and the men went down to examine if there 
 were any left concealed, and finding that they were all out, 
 returned on deck. The men who had been beaten down in the 
 hold were twenty-two in number, making the whole complement 
 of thirty. As soon as they had all been put into the xebeque, 
 she was again hauled off and anchored outside, and Jack found 
 himself in possession of a fine ship of fourteen guns, with three 
 prisoners male, and three prisoners female. 
 
 When the men returned in the boat from the vessel in which 
 the prisoners had been confined, (the hatches having been 
 secured over them, by way of further precaution,) by the advice 
 of Mesty, they put on the jackets and caps of the Spanish seamen, 
 of which there was a plentiful supply below. 
 
 **l\ow what's to be done, Mesty?" inquired Jack. 
 
 '*Now, sar, we send some of the men aloft to get sails all 
 ready, and while they do that I cast loose this fellow," pointing 
 to the captain's servant, " and make him get some breakfast, for 
 he know where to find it." 
 
 ** Capital idea of your's, Mesty, for I'm tired of bean-soup 
 already, and I will go down and pay my respects to the ladies." 
 
 Mesty looked over the counter. 
 
 **Yes, and be quick too, Massa Easy; d — mn the women, they 
 toss their handkerchief in the air to people in the battery, — 
 quick, Massa Easy." 
 
 Mesty was right, the Spanish girls were waving their handker- 
 chiefs fort assistance ; it was all that they could do, poor things. 
 Jack hastened into the cabin, laid hold of the two young ladies, 
 very politely pulled them out of the quarter gallery, and begged 
 that they would not give themselves so much trouble. The 
 young ladies looked very much confused, and as they could no 
 longer wave their handkerchiefs, they put them up to their eyes 
 and began to weep, while the elderly lady went on her knees, 
 and held her hands up for mercy. Jack raised her up, and very 
 politely handed her to one of the cabin lockers. 
 
 In the mean time Mesty, with his gleaming knife and expressive 
 look, had done wonders with the captain's steward, for such the 
 man was ; and a breakfast of chocolate, salt meat, hams, and 
 sausages, white biscuit and red wine, had been spread on the 
 
108 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 quarter-deck. The men had come from aloft, and Jack was 
 summoned on deck. Jack offered his hand to the two young 
 ladies, and beckoned the old one to follow : the old lady did not 
 think it advisable to refuse his courtesy, so they accompanied 
 him. 
 
 As soon as the females came on deck, and found the two cabin 
 prisoners bound, they ran to them and embraced them with 
 tears. Jack's heart melted, and as there was now no fear, he 
 asked Mesty for his knife, and cut loose the two Spaniards, 
 pointing to the breakfast, and requesting that they would join 
 them. The Spaniards made a bow, and the ladies thanked Jack 
 with a sweet smile ; and the captain of the vessel, who still lay 
 pinioned against the gun, looked, as much as to say, why the 
 devil don't you ask me? but the fact was, they had had such 
 trouble to secure him, that Jack did not much like the idea of 
 letting him loose again. Jack and the seamen commenced their 
 breakfast, and as the ladies and prisoners did not appear in- 
 clined to eat, they ate their share and their own too ; during 
 which, the elderly man inquired of Jack if he could speak 
 French. 
 
 Jack, with his mouth full of sausage, replied, that he could, 
 and then commenced a conversation, from which Jack learnt as 
 follows. 
 
 The elderly gentleman was a passenger with the young man, 
 who was his son, and the ladies, who were his wife and his two 
 daughters, and they were proceeding to Tarragona. Whereupon 
 Jack made a bow and thanked him ; and then the gentleman, 
 whose name was Don Cordova de Rimarosa^ wished to know 
 what Jack intended to do with them, hoping as a gentleman, he 
 would put them on shore with their effects, as they were non- 
 combatants. Jack explained all this to Mesty and the men, 
 and then finished his sausage. The men, who were a little 
 elevated with the wine which they had been drinking, proposed 
 that they should take the ladies a cruise, and Jack at first did 
 not dislike the idea, but he said nothing ; Mesty, however, op- 
 posed this, saying, that ladies only made a row in a ship, and the 
 coxswain sided with him, saying, that they should all be at daggers 
 drawn. Wereupon Jack pulled out the <* articles of war," and 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 109 
 
 informed the men, that there was no provision in them for 
 women, and therefore the thing was impossible. 
 
 The next question was, as to the propriety of allowing them 
 to take their effects; and it was agreed, at last, that they might 
 take them. Jack desired the steward to feed his master the 
 captain, and then told the Spanish Don the result of the consul- 
 tation; further informing him, that as soon it was dark, be in- 
 tended to put them all on board the small vessel, when they 
 could cast loose the men and do as they pleased. The Don and 
 the ladies returned thanks, and went down to pack up their bag- 
 gage ; Mesty ordering two men to help them, but with a caution, 
 that they were not to encumber themselves with any of the 
 money, if there should happen to be any on board. 
 
 The crew were busy during the day making preparations for 
 sailing. The coxswain had examined the provender in the 
 ship, and found that there was enough for a least three months, of 
 water, wine and provisions, independent of luxuries for the 
 cabin. All thoughts of taking any more of the vessels were 
 abandoned, for their crew was but weak to manage the one 
 which they had possession of. A fine breeze sprang up, and 
 they dropped their fore-topsails just as a boat was shoving off 
 from the shore; but seeing the fore-topsails loosed, it put back 
 again. This was fortunate, or all would have been discovered. 
 The other vessels also loosed their sails, and the crews were 
 heard weighing the anchors. 
 
 But the Nostra Senora del Carmen, which was Jack's prize, 
 dit not move. At last the sun went down, the baggage was 
 placed in the cutter, the ladies and passengers went into the 
 boat, thanking Jack for his kindness, who put his hand to his 
 heart and bowed to the deck ; and the captain was lowered down 
 after them. Four men well armed pulled them alongside of 
 the xebeque, put them and their trunks on deck and returned 
 to the ship. The cutter was then hoisted up, and as the anchor 
 was too heavy to weigh, they cut the cable, and made sail. The 
 other vessels followed their example. Mesty and the seamen 
 cast longing eyes upon them, but it was of no use ; so they sailed 
 in company for about an hour, and then Jack hauled his wind 
 for a cruise. 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 In which our hero finds that disagreeable occurences will take place on a cruise. 
 
 As soon as the ship had been hauled to the wind, Jack's ship's 
 company seemed to think that there was nothing to do except 
 to make merry, so they brought up some earthen jars full of 
 wine, and emptied them so fast that they were soon fast asleep 
 on the deck, with the exception of the man at the helm, who, 
 instead of thirty-two could clearly make out sixty-four points in 
 the compass, and of course was able to steer to a much gi eater 
 nicety. Fortunately, the weather was line, for when the man 
 at the helm had steered till he could see no more, and requested 
 to be released, he found that his shipmates were so overpowered 
 with fatigue, that it was impossible to wake them. He kicked 
 them one by one most unmercifully in the ribs, but it was of no 
 use: under these cirumstances, he did as they did, that is, lay 
 down with them, and in ten minutes it would have taken as much 
 kicking to awake him as he gave his shipmates. 
 
 In the mean time the ship had it all her own way, and not 
 knowing where she was to go she went round and round the 
 compass during the best part of the night. Mesty had arranged 
 the watches. Jack had made a speech, and the men had pro- 
 mised every thing, but the wine had got into their heads, and 
 memory had taken that opportunity to take a stroll. Mesty 
 had been down with Jack examining the cabin, and in the 
 captain's state room they had found fourteen thousand dollars 
 in bags : of this they determined not to tell the men, but locked 
 up the money and every thing else of value, and took out the 
 key. They then sat down at the cabin table, and after some 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. ill 
 
 conversation, it was no matter of surprise, after having been up 
 all the night before, that Jack laid his head on the table and 
 fell fast asleep. Mesty kept his eyes open for some time, but 
 at last his head sank down upon his chest, and he also slum- 
 bered. Thus about one o'clock in the morning, there was not a 
 very good watch kept on board of the Nostra Senora del 
 Carmen. 
 
 About four o'clock in the morning, Mesty tumbled forward, 
 and he hit his head against the table, which roused him up. 
 
 **By de mass, I tink I almost fall asleep, cried he, and he 
 went to the cabin window, which had been left open, and found 
 that there was a strong breeze blowing in. **By de Lord, 
 de wind ab come more aft," said Mesty, '* why they not tell 
 me ?" So saying, he went on deck, where he found no one at 
 the helm ; every one drunk, and the ship with her yards braced up 
 running before the wind, just by way of a change. Mesty 
 growled, but there was no time to lose ; the top-sails only were set 
 — these he lowered down, and then put the helm a lee, and 
 lashed it, while he went down to call our hero to his assistance. 
 Jack roused up, and went on deck. 
 
 **Thisnebberdo, MassaEasy; we all goto devil together — 
 dam drunken dogs— I freshen um up any how." So Mesty drew 
 some buckets of water, with which he soused the ship's com- 
 pany, who then appeared to be recovering their senses. 
 
 ** By heavens!" says Jack, ** but this is contrary to the 'ar- 
 ticles of war ;' I shall read them to them to-morrow morning." 
 
 *'l tell what better ting, Massa Easy : we go lock up all de 
 wine, and sarve out so much, and no more. 1 go do it at once 
 'fore they wake up." 
 
 Mesty went down, leaving Jack on deck to his meditations. 
 
 ** I am not sure," thought Jack, ** that I have done a very 
 wise thing. Here I am with a parcel of fellows who have no 
 respect for the articles of war, and who get as drunk as David's 
 sow. I have a large ship, but I have very few hands ; and if it 
 comes on bad weather, what shall I do?— for I know very little 
 —hardly how to take in a sail. Then — as for where to steer, or 
 how to steer, I know not — nor do any of my men ; but, however, 
 as it was very narrow when we came into the Mediterranean, 
 
112 MR. IMIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 through the straits, it is hardly possible to get out of them without 
 perceiving it : besides, I shonld know the rock of Gibraltar again^ 
 if I saw it. I must talk to Mesty." 
 
 Mesty soon returned with the keys of the provision-room tied 
 to his bandana. 
 
 ** Now," says he, ** they not get drunk again in a hurry." 
 
 A few more buckets of water soon brought the men to their 
 senses : they again stood on their legs, and gradually recovered 
 themselves. Daylight broke, and they found that the vessel had 
 made an attempt for the Spanish coast, being within a mile of the 
 beach, and facing a large battery ajieurd'eau; fortunately they 
 had lime to square the yards, and steer the ship along shore 
 under the top-sails, before they were perceived. Had they been 
 seen at daylight in the position that they were in during the night, 
 the suspicions of the Spaniards would have been awakened ; and 
 had a boat been sent off, while they were all drunk, they must 
 have been re-captured. 
 
 The men, who perceived what danger they had been in, 
 listened very penitently to Jack's remonstrances, and our hero, 
 to impress them more strongly on their minds, took out the 
 articles of war, and read that on drunkenness from beginning 
 to end ; but the men had heard it read so often at the gangway, 
 that it did not make a due impression. As IMesty said, his plan 
 was better, and so it proved ; for as soon as Jack had done, the 
 men went down to get another jug of wine, and found, to their 
 disappointment, that is was all under lock and key. 
 
 In the mean time. Jack called Mesty aft, and asked him if he 
 knew the way to Toulon. Mesty declared that he knew nothing 
 about it. 
 
 ** Then, Mesty, it appears to me that we have a better chance 
 of finding our way back to Gibraltar ; for you know the land was 
 on our left side ail the way coming up the Mediterranean ; and 
 if we keep it, as it is now, on our right, we shall get back again 
 along the coast." 
 
 Mesty agreed with Jack that this was the ne plus ultra of navi- 
 gation ; and that old Smallsole could not do better with his ** pig- 
 yoke" and compasses. So they shook a reef out of the top-sails, 
 ^ set top-gallant-sails, and ran directly down the coast from point 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 113 
 
 to point, keeping about five miles distant. The men prepared a 
 good dinner; Mesty gave them their allowance of wine, which 
 was just double what they had on board the Harpy,— so they 
 soon appeared to be content. One man, indeed, talked very 
 big and very mutinously, swearing that if the others would join 
 him, they would soon have liquor enough; but Mesty gave him 
 his look, opened his knife, and swore that he vould settle him, 
 and Jack knocked him down with a handspike ; so that, what 
 with the punishment received, and that which was promised, 
 the fellow thought that he might as well say no more about it. 
 The fact is, that had it not been from fear of Mesty, the whole 
 of the men would, in all probability, have behaved equally as 
 bad; nevertheless, they were a little staggered, it must be 
 owned, at seeing Jack play so good a stick with the handspike. 
 
 After this night, Jack and Mesty kept watch and watch, and 
 every thing went on very well until they were nearly abreast of 
 Carthagena, when a gale came on from the northward, and 
 drove them out of sight of land. Sail after sail was reduced 
 with difficulty, from their having so few hands, and the gale 
 blew for three days with great fury. The men w^ere tired out 
 and discontented. It was Jack's misfortune that he had but one 
 good man with him : even the coxswain of the boat, although a 
 line-looking man, was worth nothing, Mesty was Jack's sheet- 
 anchor. The fourth day the gale moderated, but they had no 
 idea where they were : they knew that they had been blown off, 
 but how far they could not tell; and Jack now began to discover 
 that a cruiee at sea without a knowledge of navigation was a 
 more nervous thing than he had contemplated. However, there 
 was no help for it : at night they wore the ship, and stood on the 
 other tack, and at daylight they perceived that they were close 
 to some small islands, and much closer to some large rocks, 
 against which the sea beat high, although the wind had sub- 
 sided. Again was the helm put up, and they narrowly escaped. 
 As soon as the sails were trimmed, the men came aft, and pro- 
 posed, that if they could find anchorage, they should run into it, 
 lor they were quite tired out. This was true; and Jack con- 
 sulted with Mesty, who thought it advisable to agree to the pro- 
 posal. That the islands were not inhabited was very evident. 
 
 8 
 
114 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 I'he only point to ascertain was, if there were good anchorage. 
 The coxswain offered to go in the hoat and examine ; and, with 
 four men, he set off, and in about an hour returned, stating that 
 there was plenty of water, and it was as smooth as a mill-pond, 
 being land-locked on every side. As they could not weigh the 
 bower-anchor, they bent the kedge, and, running in without 
 accident, came to in a small hay, between the islands, in seven 
 fathoms water. The sails were furled, and every thing put in 
 order by the seamen, who then took the boat, and pulled on 
 shore. ** They might as well have asked leave,'' thought Jack, 
 In an hour they returned, and, after a short discussion, came aft 
 to our hero, in a body. 
 
 The coxswain was spokesman. He said that they had had 
 hard work, and required now to have some rest, — that there 
 Were provisions on board for three months, so that there could 
 not be any hurry, — and that they had found they could pitch a 
 tent very well on shore, and live there for a short time, — and 
 that as there was no harm in getting drunk on shore, they 
 expected that they might be allowed to take provisions and plenty 
 of wine with them ; and that the men had desired him to ask 
 leave, because they were determined to go, whether or no. 
 Jack was about to answer with the handspike ; but perceiving 
 that the men had all put on their cutlasses, and had their pistols 
 at their belt, he thought proper to consult Mesty, who, perceiv- 
 ing that resistance was useless, advised Jack to submit, observing 
 that the sooner all the wine was gone the better, as there would 
 be nothing done while it lasted. Jack, therefore, very gra- 
 ciously told them, that they should have their own way, and he 
 Would stay there as long as they pleased. Mesty gave them the 
 keys of the provision-hatch, and told them, with a grin, to help 
 themselves. The men then informed Jack that he and Mesty 
 should slay on board, and take care of the ship for them, and that 
 they would take the Spaniard on shore to cook their victuals ; 
 but to this Jack observed, that if he had not two hands, he could 
 not obey their orders, in case they wished him to come on shore 
 for them. The men thought there was good argument in that 
 observation, and therefore allowed Jack to retain the Spaniard* 
 that he flight be more prompt to their call from the beach : they 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASV. Il5 
 
 then wished him good day, and hegged ihat he would amuse 
 himself with the ** articles of war.'* 
 
 As soon as they had thrown a spare sail into the hoat, with 
 some spars to make a tent, and some bedding, they went down 
 below, hoisted up two pipes of wine out of the three, a bag or 
 two of biscuit, arms and ammunition, and as much of the salt 
 provisions as they thought they might require. The boat being 
 full, they shoved off, with three cheers of derision. Jack was 
 sensible to the compliment : he stood at the gangway, took off 
 his hat, and made them a polite bow. 
 
 As soon as they were gone, Mesty grinned with his sharp-filed 
 teeth, and looking at our hero, said, 
 
 ^* I tink I make um pay for all dis — stop a little ; by de piper 
 as played before Moses, but our turn come by-and-bye." 
 
 As for Jack, he said nothing, but he thought the more. In 
 about an hour the men returned in the boat : they had forgotten 
 many things, they wanted — wood to make a fire and several 
 utensils ; they helped themselves freely, and having now every 
 thing that they could think of, they again went on shore. 
 
 " How d — n lucky, we nebber tell dem about the dollars," 
 aid Mesty, as Jack and he were watching the motions of the men. 
 
 ** It is, indeed," rephed Jack, '* not that they could spend 
 them here." 
 
 '* No, Massa Easy, but suppose they find all that money, they 
 take boat and go away with it. Now, I hab em in my clutch 
 — stop a little." 
 
 A narrow piece of salt pork had been left at the gangway ; 
 Jack, without knowing why, tossed it overboard ; being almost 
 all fat it sank very gradually : Jack watched it as it disappeared, 
 so did Mesty, both full of thought, when they perceived a dark 
 object rising under it : it was a ground shark, who took it into 
 his maw, sank down, and disappeared. 
 
 '* What was that?" said Jack. 
 
 *■ That ground shark, Massa Easy, worst shark of all, you 
 nebber see him till you feel him." And Mesty's eyes sparkled 
 with pleasure. 
 
 <* By de powers, they soon stop de mutiny ; now I hab 'em." 
 
 Jack shuddered and walked away. 
 
 8, 
 
 
116 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 During the day, the men on shore were seen to Work hard, 
 and make all the preparations hefore they abandoned themselves 
 to the sensual gratification of intemperance. The tent was 
 pitched, the fire was lighted, and all the articles taken on shore 
 rolled up and stowed away in their places ; they were seen to 
 sit down and dine, for they were within hail of the ship, and then 
 one of the casks of wine was spiled. In the mean time the Spa- 
 niard, who was a quiet lad, had prepared the dinner for Easy 
 and his now only companion. The evening closed, and all was 
 noise and revelry on shore ; and as they danced, and sung, and 
 tossed off the cans of wine by the light of the fire, as they hallooed 
 and screamed, and became more and more intoxicated, Mesty 
 turned to Jack with his bitter smile, and only said — 
 
 ** Stop a little.*' 
 
 At last the noise grew fainter, the fire died away, and gra- 
 dually all was silent. Jack was still hanging over the gangway 
 when Mesty came up to him. The new moon had just risen, and 
 Jack's eyes were fixed upon it. 
 
 ** Now, Massa Easy, please you come aft and lower down little 
 boat ; take youi pistols and then we go on shore and bring off the 
 cutter ; they all asleep now." 
 
 ** But why should we leave them without a boat, Mesty ?" for 
 Jack thought of the sharks, and the probability of the men 
 attempting to swim off. 
 
 ** I tell you, sar, this night they get drunk, to-morrow they 
 get drunk again, but drunken men never keep quiet,— suppose 
 one man say to others, * Let's go board and kill officer, and then 
 we do as we please,' they all say yes, and they all come and do 
 it. No, sar — must have boat— if not for your sake, I must ab it, 
 save my own fife any how, for they hate me and kill me first ; 
 - — by de powers, stop a little." 
 
 Jack felt the truth of Mesty's observation ; he went aft with 
 him, lowered down the small boat, and they hauled it alongside. 
 Jack went down with Mesty into the cabin and fetched his 
 pistols. — *' And the Spaniard, Mesty, can we leave him on board 
 alone?" 
 
 ** Yes, sar, he no got arms, and he see dat we have— but 
 suppose he find arms, he never dare do any thing — I know de 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 117 
 
 Our hero and Mesly went down into the boat and shoved off, 
 pulling gently on shore; the men were in a state of intoxication, 
 so as not to be able to move, much less hear. They cast off the 
 cutter, towed her on board, and made her fast with the other 
 boat astern. 
 
 ** Now, sar, we may go to bed; to-morrow morning you will 
 see." 
 
 " They have every thing they require on shore," replied 
 Easy; <* all they could want with the cutter would be to mo- 
 lest us." 
 
 *' Stop a little," replied Mesly. 
 
 Jack and Mesty went to bed, and as a precaution against the 
 Spaniard, which was hardly necessary, Mesty locked the cabin 
 door — but Mesty never forgot any thing. 
 
 Jack slept little that night — had melancholy forebodings which 
 he could not shake off ; indeed, Jack had reflected so much since 
 he had left the ship, he had had his eyes so much opened, and had 
 felt what a responsibility he had taken by indulging himself in 
 a whim of the moment, that it might be almost said, that in the 
 course of one fortnight he had at once from a boy sprung up into 
 a man. He was mortified and angry, but he was chiefly so with 
 himself. 
 
 Mesty was up at daylight and Jack soon followed him, they 
 watched the party on shore, who had not yet left the tent. At 
 last, just as Jack had finished his breakfast, one or two made their 
 appearance : the men looked about them as if they were searching 
 for something, and then walked down to the beach, to where the 
 boat had been made fast. Jack looked at Mesty, who grinned, 
 and answered with the words so often repeated, 
 
 <' Stop a little." 
 
 The men then walked along the rocks until they were abreast 
 of the ship. 
 
 '< Ship ahoy." 
 
 ** Halloo," replied Mesty. 
 
 << Bring the boat a-shore directly, with a beaker of water." 
 
 <* I knew dat," cried Mesty, rubbing his hands with dehght. 
 ** Massa Easy, you must tell them No." 
 
 * < But why should I not give them water, Mesty ?" 
 
118 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 ** Because, sar, den they take boat.*' 
 
 *' Very true," replied Easy. 
 
 **Do you hear on hoard?" cried the coxswain, who was the 
 man who hailed— '* send the boat immediately, or we'll cut the 
 throats of every mother's son of you, by God I" 
 
 '* I shall not send the boat," replied Jack, who now thought 
 Mesty was right. 
 
 '* You won't,— won't you ? — then your doom's sealed," replied 
 the man, walking up to the tent with the other. In a short time 
 all the seamen turned out of the tent, bringing with them four 
 muskets, which they had taken on shore with them. 
 
 ** Good heavens! they are not, surely, going to fire at us, 
 Mesty." 
 
 '' Stop a little." 
 
 The men then came down abreast of the ship, and the cox- 
 swain again hailed and asked if they would bring the boat on 
 shore. 
 
 " You must say, No, sar," replied Mesty. 
 
 *' I feel I must," replied Jack, and then he answered the cox- 
 swain, ** No." 
 
 The plan of the mutineers had been foreseen by the wily negro 
 • — it was to swim off to the boats which were riding a-stern, and 
 to fire at him or Jack, if they attempted to haul them up along- 
 side and defend them. To get into the boats, especially the 
 smaller one, from out of the water, was easy enough. Some of 
 the men examined their priming and held the muskets at their hips 
 all ready, with the muzzles towards the ship, while the coxswain 
 and two men were throwing off their clothes. 
 
 *' Stop, for God's sake stop !" cried Jack. '* The harbour is 
 full of ground sharks, — it is, upon my soul I" 
 
 *' Do you think to frighten us with ground sharks?" replied 
 the coxswain, *' keep under cover, my lad ; Jack, give him a 
 shot to prove we are in earnest, and every time he or that nigger 
 show their heads, give them another, my lads." 
 
 *' For God's sake, don't attempt to swim," said Jack, in an 
 agony; *' I will try some means to give you water." 
 
 ** Too late now — you're doomed;" and the coxswain sprang 
 off the rock into the sea, and was followed by two other men : at 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 119 
 
 the same moment a musket was discharged, and the bullet whistled 
 close to our hero's ear. 
 
 Mesty dragged Jack from the gangway, who was now nearly 
 fainting from agonizing feelings. He sank on the deck for a 
 moment, and then sprang up and ran to the port to look at the 
 men in the water. He was just in time to see the coxswain raise 
 himself with a loud yell out of the sea, and then disappear in a 
 Tortex, which was crimsoned with his blood. 
 
 Mesty threw down his musket in his hand, of which he had 
 several all ready loaded, in case the men should have gained the 
 boats. 
 
 '* By de powers, dat no use now I" 
 
 Jack had covered his face with his hands. But the tragedy 
 was not complete : the other men, who were in the water, had 
 immediately turned and made for the shore, but before they could 
 reach it, two more of these voracious monsters, attracted by the 
 blood of the coxswain, had flown to the spot, and there was a 
 contention for the fragments of their bodies. 
 
 Mesty, who had seen this catastrophe, turned towards our 
 hero, who still hid his face. 
 
 *' Fm glad he no see dat, any how," muttered Mesty. 
 
 ' ' See what !" exclaimed Jack. 
 
 ''Shark eat em all." 
 
 '* Oh, horrid! horrid" groaned our hero. 
 
 *' Yes, sar, very horrid," replied Mesty, *' and dat bullet at 
 your head very horrid. Suppose the sharks no take them, what 
 then? They kill us and the sharks have our body. I tink that 
 more horrid still." 
 
 '' Mesty," replied Jack, seizing the negro convulsively by the 
 arm, " it was not the sharks — it was I, — I who have murdered 
 these men." 
 
 Mesty looked at Jack with surprise. 
 
 ''How dat possible?" 
 
 " If I had not disobeyed orders," replied our hero, panting 
 for breath, " if I had not shown them the example of disobedience, 
 this would not have happened. How could I expect submission 
 from them ? It's all my fault — I see it now— and, God I when 
 will the sight be blotted from my memory ?" 
 
120 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 ** Massa Easy, I not understand that," replied Mesty, " I tink 
 you talk foolish— might as well say, suppose Ashantee men not 
 make war, this not happen ; for suppose Ashantee not make war, 
 I not slave, — I not run away, — I not come hoard Harpy — I not 
 go in boat with you — I not hinder men from getting drunk — and 
 dat why they make mutiny— and the mutiny why the shark 
 take um?" 
 
 Jack made no reply, hut he felt some consolation from the 
 counter argument of the negro. 
 
 The dreadful death of the three mutineers appeared to have 
 had a sensible effect upon their companions, who walked away 
 from the beach with their heads down and with measured steps. 
 They were now seen to be perambulating the island, probably 
 in search of that water which they required. Al noon, they re- 
 turned to their tent, and soon afterwards were in a state of 
 intoxication, hallooing and shouting as the day before. Towards 
 the evening they came down to the beach abreast of the ship, 
 each with a vessel in their hands, and perceiving that they had 
 attracted the notice of our hero and Mesty, tossed the contents 
 of the vessels up in the air to show that they had found water, 
 and hooting and deriding, went back, dancing, leaping, and 
 kicking up their heels, to renew their orgies, which continued 
 till after midnight, when they were all stupified as before. 
 
 The next day Jack had recovered from the first shock which 
 the catastrophe had given him, and he called Mesty into the cabin 
 to hold a consultation. 
 
 ** Mesty, how is this to end?" 
 
 *< How you mean, sar?— end here, or end on board of de 
 Harpy?" 
 
 <* The Harpy, there appears little chance of our seeing her 
 again — we are on a desolate island, or what is the same thing ; 
 but we will hope that it will be so : but how is this mutiny to 
 end?" 
 
 ** Massa Easy, suppose I please I make it end very soon, but 
 I not in a hurry." 
 
 ** How do you mean, Mesty, not in a hurry ?" 
 
 ** Look, Massa Easy, you wish take a cruise, and I wish the 
 same ting— now because mutiny you want to go back — but, by 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 121 
 
 all de powers, you link that I, a prince in my own country, feel 
 wish to go back and boil kettle for de young gentlemen. No, 
 Massa Easy, gib me mutiny— gib me any ting — but— once 1 was 
 prince," replied Mesty, lowering his voice at the last few em- 
 phatic words. 
 
 ** You must one of these days tell me your history, Mesty," 
 replied Jack; ** but just now let us argue the point in question. 
 How could you put an end to this mutiny?" 
 
 **By putting an end to all wine. Suppose I go shore after 
 they all drunk, I spile the casks in three or four places, and in 
 the morning all wine gone— den dey ab get sober, and beg par- 
 don—we take dem on board, put away all arms 'cept yours and 
 mine, and I like to see the mutiny after dat. Blood and 'ounds 
 - — but I settle um, any how."' 
 
 *' The idea is very good, Mesty, why should we not do so?" 
 
 *' Because I not like run de risk to go ashore— all for what ? 
 to ^0 back, boil de kettle for all gentlemans — I very happy here, 
 Massa," replied Mesty, carelessly. 
 
 *' And I am very miserable," replied Jack; *' but however I 
 am completely in your power, Mesty, and 1 must, I suppose, 
 submit." 
 
 '* What you say, Massa Easy— submit to me ? — no sar, when 
 you are on board Harpy as officer, you talk with me as friend, 
 and not treat me as negro servant. Massa Easy, I feel — I feel 
 what I am," continued Mesty, striking his bosom, *' I feel it here 
 — for all first time since I leave my country, I feel dat I am 
 someting; but, Massa Easy, I love my friend as much as I hale 
 my enemy — and you neber submit to me — I too proud to allow 
 dat, 'cause, Massa Easy— I am a man — and once, I was a prince." 
 
 Although Mesty did not perhaps explain by words half so well 
 as he did by his countenance, the full tide of feeling which was 
 overflowing in his heart. Jack fully understood and felt it. He 
 extended his hand to Mesty, and said, 
 
 ** Mesty, — that you have been a prince, I care little about, 
 although I doubt it not, because you are incapable of a lie; but 
 you are a man, and I respect you, nay, I love you as a friend — 
 and with my will we never part again."' 
 
 Mesty took the hand offered by Jack. It was the first peace- 
 
122 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 offering ever extended to him, since he had been torn away from 
 his native land— the first compliment, the first tribute, the first 
 acknowledgment, [perhaps, that he was not an inferior being ; 
 he pressed it in silence, for he could not speak ; but covdd the 
 feelings which were suffocating the negro but have been laid 
 before sceptics, they must have acknowledged that at that mo- 
 ment they were all and only such as could do honour, not only to 
 the prince, but even to the Christian. So much was Mesly 
 affected with what had happened, that when he dropped the 
 hand of our hero, he went down into the cabin, finding it impos- 
 sible to continue the conversation, which was not renewed until 
 the next morning. 
 
 *' What is your, opinion, Mesty? — tell me, and I will be go- 
 verned by it." 
 
 ** Den, sar, I tell you I tink it right that they first come and 
 agk to come on board before you take them — and, sar, I tink it 
 also right, as we are but two and they are five, dat dey first eat 
 all their provision— let em starve plenty, and den dey come on 
 board tame enough," 
 
 ** At all events," replied Jack, * ' the first overtures of some kind 
 or another must come from them. I wish I had something to do 
 —I do not much like this cooping up on board ship." 
 
 * ' Massa, why you no talk with Pedro ?" 
 
 ** Because I cannot speak Spanish." 
 
 " I know dat, and dat why I ask de question. You very sorry 
 when you meet the two pretty women in the ship, you not able 
 to talk with them— I guess that." 
 
 " I was very sorry, I grant," replied Jack. 
 
 " Well, Massa Easy, by-and-bye we see more Spanish girl. 
 Why not talk all day with Pedro, and den you able to talk with 
 dem." ' ; , 
 
 * ' Upon my word, Mesty, I never had an idea of your value. I 
 will learn all the Spanish that I can," replied Jack, who was glad 
 to have employment found for him, and was quite disgusted with 
 the articles of war. 
 
 As for the men on shore, they continued the same course, if not 
 as before, one day succeeded another, and without variety. It 
 was, however, to be observed, that the fire was now seldomer 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY, 1J3 
 
 lighted, which proved their fuel scarce, and the weather was 
 not so warm as it had heen, for it was now Octoher. Jack learnt 
 Spanish from Pedro for a month, dm^ng which there was no 
 appearance of submission on the part of the mutineers, who, for 
 the first fortnight, when intoxicated, used to come down and lire 
 at Jack or Mesty, when they made their appearance. Fortuna- 
 tely drunken men are not good marksmen, but latterly this had 
 been discontinued, because they had expended their ammunition 
 — and they appeared to have almost forgotten that the ship was 
 there, for they took no notice of her whatever. 
 
 On the other hand, Jack had decided that if he waited there 
 a year, the overtures should come from them who had mutinied ; 
 and now, having an occupation, he passed his time very quietly, 
 and the days flew so fast that two months had actually been run 
 off the calender, before he had an idea of it. 
 
 One evening, as they were down in the cabin, for the evenings 
 had now become very cold. Jack asked Mesty whether he had 
 any objection to give him a history of his life. Mesty replied, 
 that if he wished he was ready to talk 5 and at a nod from our 
 hero, Mesty commenced as follows. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 Iq which muliay, like fire , is quenched for want pf fuel and no want of w^ter. 
 
 Although we have made the African negro hitherto talk in his 
 own mixed jargon, yet, as we consider that, in a long narration, 
 it will be tedious to the reader, we shall now translate the nar- 
 rative part into good English, merely leaving the conversation 
 with which it inay be broken, in its pecuhar dialect. 
 
124 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 '* The first thing I recollect," said Mesty, *'is that I was 
 carried on the shoulders of a man with my legs hanging down 
 before, and holding on by his head. 
 
 ** Every one used to look at me, and get out of the way, as I 
 rode through the town and market-place, so loaded with heavy 
 gold ornaments that I could not bear them, and was glad when 
 the women took them off : but, as I grew older I became proud 
 of them, because I knew that I was the son of a king— I lived 
 happy, I did nothing but shoot my arrows, and I had a little 
 sword which I was taught to handle, and the great captains who 
 were about my father showed me how to kill my enemies. So- 
 metimes I laid under the shady trees, sometimes I was with the 
 women belonging to my father, sometimes I was with him and 
 played with the sculls and repeated the names of those to whom 
 they had belonged, for in our country, when we kill our enemies, 
 we keep their sculls as trophies. 
 
 ** As I grew older, I did as I pleased, I beat the women and 
 the slaves ; I think I killed some of the latter — I know I did one, 
 to try whether I could strike well with my two-handed sword 
 made of hard and heavy wood, — but that is nothing in our 
 country. I longed to be a great captain, and I thought of no- 
 thing else [but war and fighting, and how many sculls I should 
 have in my possession when I had a house and wives of my own, 
 and I was no longer a boy. I went out in the woods to hunt, 
 and I staid for weeks. And one day I saw a panther basking in 
 the sun, waving his graceful tail. I crept up softly till I was 
 behind a rock within three yards of it and drawing my. arrow to 
 the head I pierced him through the body. The animal bonded 
 up in the air, saw me, roared and made a spring, but I dropped 
 behind the rock, and he passed over me. He turned again to 
 me, but I had my knife ready, and, as he fixed his talons into 
 my shoulder and breast I pierced him to the heart. This was 
 the happiest day of my life ; I had killed a panther without 
 assistance, and I had the wounds to show. Although I was se- 
 verely hurt, I thought nothing of it. I took off the skin as my 
 blood dropped down and mixed with that of the beast— but I 
 rejoiced in it. Proudly did I go into the town dripping with 
 gore and smarting with pain. Every one extolled the feat, 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 125 
 
 called me a hero and a great captain. I filed my [teeth, and I 
 became a man. 
 
 '* From that day I ranked among the warriors, and, as soon 
 as my wounds were {healed, I went out to battle. In three 
 fights I had gained five sculls, and when I returned they 
 weighed me out gold. I then had a house and wives, and my 
 father appointed me a Caboceer. I wore the plume of eagle 
 and ostrich feathers, my dress was covered with fetishes, I 
 pulled on the boots with bells, and with my bow and arrows 
 slung on my back, my spear and blunderbuss, my knives and 
 my double-handed sword, I led the men to battle and brought 
 back sculls and slaves. Every one trembled at my name, and, 
 if my father threatened to send me out, gold-dust covered the 
 floor of his hall of council — Now, I boil the kettle for the young 
 gentlemen ! 
 
 ** There was one man I liked. He was not a warior or I 
 should have hated him, but he was brought up with me in my 
 father's house, and was a near relative. I was grave and full of 
 pride, he was gay and fond of music, and although there was 
 no music to me equal to the tom-tom, yet I did not always wish 
 for excitement. I often was melancholy, and then I liked to lay 
 my head in the lap of one of my wives, under the shady forest 
 behind my house, and listen to his soft music. At last he went 
 to a town near us where his father lived, and as he departed I 
 gave him gold-dust. He had been sent to my father to be 
 formed into a warrior, but he had no strength of body, and he 
 had no soul ; still I loved him because he was not like myself. 
 There' was a girl in the town who was beautiful, many asked for 
 her as their wife, but her father had long promised her to my 
 friend ; he refused even the greatest warrior of the place, who 
 went away in wrath to the fetish-man, and throwing him his 
 gold armlets asked for a fetish against his rival. It was given, 
 and two days before he was to be married my friend died. His 
 mother came to me, and it was enough. I put on my war dress, 
 I seized my weapons, sat for a whole day with my sculls before 
 me, working up my revenge, called out my men, and that night 
 setoff for the town where the warrior resided, killed two of his 
 relatives and carried off ten of his slaves. "When he heard what 
 
126 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 I had done, he trembled and sent gold ; but I knew that he had 
 taken the girl home as his wife, and I would not listen to the 
 old man who sought to pacify me. Again I collected a larger 
 force, and attacked him in the night : we fought, for he was pre- 
 pared with his men, but after a struggle he was beaten back. 
 I fired his house, wasted his provision ground, and taking awaj^ 
 more slaves, I returned home with my men, intending soon to 
 assault him again. The next day there came more messengers, 
 who knelt in vain, so they went to my father, and many war- 
 riors begged him to interfere. My father sent for me, but I 
 would not listen ; the warriors spoke, and I turned my back : my 
 father was wrath and threatened, the warriors brandished their 
 two-handed swords — they dared to do it; I looked over my 
 shoulder with contempt, and I returned to my house. I took 
 down my sculls, and I planned. It was evening, and I was alone, 
 when a woman covered up to the eyes approached; she fell 
 down before me as she exposed her face. 
 
 ** I am the girl who was promised to your relation, and I am 
 how the wife of your enemy. I shall be a mother. I could not 
 love your relation, for he was no warrior. It is not true that 
 my husband asked for a fetish — it was I who bought it, for I 
 would not wed him. Kill me and be satisfied." 
 
 '* She was very beautiful, and I wondered not that my enemy 
 loved her— and she was with child — it was his child, and she 
 had fetished my friend to death. I raised my sword to strike, 
 and she did not shrink : it saved her life. Thou art fit to be the 
 mother of warriors, said I, as I dropped my sword, and thou 
 shalt be my wife, but first his child shall be born, and I will 
 have thy husband's scull." 
 
 ** No, no," replied she, ' I will be the mother of no warriors 
 but my present husband, whom I love ; if you keep me as your 
 slave I will die.' 
 
 **I told her she said fooHsh things, and sent her to the 
 women's apartment, with orders to be watched— but she hardly 
 had been locked up before she drew her knife, plunged it into 
 her heart, and died. 
 
 *' When the king my father heard this he sent me a message 
 -^* Be satisfied with the blood that has been shed, it is enough' 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 1J7 
 
 — but I tttrned away, for I wished for mine enemy's scull. That 
 night I attacked him again, and met him hand to hand; I killed 
 him, and carried home his scull, and I was appeased. 
 
 '*But all the great warriors were wrath, and my father could 
 not restrain them. They called out their men, and I called out 
 my men, and I had a large body, for my name was terrible. But 
 the force raised against me was twice that of mine, and I re- 
 treated to the bush — after awhile we met and fought and I killed 
 many, but my men were too few and were overpowered^lhe 
 fetish had been sent out against me, and their hearts melted ; at 
 last I sank down with my wounds, for I bled at every pore, and 
 I told my men who were about me, to take off my feathers, and 
 my dress and boots, that my enemies might not have my scull : 
 they did so, and I crawled into the bush to die. But I was not 
 to die; I was recovering, when I was discovered by those who 
 steal men to sell them : I was bound, and fastened to a chain 
 with many more. I, a prince and a warrior, who could show 
 the white sculls of his enemies — I offered to procure gold, but 
 they derided me ; they dragged me down to the coast, and sold 
 me to the Whites. Little did I think, in my pride, that I should 
 be a slave. I knew that I was to die, and hoped to die in 
 battle : my scull would have been more prized than all the gold 
 in the earth, and my skin would have been stuffed and hung up 
 in a fetish-house — instead of which, I now boil the kettle for 
 the young gentlemen." 
 
 "Well," replied Jack, < that's better than being killed and 
 stuffed." 
 
 '* Mayhap it is," replied Mesty, *'I tink very different now, 
 dan I tink den— but still, it women's work and not suit me. 
 
 ** They put me with others into a cave until the ship came, 
 and then we were sent on board, put in irons, and down in the 
 hold, where you could not sit upright — I wanted to die, but could 
 not: others died every day, but I lived— I was landed in Ame- 
 rica, all bone, and I fetched very little money — they laughed 
 at me, as they bid their dollars : at last a man took me away, 
 and I was on a plantation with hundreds more, but too ill to 
 work, and not intending to work. The other slaves asked me 
 if I was a fetish-man; I said yes, and I would fetish any man that 
 
128 MR. MIDSHllPMAN EASY. 
 
 I did not like : one man laughed, and I held up my finger; I was 
 too weak to get up, for my blood had long boiled with fever, and 
 I said to him, *you shall die;* ioT I meant to have killed him, 
 as soon as I was well. He went away, and in three days he was 
 dead. I don't know how, but all the slaves feared me, and my 
 master feared me, for he had seen the man die, and he, although 
 he was a white man, believed in fetish, and he wished to sell me 
 again, but no one would buy a fetish-man, so he made friends 
 with me; for I told him, if I was beat he should die, and he 
 believed me. He took me into his house, and I was his chief 
 man, and I would not let the other slaves steal, and he was con- 
 tent. He took me with him to New York, and there after two 
 years, when I had learnt English I ran away, and got on board 
 of an English ship— and they told me to cook. I left the ship 
 as soon as I came to England, and offered myself to another, and 
 they said they did not want a cook ; and I went to another, and 
 they asked me if 1 was a good cook : every body seemed to think 
 that a blacTt man must be a cook and nothing else. At last I 
 starve, and I go on board man-of-war, and here I am, after 
 having been a varrior and a prince, cook, steward and every 
 ting else, boiling kettle for de young gentlemen." 
 
 '* Well," replied Jack, **at all events that is better than 
 being a slave.'* 
 
 Mesty made no reply : any one who knows the life of a mid- 
 shipman's servant will not be surprised at his silence. 
 
 *'Now, tell me, do you think you were right in being so re- 
 vengeful, when you were in your own country?" inquired Jack. 
 
 **1 tink so den, Massa Easy, sometimes when my blood boil, 
 I tink so now — oder time, I no know what to tink — but when a 
 man love very much, he hate very much." 
 
 '* But you are now a Christian, Mesty." 
 
 '< I hear all that your people say," replied the negro, '' and it 
 make me tink— I no longer believe in fetish, any how. 
 
 ** Our religion tells us to love our enemies." 
 
 ** Yes, I heard parson say dat— but den what we do with our 
 friends, Massa Easy?" 
 
 ** Love them too." 
 
 " I no understand dat, Massa Easy— I love you, because you 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 129 
 
 good, and treat me well — Mr. Vigors, he bully, and treat me ill 
 — how possible to love him ? By de power, I hate him, and wish 
 I had him sculL You tink little Massa Gossett love him ?" 
 
 ** No," repUed Jack, laughing, I'm afraid that he would like 
 to have his scull as well as you, Mesty — but at all events we must 
 try and forgive those who injure us." . u, i <.t . 
 
 '*Then, Massa Easy, I tink so too— too much revenge very 
 bad — it very easy to hate, but not very easy to forgive — so I 
 tink that if a man forgive, he hab more soul in him, he more of 
 a manJ^ 
 
 * * After all," thought Jack, *' Mesty is about as good a Christian 
 as most people." 
 
 * * What that ?" cried Mesty, looking out of the cabin window 
 — *' Ah ! d — n drunken dogs— they set fire to tent." 
 
 Jack looked, and perceived that the tent on shore was in 
 flames. 
 
 **I tink these cold nights cool their courage any how," ob- 
 served Mesty — *' Massa Easy, you see they soon ask permission 
 to come on board." 
 
 Jack thought so loo, and was most anxious to be off, for, in 
 looking in the lockers in the state room, he had found a chart of 
 the Mediterranean, which he had studied very attentively — 
 he had found out the rock of Gibraltar, and had traced the 
 Harpy's course up to Cape de Gatte, and thence to Tarragona 
 — and, after a while, had summoned Mesty to a cabinet council. 
 **See, Mesty," said Jack, **I begin to make it out; here is 
 Gibraltar, and Cape de Gatte, and Tarragona — it was here 
 about we were when we took the ship, and, if you recollect, we 
 had passed Cape de Gatte two days before we were blown off 
 from the land, so that we had gone about twelve inches, and had 
 only four more to go." 
 
 ** Yes, Massa Easy, I see all dat." 
 
 ** Well, then, we were blown off shore by the wind, and must 
 of course have come down this way ; and here you see are three 
 little islands, called Zaffarine Islands, and with no names of 
 towns upon them, and therefore uninhabited; and you see they 
 lie just like the islands we are anchored among now— we must 
 be at the Zaffarine Islands — ^and only six inches from Gibraltar." 
 
tSQ MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 *< I see, Massa Easy, dat all right— but six debbelish long 
 inches." 
 
 '* Now, Mesty, you know the compass on deck has a flourishing 
 thing for the north point — and here is a compass with a north 
 point also. Now the north point from the Zaffarine Islands leads 
 out to the Spanish coast again, and Gibraltar lays five or six 
 points of the compass to this side of it— if we steer that way we 
 shall get to Gibraltar." 
 
 ** All right, Massa Easy," replied Mesty ; and Jack was right, 
 with the exception of the variation, which he knew nothing 
 about. 
 
 To make sure. Jack brought one of the compasses down from 
 deck, and compared them. He then lifted off the glass, counted 
 the points of the compass to the westward, and marked the cor- 
 responding one on the binnacle compass with his pen. 
 
 ** There," said he, ** that is the way to Gibraltar, and as soon 
 as the mutiny is quelled, and the wind is fair, I'll be off." 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 In which Jack's cruise Is ended, and he regains the Harpy. 
 
 A FEW more days passed, and, as was expected, the mutineers 
 could hold out no longer. In the first place, they had put in 
 the spile of the second cask of wine so loosely when they were 
 tipsy, that it dropped out, and all the wine ran out, so that there 
 had been none left for three or four days ; in the next, their fuel 
 had long been expended, and they had latterly eaten their meat 
 raw : the loss of their tent, which had been fired by their care- 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. U 1 
 
 lessness, had been followed by four days and nights of continual 
 rain. Every thing they had, had been soaked through and 
 through, and they were worn out, shivering with cold, and 
 starving. Hanging they thought better than dying by inches 
 from starvation; and, yielding to the imperious demands of 
 hunger, they came down to the beach, abreast of the ship, a^d 
 dropped down on their knees, 
 
 **I tell you so, Massa Easy," said Mesty : " d— n rascals, 
 they forget they come down fire musket at us every day : by all 
 de powers, Mesty not forget it." 
 
 '* Ship a hoy," cried one of the men on shore. 
 
 " What do you want?" replied Jack. 
 
 '*Have pity on us, sir — mercy!" exclaimed the other men, 
 ** we return to our duty." 
 
 ^'Debbel doubt em!" 
 
 '' What shall I say, Mesty?" 
 
 '* Tell em no, first, Massa Easy— tell em to starve and be 
 d-d." 
 
 ** I cannot take mutineers on board," replied Jack. 
 
 *' Well, then, our blood be on your hands, Mr. Easy," replied 
 the first man who had spoken. ** If we are to die, it must not 
 be by inches— if you will not take us, the sharks shall — it is 
 but a crunch, and all is over. What do you say, my lads? let's 
 all rush in together : good-bye, Mr. Easy, I hope you'll forgive 
 «s when we're dead : it was all that rascal Johnson, the cox- 
 swain, who persuaded us. Come, my lads, it's no use thinking 
 of it, the sooner done the better — let us shake hands, and then 
 make one run of it." 
 
 It appeared that the poor fellows had already made up their 
 minds to do this, if our hero, persuaded by Mesty, had refused 
 to take them on board — they shook hands all round, and then 
 walking a few yards from the beach, stood in a line while the 
 man gave the signal — one — two. 
 
 ** Stop," cried Jack, who had not forgotten the dreadful scene 
 which had already taken place, — ^^** stop." 
 
 The men paused. 
 
 ** What will you promise if I take you on board?" 
 
 . 9- 
 
132 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 <* To do our duty cheerfully till we join the ship, and then be 
 hung as an example to all mutineers," replied the men. 
 
 ** Dat very fair," replied Mesty ; *' take dem at their word, 
 Massa Easy." 
 
 ** Very well," replied Jack, " I accept your conditions ; and 
 we will come for you." 
 
 Jack and Mesty hauled up the boat, stuck their pistols in their 
 belts, and pulled to the shore. The men, as they stepped in, 
 touched their hais respectfully to our hero, but said nothing. 
 On their arrival on board, Jack read that part of the articles of 
 war relative to mutiny, by which the men were reminded of the 
 very satisfactory fact, ** that they were to suffer death;" and 
 then made a speech which, to men who were starving, appeared 
 to be interminable. However, there is an end to every thing 
 in this world, and so there was to Jack's harangue ; after which 
 Mesty gave them some biscuit which they devoured in thankful- 
 ness, until they could get something better. The next morning 
 the wind was fair, they weighed their kedge with some difficulty, 
 and ran out of the harbour : the men appeared very contrite, 
 worked well but in silence, for they had no very pleasant antici- 
 -pations, but hope always remains with us ; and each of the men, 
 although he had no doubt but that the others would be hung, 
 hoped that he would escape with a sound flogging. The wind 
 however did not allow them to steer their course long; before 
 night it was contrary, and they fell off three points to the north- 
 ward. ** However," as Jack observed, ** At all events we shall 
 make the Spanish coast, and then we must run down it to Gi- 
 braltar : I don't care — I understand navigation much better than 
 I did. The next morning they found themselves, with a very 
 light breeze, under a high cape, and, as the sun rose, they ob- 
 served a lage vessel on shore, about two miles to the westward 
 of them, and another outside, about four miles off. Mesty took 
 the glass and examined the one outside, which, on a sudden, had 
 let fall all her canvass, and was now running for the shore, stee- 
 ring for the cape under which Jack's vessel lay. Mesty put 
 down the glass. 
 
 ** Massa Easy— I link dat de Harpy." 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 133 
 
 One of the seamen took the glass and examined her,.\vl^ile the 
 others who stood by showed great agitation. j - ^luy.,. 
 
 ** Yes, it is the Harpy," said the seaman. **0h Mr. Easy, 
 will you forgive us?" continued the man, and he and the others 
 fell on their knees. * ' Do not tell all, for God's sake, Mr. Easy." 
 
 Jack's heart melted ; he looked at Mesty. 
 
 *' I tiuk," said Mesty, apart to our hero, ** dat with what them 
 hab suffer already, suppose they get seven dozen a piece, dat 
 quite enough." 
 
 Jack thought that even half that punishment would suffice ; 
 so he told the men^ that although he must state what had occur- 
 red, he would not tell all, and would contrive to get them off as 
 well as he could. He was about to make a long speech , but a gun 
 from the Harpy, which had now come up within range, made 
 him defer it till a more convenient opportunity. At the same 
 time the vessel in shore hoisted Spanish colours, and fired a gun. 
 
 ** By de powers but we got in the middle of it," cried Mesty ; 
 " Harpy tink us Spaniard. Now, my lads, get all gun ready, 
 bring up powder and shot. Massa, now us fire at Spaniard — 
 Harpy not fire at us— no ah English colours on board— dat all 
 we must do." 
 
 The men set to with a will ; the guns were all loaded, and were 
 soon cast loose aud primed, during which operations, it fell calm, 
 and the sails of all three vessels flapped against their masts. 
 The Harpy was then about two miles from Jack's vessel, and the 
 Spaniard about a mile from him, with all her boats ahead of her 
 towing towards him; Mesty examined the Spanish vessel. 
 
 **Dat man-o'-war, Massa Easy — what de debbel we do lor 
 colour ? must hoist someting." 
 
 Mesty ran down below : he recollected that there was a very 
 gay petticoat, which had been left by the old lady who was in the 
 vessel when they captured her. It was of green silk with yellow 
 and blue flowers, but very faded, having probably been in the 
 Don^s family for a century. Mesty had found it under the mat- 
 trass of one of the beds, and had put it into his bag, intending 
 probably to cut it up into waistcoats. He soon appeared with 
 this under his arm, made it fast to the peak halyards and hoisted 
 it up. 
 
134 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 *' Dere, massa, dat do very well — dat what you call all nation 
 eolour. Every body strike him flag to dat— men nebber pull it 
 down," said Mesty, " any how. Now den, ab hoist colour, we 
 fire away— mind you only fire one gun at a time, and point um 
 well, den ab time to load again." 
 
 ** She's hoisted her colours, sir," said Sawbridge, on board of 
 the Harpy ; '* but they do not show out clear, and it's impossible 
 to distinguish ihem ; but there's a gun." 
 
 ** It's not at us, sir," said Gascoigne, the midshipman; *' it's 
 at the Spanish vessel — I saw thefeot fall ahead of her." 
 
 '* It must be a privateer," said Captain Wilson ; * * at all events, 
 it is very fortunate, for the corvette would otherwise have towed 
 into Carthagena. Another gun, round and grape, and well 
 pointed too ; she carries heavy mettle, that craft : she must be a 
 Maltese privateer." 
 
 *< That's as much as to say that she's a pirate," replied Saw- 
 bridge ; *' I can make nothing of her colours — they appear to me 
 to be green — she must be a Turk. Another gun — and devilish 
 well aimed, it has hit the boats." 
 
 *' Yes, they are all in confusion : we will have her now, if we 
 can only get a trifle of wind. That is a breeze coming up in the 
 offing. Trim the sails, Mr. Sawbridge." 
 
 The yards were squared, and the Harpy soon had steerage 
 way. In the meantime Jack and his few men had kept up a 
 steady well-directed, although slow, fire with their larboard guns 
 upon the Spanish corvette ; and two of her boats had been disa- 
 bled. The Harpy brought the breeze up with her, and was soon 
 within range; she steered to cutoff the corvette, firing only her 
 bow-chasers. 
 
 *' We ab her now," cried Mesty, " fire away, men— take good 
 aim. Breeze come now; one man go to helm. By de power 
 what dat?" 
 
 The exclamation of Mesty was occasioned by a shot hulling 
 the ship on the starboard side. Jack and he ran over, and per- 
 ceived that three Spanish gun-boats had just made their appear- 
 ance round the point, and had attacked them. The fact was, 
 that on the other side of the Cape was the port and town of Car- 
 thagena, and these gun-boats had been sent out to the assistance of 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 135 
 
 the corvette. The ship had now caught the hreeze, fortunately 
 for Jack, or he would probably have been taken into Carthagena; 
 and the corvette, finding herself cut off by both the Harpy and 
 Jack's vessel, as soon as the breeze came up to her, put her head 
 the other way, and tried to escape by running westward along 
 the coast close in-shore. Another shot, and then another, 
 pierced the hull of the ship, and wounded two of Jack's men ; 
 but as the corvette had turned, and the Harpy followed her, of 
 course Jack did the same, and in ten minutes he was clear of the 
 gun-boats, who did not venture to make sail and stand after him. 
 The wind now freshened fast, and blew out the green petticoat, 
 but the Harpy was exchanging broadsides with the corvette, and 
 too busy to look after Jack's ensign. The Spaniard defended 
 himself well, and had the assistance of the batteries as he passed, 
 but there was no anchorage until he had run many miles farther. 
 About noon, the wind died away, and at one o'clock it again fell 
 nearly calm ; but the Harpy had neared her distance, and was 
 now within three cables' length of her antagonist, engaging her and 
 a battery of four guns. Jack came up again, for he had the last 
 of the breeze, and was about half a mile from the corvette when 
 it fell calm. By the advice of Mesty, he did not fire any more, 
 as otherwise the Harpy would not obtain so much credit, and it 
 was evident that the fire of the Spaniard slackened fast. At 
 three o'clock the Spanish colours were hauled down, and the 
 Harpy, sending a boat on board and taking possession, directed 
 her whole fire upon the battery, which was soon silenced. 
 
 The calm continued, and the Harpy was busy enough with 
 the prize, shifting the prisoners and refitting both vessels, which 
 had very much suffered in the sails and rigging. There was an 
 occasional wonder on board the Harpy what that strange vessel 
 might be who had turned the corvette and enabled them to cap- 
 ture her, but when people are all very busy, there is not much 
 time for surmise. 
 
 Jack's crew, with himself, consisted but of eight, one of 
 which was a Spaniard, and two were wounded. It therefore 
 left him but four, and he had also something to do, which was 
 to assist his wounded men, and secure his guns. Moreover, 
 Mesty did not think it prudent to leave the vessel a mile from 
 
136 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 the Harpy with only two on board ; besides, as Jack said, he had 
 no dinner, and was not quite sure that he should find any thing 
 to eat when he went into the midshipman's berth, he would 
 therefore have some dinner cooked, and eat it before he went 
 onboard; in the mean time, they would try and close with her. 
 Jack took things always very easy, and he said he should report 
 himself at sun-set. There were other reasons which made Jack 
 in no very great hurry to go on board ; he wanted to have time 
 to consider a little, what he should say to excuse himself, and 
 also how he should plead for the men. His natural correctness 
 of feeling decided him, in the first place, to tell the whole truth, 
 and in the next, his kind feelings determined him to tell only 
 part of it. Jack need not have given himself this trouble, for 
 as far as regarded himself, he had fourteen thousand good ex- 
 cuses in the bags which lay in the state room ; and as for the 
 men, after an action with the enemy, if they behave well, even 
 mutiny is forgiven. At last. Jack, who was tired with excite- 
 ment and the hard work of the day, thought and thought until 
 he fell fast asleep, and instead of waking at sun-set, did not wake 
 till two hours afterwards, and Mesty did not call him, because 
 he was in no hurry himself to go on board and boil de kettle for 
 de young gentlemen. 
 
 When Jack woke up, he was astonished to find that he had 
 slept so long : he went on deck ; it was dark and still calm, but 
 he could easily perceive that the Harpy and corvette were still 
 hove to, repairing damages. He ordered the men to lower 
 down the small boat, and leaving Mesty in charge, with two 
 oars he pulled to the Harpy. What with wounded men, with 
 prisoners, and boats going and coming between the vessels, every 
 one on board the Harpy were Avell employed; and in the dark. 
 Jack's little boat came alongside without notice. This should 
 not have been the case, but it was, and there was some excuse 
 for it. Jack ascended the side and pushed his way through the 
 prisoners, who were being mustered to be victualled. He was 
 wrapped up in one of the gregos, and many of the prisoners wore 
 the same. 
 
 Jack was amused at not being recognised : he slipped down 
 the main ladder, and had to stoop ^under the hammocks of the 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 137 
 
 wounded men, and was about to go aft to the captain's cabin to 
 report himself, when he heard young Gossett crying out, and 
 the sound of the rope. **Hang me, if that brute Vigors a*n't 
 thrashing young Gossett," thought Jack. ** I dare say the poor 
 fellow has had plenty of it since I have been away ; I'll save him 
 this time at least." Jack, wrapped up in his grego, went to the 
 window of the berth, looked in, and found it was as he expected. 
 He cried out in an angry voice, ' * Mr. Vigors y I'll thank you to 
 leave Gossett alone, " At the sound of the voice Vigors turned 
 round with his colt in his hand, saw Jack's face at the window, 
 and, impressed with the idea that the re-appearance was super- 
 natural, uttered a yell and fell down in a fit — little Gossett also 
 trembling in every limb, stared with his mouth open. Jack 
 was satisfied, and immediately disappeared. He then went aft 
 to the cabin, pushed by the servant, who was giving some orders 
 from the captain to the officer on deck, and entering the cabin 
 where the captain was seated with two Spanish officers, took off 
 his hat and said, 
 
 *^Come on board. Captain Wilson." 
 
 Captain Wilson did not fall down in a fit but he jumped up 
 and upset the glass before him. 
 
 ** Merciful God, Mr. Easy, where did you come from?" 
 
 '* From that ship astern. Sir," replied Jack. 
 
 *' That ship astern I what is she? — where have you been so 
 long?" 
 
 ** It's a long story sir," replied Jack. 
 
 Captain Wilson extended his hand and shook Jack's heartily. 
 
 ** At all events, Tm delighted to see you, boy ; now sit down 
 and tell me your story in a few words ; we will have it in detail 
 by-and-bye." 
 
 '* If you please, sir," said Jack, '* we captured that ship with 
 the cutter the night after we went away — I'm not a first-rale 
 navigator, and I was blown to the Zaffarine Islands, where I re- 
 mained two months for want of hands : as soon as 1 procured 
 them 1 made sail again— I have lost three men by sharks, and I 
 have two wounded in to-day's fight— the ship mounts twelve 
 guns, is half laden with lead, and cotton prints, has fourteen 
 thousand dollars in the cabin, and thr.ee shot-holes right through 
 
138 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 lier — and the sooner you send some people onboard oi^her the 
 better." 
 
 This was not Very intelligible, but that there were fourteen 
 thousand dollars, and that she required hands sent on board, 
 was very satisfactorily explained. Captain Wilson rang the 
 bell, sent for Mr. Asper, who started back at the sight of our 
 hero— desired him to order Mr. Jolliffe to go on board with one 
 of the cutters, send the wounded men on board, and take charge 
 of the vessel, and then told Jack to accompany Mr. Jolliffe, 
 and to give him every information ; telling him that he would 
 hear his story to-morrow, when they were not so very busy. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 lu which our hero finds out that trigonometry is not only necessary to navigation , 
 but may be required in settUng affairs of honour. 
 
 As Captain Wilson truly said, he was too busy, even to hear 
 Jack's story that night, for they were anxious to have both 
 vessels ready to make sail as soon as a breeze should spring up, 
 for the Spaniards had vessels of war at Carthagena, which was 
 not ten miles off, and had known the result of the action : it was 
 therefore necessary to change their position as soon as possible. 
 M. Sawbridge was on board the prize, which was a corvette 
 mounting two guns more than the Harpy, and called the Caca- 
 fuogo. -fi'ji.mjt 
 
 She had escaped from Cadiz, run through the straits in the 
 night and was three miles from Carthagena when she was cap- 
 tured, which she certainly never would have been, but for Jack's 
 fortunately blundering against the Cape with his armed vessel, 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 189 
 
 so that Captain Wilson and Mr. Sawbridge, (both of whom were 
 promoted, the first to the rank of post-captain, the second to 
 that of commander,) may be said to be indebted to Jack for their 
 good fortune. The Harpy had lost nineteen men, killed and 
 wounded, and the Spanish corvette forty-seven. Altogether, it 
 was a very creditable affair. 
 
 At two o'clock in the morning, the vessels were ready, every 
 thing had been done that could be done, in so short a time, and 
 they stood under easy sail during the night, for Gibraltar, the 
 Nostra Signoradel Carmen, under the charge of Jolliffe, keeping 
 company. Jolliffe had the advantage over his shipmates, of 
 first hearing Jack's adventures, with which he was much asto- 
 nished as well as amused — even Captain Wilson was not more 
 happy to see Jack than was the worthy master's mate. About 
 nine o'clock the Harpy hove to, and sent a boat on board for 
 our hero, and the men who had been so long with him in the 
 prize, and then hoisted out the pinnace to fetch on board the 
 dollars, which were of more importance. Jack, as he bade 
 adieu to Jolliffe, took out of his pocket, and presented him with 
 the articles of war ^ which, as they had been so useful to him, 
 he thought Jolliffe could not do without, and then went down the 
 side : the men were already in the boat, casting imploring looks 
 upon Jack, to raise feelings of compassion, and Mesty took his 
 seat by our hero in a very sulky humour, probably because he 
 did not like the idea of having again ''to boil de kettle for de 
 young gentlemen." Even Jack felt a little melancholy at re- 
 signing his command, and he looked back at the green petticoat, 
 which blew out gracefully from the mast, for Jolliffe had deter- 
 mined that he would not haul down the colours under which 
 Jack had fought so gallant an action. 
 
 Jack's narration, as may be imagined, occupied a large part 
 of the forenoon ; and, although Jack did not attempt to deny 
 that he had seen the recall signal of Mr. Sawbridge, yet, as his 
 account went on, the captain became so interested, that at the 
 end of it, he quite forgot to point out to Jack the impropriety of 
 not obeying orders. He gave Jack great credit for his conduct, 
 and was also much pleased with that of Mesty. Jack took the 
 opportunity of stating Mesty's aversion to his present employ- 
 
140 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 ment, and his recommendation was graciously received. Jack 
 also succeeded in obtaining the pardon of the men, in considera- 
 tion of their subsequent good behaviour, but notwithstanding 
 this promise on the part of Captain Wilson, they were ordered 
 to be put in irons for the present. However, Jack told Mesty, 
 and Mesty told the men, that they would be released with a re- 
 primand when they arrived at Gibraltar, so all that the men 
 cared for was a fair wind. 
 
 Captain Wilson informed Jack that after his joining the 
 admiral he had been sent to Malta with the prizes, and that 
 supposing the cutter to have been sunk, he had written to his 
 father, acquainting him with his son's death, at which our hero 
 was much grieved, for he knew what sorrow it would occasion, 
 particularly to his poor mother. ** But," thought Jack, '* if 
 she is unhappy for three months, she will be overjoyed for 
 three more when she hears that I am alive, so it will be all 
 square at the end of the six ; and as soon as I arrive at Gibraltar 
 I will write, and as the wind is fair, that will be to-morrow or 
 next day." 
 
 After a long conversation Jack was graciously dismissed, Cap- 
 tain Wilson being satisfied from what he had heard, that Jack 
 would turn out a very good officer, and had already forgotten all 
 about equality and the rights of man ; but there Captain Wilson 
 was mistaken — tares sown in infancy are not so soon rooted out. 
 
 Jack went on deck as soon as the captain had dismissed him, 
 and found the captain and officers of the Spanish corvette stand- 
 ing aft looking very seriously at the Nostra Signora del Carmen. 
 When they saw our hero, whom Captain Wilson had told them 
 was the young officer who had barred their entrance into Car- 
 thagena, they turned their eyes upon him, not quite so gra- 
 ciouly as they might have done. 
 
 Jack, with his usual politeness, took off his hat to the Spanish 
 captain, and glad to have an opportunity of sporting his Spanish, 
 expressed the usual wish, that he might Uvea thousand years. 
 The Spanish captain, who had reason to wish that Jack had 
 gone to the devil at least twenty-four hours before, was equally 
 complimentary, and then begged to be informed what the colours 
 were that Jack had hoisted during the action . Jack replied that 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 141 
 
 they were colours to which every Spanish gentleman considered 
 it no disgrace to surrender, although always ready to engage, 
 and frequently attempting to board. Upon which the Spanish 
 captain was very much puzzled. Captain Wilson, who under- 
 stood a little Spanish, then interrupted by observing, 
 
 " By-the-bye, Mr. Easy, what colours did you hoist up ? we 
 could not make them out. I see M. JoUiffe still keeps them up 
 at the peak." 
 
 ** Yes, sir," replied Jack, rather puzzled what to call them, 
 but at last he replied, ** That it was the banner of equality and 
 the rights of man." 
 
 Captain Wilson frowned, and Jack perceiving that he was dis- 
 pleased, then told him the whole story, whereupon Captain 
 Wilson laughed, and Jack then also explained, in Spanish, to 
 the officers of the corvette, who replied, ** That it was not the 
 first time, and would not be the last, that men had got into a 
 scrape through a petticoat." 
 
 The Spanish captain complimented Jack on his Spanish, 
 which was really very good, (for in two months, with nothing 
 else in the world to do, he had made great progress,) and asked 
 him where he had learnt it, > 
 
 Jack replied, ** at the Zaffarine Islands." 
 
 '^ Zaffarine Isles," repUed the Spanish captain, << they are not 
 inhabited." 
 
 " Plenty of ground sharks," replied Jack. 
 
 The Spanish captain thought our hero a very strange fellow, 
 to fight under a green silk petticoat, and to take lessons in Spa- 
 nish from the ground sharks. However, being quite as polite 
 as Jack, he did not contradict him, but took a huge pinch of 
 snuff, wishing from the bottom of his heart, that the ground 
 sharks had taken Jack before he had hoisted that confounded 
 green petticoat. 
 
 However, Jack was in high favour with the captain, and all 
 the ship's company, with the exception of his four enemies — the 
 master. Vigors^ the boatswain, and the purser's steward. As for 
 Mr. Vigors, he had come to his senses again, and had put his 
 colt in his chest until Jack should take another cruise. Little 
 Gossett, at any insulting remark made by Vigors, pointed to the 
 
142 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 window of the berth and grinned ; and the very recollection made 
 Vigors turn pale, and awed him into silence. 
 
 In two days they arrived at Gibraltar— Mr. Sawbridge re- 
 joined the ship— so did Mr. Joliiffe — they remained there a fort- 
 night, during which Jack was permitted to be continually on 
 shore — Mr. Asper accompanied him^ and Jack drew a heavy bill 
 to prove to his father that he was still alive. Mr. Sawbridge 
 made our hero relate to him all his adventures, and was so 
 pleased with the conduct of Mesty, that he appointed him to a si- 
 tuation which was particularly suited to him, — that of ship's cor- 
 poral. Mr. Sawbridge knew that it was an office of trust, and 
 provided that he could find a man fit for it, he was very indiffe- 
 rent about his colour. Mesty walked and strutted about at least 
 three inches taller than he was before. He was always clean, 
 did his duty conscientiously, and seldom used his cane. 
 
 ''I think, Mr. Easy," said the first lieutenant, '* that as you 
 are so particularly fond of taking a cruise," for Jack had told the 
 whole truth, " it might be as well that you improve your navi- 
 gation." 
 
 *^I do think myself, sir," replied Jack with great modesty, 
 '* that I am not yet quite perfect." 
 , ** Well, then, Mr. JoUiffe will teach you; he is the most com- 
 petent in this ship : the sooner you ask him the better, and if 
 you learn it as fast as you have Spanish, it will not give you 
 much trouble." 
 
 Jack thought the advice good : the next day he was very busy 
 with his friend Joliiffe, and made the important discovery that 
 two parallel lines continued to infinity would never meet. 
 
 It must not be supposed that Captain Wilson and Mr. Saw- 
 bridge received their promotion instanter . Promotion is always 
 attended with delay, as there is a certain routine in the service 
 which must not be departed from. Captain Wilson had orders 
 to return to Malta after his cruise. He therefore carried his own 
 dispatches away from England — from Malta the dispatches had to 
 be forwarded to Toulon to the admiral, and then the admiral had 
 to send to England to the admiralty, whose reply had to come 
 out again. All this, with the delays arising from vessels not 
 sailing immediately, occupied an interval of between five and six 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 143 
 
 months — during which time there was no alteration in the offi- 
 cers and crew of his Majesty's sloop Harpy. 
 
 There had, however, been one alteration ; the gunner, Mr. Mi- 
 nus, who had charge of the first cutter in the night action in 
 which our hero was separated from his ship, carelessly loading 
 his musket, had found himself minus his right hand, which, upon 
 the musket going off as he rammed down, had gone off too. He 
 was invalided and sent home during Jack's absence, and another 
 had been appointed, whose name was Tallboys. Mr. Tallboys 
 was a stout dumpty man, with red face, and still redder hands; 
 he had red hair and red whiskers, and he had read a great deal — 
 for Mr. Tallboys considered that the gunner was the most im- 
 portant personage in the ship. He had once been a captain's 
 clerk, and having distinguished himself very much in cutting-out 
 service, had applied for and received his warrant as a gunner. 
 He had studied the '* Art of gunnery," a part of which he under- 
 stood, but the remainder was above his comprehension : he 
 continued, however, to read it as before, thinking that by con- 
 stant reading he should understand it at last. He had gone 
 through the work from the litlepage to the finis, at least forty 
 times, and had just commenced it over again. He never came 
 on deck without the gunner's vade mecum in his pocket, with 
 his hand always upon it to refer to it in a moment. 
 
 But Mr. Tallboys had, as we observed before, a great idea of 
 the importance of a gunner, and, among other qualifications, he 
 considered it absolutely necessary that he should be a navigator. 
 He had at least ten instances to bring forward of bloody actions, 
 in which the captain and all the commissioned officers had been 
 killed or wounded, and the command of the ship had devolved 
 upon the gunner. 
 
 ** Now, sir," would he say, '* if the gunner is no navigator, he 
 is not fit to take charge of his Majesty's ships. The boatswain 
 and carpenter are merely practical men ; but the gunner, sir, is, 
 or ought to be, scientific. Gunnery, sir, is a science — we have 
 our own disparts and our lines of sight — our windage and our 
 parabolas and projectile forces — and our point blank, and our 
 reduction of powder upon a graduated scale. Now, sir, there's 
 no excuse for a gunner not being a navigator ; for knowing his 
 
144 MR. MIDSHIPMAN J^ASt. 
 
 duly as a gunner, he has the same mathematical tools to work 
 with.'* Upon this principle, Mr. Tallboys had added John Ha- 
 milton Moore to his library, and had advanced about as far into 
 navigation as he had in gunnery, that is, to the threshold, where 
 he stuck fast, with all his mathematical tools, which he did not 
 know how to use. To do him justice, he studied for two or 
 three hours every day, and it was not his fault if he did not ad- 
 vance — but his head was confused with technical terms; he 
 mixed all up together, and disparts, sines and cosines, parabolas, 
 tangents, windage^ seconds, lines of sight, logarithms, projectiles 
 and traverse sailing, quadrature and Gunter's scales, were all 
 crowded together, in a brain which had not capacity to receive 
 the rule of three. **Too much learning, '^ said Festus to the 
 apostle, **hath made thee mad." Mr. Tallboys had not wit 
 enough to go mad, but his learning lay like lead upon his brain ; 
 the more he read, the less he understood, at the same time that 
 he became more satisfied with his supposed acquirements, and 
 could not speak but in ** mathematical parables." 
 
 ** I understand, Mr. Easy," said the gunner to him one day, 
 after they had sailed for Malta, ** that you have entered into the 
 science of navigation — at your age it was high time.^' 
 
 ** Yes," replied Jack, " I can raise a perpendicular, at all 
 events, and box the compass." 
 
 * * Yes, but you have not yet arrived to the dispart of the 
 compass." 
 
 ** Not come to that yet," replied Jack. 
 
 ** Are you aware that a ship sailing describes a parabola round 
 the globe?" 
 
 ** Not come to that yet," replied Jack. 
 
 " And that any propelled body striking against another flies 
 offat a tangent?" 
 
 ' « Very likely, "replied Jack;** that's a ^jw^ that he don't like it." 
 '■' ** You have not yet entered into acute trigonometry?" 
 
 '* Not come to that yet," replied Jack. 
 
 ** That will require very sharp attention." 
 
 ** I should think so," replied Jack. 
 
 ** You will then find out how your parallels of longitude and 
 latitude meet." 
 
MR, MIDSHIiPMAN EASY. 145 
 
 " Two parallel lines, if continued to infinity, will never meet," 
 replied Jack. 
 
 " I beg your pardon," said the gunner. .] 
 
 ** I beg yours," said Jack. 
 
 Whereupon Mr. Tallboys brought up a small map of the world, 
 and showed Jack that all the parallels of latitude met at a point 
 at the top and the bottom. 
 
 ** Parallel lines never meet," replied Jack, producing Ha- 
 milton Moore. 
 
 Whereupon Jack and the gunner argued the point, until it was 
 agreed to refer the case to Mr. Jolliffe, who asserted with a 
 smile. *' That those lines were parallels and not parallels." 
 
 As both were right, both were satisfied. 
 
 It was fortunate that Jack would argue in this instance : had 
 he believed all the confused assertions of the gunner, he would 
 have been as puzzled as the gunner himself. They never met 
 without an argument and a reference^ and as Jack was put right 
 in the end, he only learnt the faster. By the time that he did 
 know something about navigation, he discovered that his anta- 
 gonist knew nothing. Before they arrived at Malta, Jack could 
 fudge a day's work. 
 
 But at Malta Jack got into another scrape. Although 
 Mr. Smallsole could not injure him, he was still Jack's enemy ; 
 the more so as Jack had become very popular : Vigors also sub- 
 mitted, planning revenge ; but the parties in this instance were 
 the boatswain and purser's steward. Jack still continued his 
 forecastle conversations with Mesty; and the boatswain and 
 purser's steward, probably from their respective ill will towards 
 our hero, had become great allies. Mr. Easthupp now put on 
 his best jacket to walk the dog-watches with Mr. Biggs, and they 
 took every opportunity to talk at our hero. 
 
 ** It's my peculiar hopinion," said Mr. Easthupp, one even- 
 ing, pulling at the frill of his shirt, <* that a gentleman should 
 behave as a gentleman, and that if a gentleman professes hopi- 
 nions of hequallity and such liberal sentiments, that he is bound 
 as a gentleman to hact up to them." 
 
 << Very true, Mr. Easthupp, he is bound to act up to them; 
 and not because a person, who was a gentlemau as well as him- 
 
 lO 
 
nmii 
 
 146 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EA^y. 
 
 self, happens not to be on the quarter-deck, to insult hipi be- 
 cause he only has perfessed opinions like his own/' 
 
 Hereupon Mr. Biggs struck his rattan against the funnel,. and 
 looked at our hero. 
 
 " Yes,'' continued the purser's steward, " I should like tp see 
 the fellow who would have done so on shore : however, the 
 time will come, when I can hagain pull hon my plain coat, and 
 then the hinsult shall be vashed hout in blood, Mr. Biggs." 
 
 *< And I'll be cursed if I don't some day teach a lesson to the 
 blackguard who stole my trousers. '' 
 
 **Vas hall your money right, Mr. Biggs?" inquired the pur- 
 ser's steward. 
 
 *< Ididn' count," replied the boatswain, magnificently. 
 ** No — gentlemen are habove that," replied Easthupp ; *' but 
 there are many light-fingered gentry habout. The quantity of 
 •vatches and harticles of value vich vere lost ven I valked Bond 
 Street in former times is incredible." 
 
 '* lean say this, at all events," replied the boatswain, *' that 
 I should be always ready to give satisfaction to any person 
 beneath me in rank, after I had insulted him. I don't stand upon 
 my rank, although I don't talk about equahty, damme— nq^nQr 
 consort with niggers.^' LZ^^i' 
 
 All this was too plain for our hero not to understand, so Jack 
 walked up to the boatswain, and taking his hat off, with the iit- 
 most politeness, said to him, . , . ,,. 
 
 • *' If I mistake not, Mr. Biggs, your conversation' refets to me.'* 
 aiii tc Yery likely it does," replied the boatswain. '^Listeners 
 hear no good of themselves ." ' . ^ 
 
 *^Ithappears that gentlemeii can't converse without being 
 vatched," continued Mr. Easthupp, pulling up his shirt-collar. 
 
 '* It is not the first time that you have thought proper to make 
 very offensive remarks, Mr. Biggs; and as you appear to con- 
 sider yourself ill-treated in the affair of the trousers, for I tell 
 you at once, that it was I who brought them on board,. I can only 
 say," continued our hero, with a very polite bow, *Hhat I shall 
 be most happy to give you satisfaction." 
 
 *' I am your superior officer, Mr. Easy," replied the boat- 
 swain. ^^ , 
 
MH. MIPSHIPMAN EASY. U7 
 
 ''Yes, by the rules of tl^e service; but you just now asserted 
 that you would waive your rank— indeed, I dispute it on thi^ 
 occasion, I am on the quarter-deck, and you are not." 
 
 *' This is the gentleman whom you have insulted, Mr. Easy," 
 replied the boatswain, pointing to the purser's steward. 
 
 *' Yes, Mr. Heasy, quite as good a gentleman as yourself^ al- 
 though I av ad misfortunes— 1 ham of as hold a family as hany 
 in the country," replied Mr. Easthupp, now backed by thq 
 boatswain, **" many the year did I valk Bond Street, and I ave as 
 good blood in my weins as you, Mr. Heasy, halthough I havq 
 been misfortunate — I've had hadmirals in my family." 
 
 *' You have grossly insulted this gentleman," said M. Biggs, 
 in continuation ; and notwithstanding all your talk of equality, 
 you are afraid to give him satisfaction — you shelter yourself 
 under your quarter-deck." 
 
 ** Mr. Biggs," replied our hero/ who was now very wrath, 
 '* I shall go on shore directly we arrive at Malta. Let you, an(l 
 this fellow, put on plain clothes, and I will meet you both — 
 and then Vl\ show you whether I am afraid to give satisfaction." 
 
 ** One at a time^" said the boatswain. 
 
 '* No, sir, not one at a time, but both at the same time — I 
 wiU fight both or none. If you are my superior officer, you 
 must descendf'^ replied Jack, with an ironical sneer, ** to ineet 
 me, or I will not descend to meet that fellow, whom I believe 
 to have been little better than a pick-pocket." 
 
 This accidental hit of Jack's made the purser's steward turn 
 as a sheet, and then equally red. He raved and foamed ama- 
 zingly, although he could not meet Jack's indignant look, who 
 then turned round again. 
 
 *' Now, M. Biggs, is this to be understoo^,^ % ^q you sh^^lter 
 yourself under yoMV Jorecastle ?^' 
 
 ^'Vm no dodger," replied the boatswain, ** and we will settle 
 the affair at Malta." 
 
 At which reply Jack returned to ]\lesty. 
 
 *' Massa Easy, I look at um face, dat fello, Eastop, he no like 
 it. I go shore wid you, see fair play any how— suppose I can ?" 
 
 Mr. Biggs having declared that he would fight, of course had 
 to look out for a second, and he fixed upon Mr. Tallboys, the 
 
 ^ 10. 
 
148 MR. MIDSHIMAN EASY. 
 
 gunner, and requested him to be his friend. Mr. Tallboys, who 
 had been latterly very much annoyed by Jack's victories over 
 him in the science of navigation, and therefore felt ill-will 
 towards him, consented ; but he was very much puzzled how to 
 arrange that three were to fight at the same time, for he had no 
 idea of there being two duels ; so he went to his cabin and com- 
 menced reading. Jack, on the other hand, dared not say a word 
 to Jolliffe on the subject : indeed, there was no one in the ship 
 to whom he could confide but Gascoigne ; he therefore went to 
 him, and although Gascoigne thought it was excessively in/ra, 
 dig. of Jack to meet even the boatswain, as the challenge had 
 been given there was no retracting : he therefore consented, 
 like all midshipmen, anticipating fun, and quite thoughtless of 
 the consequences. 
 
 The second day after they had been anchored in Vallette 
 harbour, the boatswain and gunner. Jack and Gascoigne, ob- 
 tained permission to go on shore. Mr. Easthupp, the purser's 
 steward, dressed in his best blue coat with brass buttons and 
 velvet collar, the very one in which he had been taken up when 
 he had been vowing and protesting that he was a gentleman, at 
 the very time that his hand was abstracting a pocket-book, went 
 up on the quarter-deck, and requested the same indulgence, but 
 M. Sawbridge refused, as he required him to return staves and 
 hoops at the cooperage. Mesty also, much to his mortification, 
 was not to be spared. 
 
 * This was awkward, but it was got over by proposing that the 
 meeting should take place behind the cooperage at a certain 
 hour, on which Mr. Easthupp might slip out and borrow a por- 
 tion of the time appropriated to his duty, to heal the breach in 
 his wounded honour. So the parties all went on shore, and 
 put up at one of the small inns to make the necessary arrange- 
 ments. 
 
 Mr. Tallboys then addressed Mr. Gascoigne, taking him apart 
 while the boatswain amused himself whit a glass of grog, and our 
 hero sat outside, teazing a monkey. 
 
 " Mr. Gascoigne," said the gunner, '* Ihave been very much 
 puzzled how this duel should be fought, but I have at last 
 found it out. You see that there are (kree parties to fight; had 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 149 
 
 there been two or four there would have been no difficulty, as 
 the right line or square might guide usin that instance ; but we 
 must arrange it upon the triangle in this." 
 
 Gascoigne stared ; he could not imagine what was coming. 
 ** Are you aware, Mr. Gascoigne, of the properties of an 
 equilateral triangle ?*' 
 
 '* Yes," replied the midshipman, *' it has three equal sides — 
 but what the devil has that to do with the duel?" 
 
 "Everything, Mr. Gascoigne," replied the gunner; ^'ithas 
 resolved the great difficulty : indeed^ the duel between three 
 can only be fought upon that principle. You observe," said 
 the gunner, taking a piece of chalk out of his pocket, and ma- 
 king a triangle on the table, ' ' in this figure we have three 
 points, each equidistant from each other ; and we have three 
 combatants— so that placing one at each point, it is all fair play 
 for the three: Mr. Easy, for instance, stands here, the boat- 
 swain here, and the purser's steward at the third corner. Now, 
 if the distance is fairly measured, it will be all right." 
 
 " But then," replied Gascoigne, delighted at the idea, '* how 
 are they to fire ?" 
 
 *' It certainly is not of much consequence," replied the 
 gunner, *' but still, as sailors, it appears to me that they should 
 fire with the sun ; that is, Mr. Easy fires at Mr. Biggs, Mr. Biggs 
 fires at Mr. Easthupp, and Mr. Easthupp fires at Mr. Easy, so 
 that you perceive that each party has his shot at one, and at 
 the same time receives the fire of another." 
 
 Gascoigne was in ecstacies at the novelty of the proceeding, 
 the more so as he perceived that Easy obtained every advantage 
 by the arrangement. 
 
 '* Upon my word, Mr. Tallboys, I give you great credit ; you 
 have a profound mathematical head, and I am delighted with 
 your arrangement. Of course^ in these affairs, the principals 
 are bound to comply with the arrangements of the seconds, and 
 I shall insist upon Mr. Easy consenting to your excellent and 
 scientific proposal." 
 
 Gascoigne went out, and pulling Jack away from the monkey, 
 told him what the gunner had proposed, at which Jack laughed 
 heartily. 
 
lioir 
 
 150 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 The gunner also explained it to the boatswain, who did not 
 very well comprehend, but replied, 
 
 *'I dare say it's all right— shot, for shot, and d— n all fa- 
 vours.*' 
 
 The parties then repaired to the spot with two pairs of ship's 
 pistols, which Mr. Tallboys had smuggled on shore ; and^ as soon 
 as they were on the ground, the gunner called Mr. Easthupp 
 out of the cooperage. In the mean time, Gascoigne had been 
 measuring an equilateral triangle of twelve paces — and marked 
 it out. Mr. Tallboys, on his return with the purser's steward, 
 went over the ground, and finding that it was * ' equal angles sub- 
 tended by equal sides," declared that it was all right. Easy took 
 his station, the boatswain was put into his, and Mr, Easthupp, 
 who was quite in a mystery, was led by the gunner to the thir^ 
 position. „^ji 
 
 *'But, Mr. Tallboys," said the purser's steward, *'I don't 
 understand this— Mr. Easy will first fight Mr. Biggs, will he 
 
 No," replied the gunner, *'this is a duel of three. You 
 will fire at Mr. Easy, Mr. Easy will fire at Mr. Biggs, and 
 Mr. Biggs will fire at you. It is all arranged, Mr. Easthupp." 
 
 ** But," said Mr. Easthupp, '* I do not understand it. Why 
 is Mr. Biggs to fire at me? I have no quarrel with Mr. 
 Biggs." 
 
 ** Because Mr. Easy fires at M. Biggs, and Mr. Biggs must 
 have his shot as well." 
 
 '* If you have ever been in the company of gentlemen, 
 Mr. Easthupp," observed Gascoigne, ''you must know some- 
 thing about duelling." 
 
 '* Yes, yes, I've kept the best company, Mr. Gascoigne, and I 
 can give a gentleman satisfaction ; but" — 
 
 *' Then, sir, if that is the case, you must know that your ho- 
 nour is in the hands of your second, and that no gentleman 
 appeals." 
 
 *'Yes, yes, I know that, Mr. Gascoigne, but still I've no 
 quarrel with Mr. Biggs, and therefore, M. Biggs, of course you 
 will not aim at me." 
 
 '* Why, you don't think that I'm going to be fired at for no- 
 
MH. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 151 
 
 thiiig," replied the boalswsiin; ''no, no, I'll have my sliot any- 
 how." ^ 
 
 '' But at your friend, Mr. Biggs?" 
 
 ''All the same, I shall fire at sometody; shot for shot, and 
 hit the luckiest." 
 
 " Vel, gentlemen, I piirtest against tliese proceediiags,'* re- 
 plied Mr. Easthupp ; ' ^ I came here to have satisfaction from 
 Mr. Easy, and not to he fired at by Mr. JBiggs.'* 
 
 "Don't you have satisfaction when you fire at Mr. Easy," 
 replied the gunner; " what more would you have?" 
 
 *'I purtest against Mr. Biggs firing at me." 
 
 *'So you would have a shot without receiving one," cried 
 Gascoigne : ** the fact is, that this fellow's a confounded coward j 
 and ought to he kicked into the cooperage again." 
 
 At this affront Mr. Easthupp rallied, and accepted the pistol 
 offered by the gunner. 
 
 '* You ear those words, Mr. Biggs ; pretty language to use to 
 a gentleman. You shall ear from me, sir, as soon as the ship is 
 paid off. I purtest no longer, Mr. Tallboys, death before dis- 
 honour — I'm a gentleman, damme!" 
 
 At all events, the swell was not a very courageous gentleman^ 
 for he trembled most exceedingly as he pointed his pistol. 
 
 The gunner gave the word, as if he were exercising the great 
 guns on board ship. 
 
 '' Cock your locks!"— ''Take good aim at the object!" — 
 " Fire !"— " Stop your vents I" 
 
 The only one of the combatants who appeared to comply with 
 the latter supplementary order was Mr. Easthupp, who clapped 
 his hand to his trousers behind, gave a loud yell, and then drop- 
 ped down : the bullet having passed clean through his seat of 
 honour, from his having presented his broadside as a target to 
 the boatswain as he faced towards our hero. Jack's shot had 
 also taken effect, having passed through both the boatswain's 
 cheeks, without further mischief than extracting two of his best 
 upper double teeth, and forcing through the hole of the farther 
 cheek the boatswain's own quid of tobacco. As for Mr. East- 
 hupp's ball, as he was very unsettled, and shut his eyes before 
 he fired, it had gone, the Lord knows where. 
 
152 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 The purser's steward lay on the ground and screamed — the 
 boatswain spit his double teeth anrf two or three mouthfuls of 
 blood out, and then threw down his pistols in a rage. 
 
 " A pretty business, by God," sputtered he ; '* he's put my 
 pipe out. How the devil am I to pipe to dinner when Fm or- 
 dered, all my wind 'scaping through the cheeks ?" 
 
 In the mean time, the others had gone to the assistance of the 
 purser's steward, who continued his vociferations. They exa- 
 mined him, and considered a wound in that part not to be dan- 
 gerous. 
 
 '*Hold your confounded bawling," cried the gunner, ''or 
 you'll have the guard down here i you're not hurt." 
 
 *' Han't hi?" roared the steward: *'0h, let me die, let me 
 die; don't move me !" 
 
 ** Nonsense," cried the gunner, " you must get up and walk 
 down to the boat; if you don't we'll leave you— hold your ton- 
 gue, confound you. You wont? then I'll give you something to 
 halloo for." 
 
 Whereupon Mr. Tallboys commenced cuffing the poor wretch 
 right and left, who received so many swinging boxes of the ear, 
 that he was soon reduced to merely pitiful plaints of ''Oh, 
 dear I— such inhumanity — I purtest— oh dear! must I get up? 
 I can't, indeed." 
 
 '* I do not think he can move, Mr. Tallboys," said Gascoigne; 
 "I should think the best plan would be to call up two of the 
 men from the cooperage, and let them take him at once to the 
 hospital." 
 
 The gunner went down to the cooperage to call the men. 
 Mr. Biggs, who had bound up his face as if he had a toothache, 
 for the bleeding had been very slight, came up to the purser's 
 steward. 
 
 * ' What the hell are you making such a howling about ? Look 
 at me, with two shot-holes through my figure head, while you 
 have only got one in your stern : I wish I could change with you, 
 by heavens, for I could use my whistle then— now if I aitemjit 
 to pipe, there will be such a wasteful expenditure of his majesty's 
 stores of wind, that I never shall get out a note. A wicked shot 
 of yours, Mr. Easy." 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 153 
 
 ''I really am very sorry," replied Jack, with a polite bow, 
 " and I beg to offer my best apology.'* 
 
 During this conversation, the purser's steward felt very faint, 
 and thought he was going to die. 
 
 *' Oh dear] oh dear I what a fool I was; I never was a gentle- 
 man — only a swell : I shall die ; I never will pick a pocket again — 
 never — never— God forgive me!" 
 
 *' Why, confound the fellow," cried Gascoigne, <* so you were 
 a pick-pocket, were you ?" 
 
 *'I never will again," replied the fellow in a faint voice; 
 * ' Hi'll hamend and lead a good life — a drop of water — oh ? lag' 
 ged at last !" 
 
 Then the poor wretch fainted away : and Mr. Tallboys coming 
 up with the men, he was taken on their shoulders and walked 
 off to the hospital, attended by the gunner and also the boat- 
 swain, who thought he might as well have a Httle medical advice 
 before he went on board. 
 
 *^ Well, Easy," said Gascoigne collecting the pistols and tying 
 them up in his handkerchief, *' Til be shot, but we're in a pretty 
 scrape; there's no hushing this up. I'll be hanged if I care, it's 
 the best piece of fun I ever met with." And at the remem- 
 brance of it Gascoigne laughed till the tears ran down his cheeks. 
 Jack's mirth was not quite so excessive, as he was afraid that 
 the purser's steward was severely hurt, and expressed his fears. 
 
 "At all events, you did not hit him," replied Gascoigne; 
 " all you have to answer for is the boatswain's mug, — I think 
 you've stopped his jaw for the future." 
 
 ''I'm afraid that our leave will be stopped for the future," 
 replied Jack. 
 
 ** That we may take our oaths of," replied Gascoigne. 
 
 ** Then look you, Ned," said Easy, ** I've lots of dollars; we 
 may as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb, as the saying is ; I 
 vote that we do not go on board." 
 
 *^ Sawbridge will send and fetch us," replied Ned; ** but he 
 must find us first." 
 
 '* That won't take long, for the soldiers will soon have our 
 description and rout us out— we shall be pinned in a couple of 
 days." 
 
154 MR. MIDSHIPMAM EASY. 
 
 *^' Cdiifciind it, atid they say that the ship is to Se hove down, 
 and that we shall be here six weeks at least, cooped up on hoard 
 in a broiling sun, and nothing to do but to watch the pilot fish 
 playing round the rudder, and munch bad apricots. I won't 
 go on board; look ye. Jack,'* S2lid Gascoigne, '< have you plenty 
 of money!'* 
 
 *' I have twenty doubloons besides dollars," replied Jack. 
 
 '* Welt theii, we will pretend to be so much alarmfed at the 
 result of this duel, that we dare not show odrselves, lest we 
 should be hung, t will write a note and send it to JoUiffe, to 
 say that we have hid ourselves iintil the affair is blown over, 
 and beg him to intercede with the captain and first lieutenant. I 
 will tell him all the particulars and refer to the gunnier for the 
 truth of it; and then I know that althoiigh we should be punish- 
 ed, tiiey will only laugh ; but I will pretelid that Easthupp is 
 killed, and we are frightened out of our lives. That will be it; 
 and then let's get on board one of the speronares which come 
 with fruit from Sicily, sail in the night for Palermo, and then 
 we'll have a cruise for a fortnight, and when the money is all 
 gone we'll come back." "* *' 
 
 *' That's a capital ided, Ned, arid the sooner we do it the 
 better. I will write to the captain, begging him to get me off 
 from being hiihg, and telling him where we have fled to, and 
 that letter shall be given after we have sailed." 
 
 They were two very nice lads — our hero and Gascoigne. 
 
 m ewifj 
 
nm ^< ' 
 
 iJiiVi. 
 
 :;,..,:, ,.,.. ^^.K -'.-CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 ih \vhich our lieirid seb 6ff bu abbtfeier diiise, in wliicb he is hot blown off shore. 
 
 GifeB6tei^i^aB1lf h^^&wet^e n^ilMfe^ofthe in uniform, and 
 they hastened i6 Nix MaJrtgare stairs, where they soon picked up 
 the padrone of a speronare. They went with him into a wine 
 isliop, and with the assistance of a little English from a Maltese 
 boy, whose shirt hiirtg out of his trousers, they made a bargain , 
 by which it was agreed that for the consideration of two dou- 
 bloons, he would sail that evening and land them at Gergenli or 
 some other toWh in Sicily, providing them with something to 
 feat and gregos to sleep upon. 
 
 Oar two hiidshipmen then went back to the tavern from 
 ivhich they had set off to fight the duel, and ordering £t good 
 dinner to be served in a back room, they amused themselves 
 with killing flies, as they talked over the evients of the day, and 
 waited ]Por their dinner. 
 
 As Mr. Tallboys did not himself think proper to go on board 
 till the evening, and Mr. Biggs also wished it to be dark before 
 He wetit up the ship*s side, the events of the duel did not tran- 
 spire till the next morning. JEven then it was not known from 
 the boatswain or gunner, biit by an hospital mate coming on 
 bbard to inform the surgeon that there was one of their men 
 wouiidied under tlieir chai'ge, but that he was doing very well. 
 
 Mr. Biggs had ascended the side with his face bound up. 
 
 '*' Confound that Jack £asy,'* said he," t have only been on 
 leave twice since I sailed from Portsmouth — once I am obhged to 
 come lip the side wittiout my trousers, and show my bare stern 
 to the whole ship's company, and now I am coming up, and dare 
 
156 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 not show my figure-head." He reported himself to the officer 
 of the watch, and hasting to his cahin, went to hed, and lay the 
 whole night awake from pain, thinking what excuse he could 
 possibly make for not coming on deck next morning to his duty. 
 
 He was, however, saved this trouble, for Mr. JoUiffe brought 
 the letter of Gascoigne up to Mr. Sawbridge, and the captain 
 had received that of our hero. 
 
 Captain Wilson came on board and found that Mr. Sawbridge 
 could communicate all the particulars of which he had not been 
 acquainted by Jack ; and after they had read over Gascoigne's 
 letter in the cabin and interrogated Mr. Tallboys, who was sent 
 down under an arrest, they gave free vent to their mirth. 
 
 *' Upon my soul, there's no end to Mr. Easy's adventures," 
 said the captain. ** I could laugh at the duel, for after all, it is 
 nothing — and he would have been let off with a severe repri- 
 mand ; but the foolish boys have set off in a speronare to Sicily, 
 and how the devil are we to get them back again ?" 
 
 *' They'll come back, sir," replied Sawbridge, ** when all their 
 money's gone." 
 
 ** Yes, if they do not get into any more scrapes— that young 
 scamp Gascoigne is as bad as Easy, and now they are together 
 there's no saying what may happen. I dine at the governor's 
 to-day ; how he will laugh when I tell him of this new way of 
 fighting a duel!" 
 
 *' Yes, sir, it is just the thing that will tickle old Tom." 
 
 "We must find out if they have got off the island, Sawbridge, 
 which may not be the case." 
 
 But it was the case ; Jack and Gascoigne had eaten a very 
 good dinner, sent for the monkey to amuse them till it was dark, 
 and there had waited till the padrone came to them. 
 
 " What shall we do with the pistols, Easy ?" 
 
 ** Take them with us, and load them before we go— we may 
 want them : who knows but there may be a mutiny on board of 
 the speronare ? — I wish we had Mesty with us." 
 
 They loaded the pistols, took a pair each and put them in 
 their waists, concealed under their clothes — divided the am- 
 munition between them, and soon afterwards the padrone came 
 to tell them all was ready. 
 
MR. MIBSHIMAN EASY. IM 
 
 Whereupon Messrs. Gascoigne and Easy paid their bill and 
 rose to depart, but the padrone informed them that he should 
 like to see the colour of their money before they went on board. 
 Jack, very indignant at the insinuation that he had not suffi- 
 cient cash, pulled out a handful of doubloons, and tossing two 
 to the padrone, asked him if he was satisfied. 
 
 The padrone untied his sash, put in the money, and with 
 many thanks and protestations of service, begged our young 
 gentlemen to accompany him : they did so, and in a few minutes 
 were clear of Nix Mangare stairs, and, passing close to his 
 Majesty's ship Harpy, were soon out of the harbour of Vallette. 
 Of all the varieties of vessels which float upon the wave, 
 there is not, perhaps, one that bounds over the water so grace- 
 fully or so lightly as a speronare, or any one so picturesque and 
 beautiful to the eye of those who watch its progress. ; .^ 
 
 The night was clear, and the stars shone out brilliantly as 
 the light craft skimmed over the water, and a fragment of a des- 
 cending and waning moon threw its soft beams upon the snow" 
 white sail. The vessel, which had no deck, was full of baskets, 
 which had contained grapes and various fruits brought from the 
 ancient granary of Rome, still as fertile and as luxuriant as ever. 
 The crew consisted of the padrone, two men and a boy ; the 
 three latter, with their gregos, or night great-coats with hoods, 
 sitting forward before the sail, with their eyes fixed on the land 
 as they flew past point after point, thinking perhaps of their 
 wives, or perhaps of their sweethearts, or perhaps not thinking 
 at all. 
 
 The padrone remained aft at the helm, offering every polite- 
 ness to our two young gentlemen, who only wished to be left 
 alone. At last they requested the padrone to give them gregos 
 to lie down upon, as they wished to go to sleep. He called the 
 boy to take the helm, procured them all they required, and 
 then went forward. And our two midshipmen laid down 
 looking at the stars above them, for some minutes, without ex- 
 changing a word. At last Jack commenced. 
 
 "I have been thinking, Gascoigne, that this is very de- 
 lightful. My heart bounds with the vessel, and it almost ap- 
 pears to me as if the vessel herself was rejoicing in her liberty. 
 
1^8 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 ^ere ^l^e is capering oyer the waves instead pf being tied by 
 tli^e nose with a cable and anchor." 
 
 "That's a touch of the sentimental, Jack," replied Gas^ 
 cpigne; *' but she is no more free than she was when at anchor, 
 for she now is forced to act in obedience to her steersman, and 
 go just where he pleases. You may just as well say that j^ 
 horse, if taken out of the stable, is free, with the curb and his 
 rider on his back." 
 
 '* That's a touch of the rational, Ned, which destroys the il- 
 lusion. Never mind, we are free, at all events. What m?^- 
 chines we are on board of a-man-of war? We walk, talk, eatjj 
 drink, sleep, and get up, just like clockwork; we are wound up 
 to go the twenty -four hours, and then wound up ^,g3iini ms^ 
 like old Smallsole does the chronometers." •. ,^; ,5* ; ; , ,. , ;^,, 
 
 '* Very true. Jack; but it does not appear to me, that, hi^ 
 therto, you have kept very good time : you require a little more 
 regulating," said Gascoigne. /, ^^'i^ ^ "l^t^H, ?>Iv!'Jkii >.[< 
 
 '* How can you expect any piece of machinery to go well> 50 
 damnably knocked about as a midshipman is?" replied 0115 
 hero. 
 
 ** Very true, Jack; but sometimes you don't keep any time, 
 for you don't keep any watch. Mr. Asper don't wind you up. 
 You don't go at all." 
 
 ** No; because he aUows pae to go 4o,wn; but still I do £-«?, 
 Ned." '"" '' ' ^'^"- 
 
 *' Yes, to your hammock — but it's no go with old Smallsole, 
 if I want a bit of caulk. But, Jack, what do you say — shaj|^ \y§ 
 keep watch to-night ?" ^„ .. t-s' 
 
 *' Why, to tell you the truth, I have been thinking the same 
 thing — I don't much like the looks of the padrone— he squints." 
 
 *' That's no proof of any thing. Jack, except that his eyes 
 are not straight : but if you do not like the look of him, I can tell 
 you that he yery much liked the look of your doubloons —I saw 
 him start and his eyes t^iqliled, and I thought at the time it 
 was a pity you had not paid him in dollars." 
 
 *' It was yer^ foolish in u^ej \m\ at all events he has not 
 
 seenall.'Ciit :h liv; ^r 
 
 y I? He saw quite enoiigh, Ned.". ^^ ^^^ ^, 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN easy/ 1^9 
 
 '^ Very true, but you should have I^t l^^ji ff^^ \\k^ fffiM^* ^R<i 
 i^ot have let him see the doubloons." 
 
 ** Well, if he wishes to take what he has s^en, he fja^?^^ re- 
 ceive what |ie has not seen — why, there are only fovir of 
 them?" '':•'';.. 
 
 " Oh, I have no fear of them, only it may he f|s well Xq sleep 
 with one eye open." 
 
 '* When shall we make the land ?" 
 
 '* To-morrow evening with this wi?id, and ij: appears to })e 
 steady. Suppose we keep watch and ^atch, and |)aye owr 
 pistols out ready, with the great coats j\ist tv^rned over lhen|, 
 to keep them out of sight ?" 
 
 Agreed — it's about twelve o'clock i^ow — who ^liall k^ep tl^e 
 middle watch ?" ,,. ^^ 
 
 " I will, Jack, if you like it." 
 
 *' Well, then, mind you kicl^ me h^rd, fq^ Isleep ^pviUsh 
 sppnd. Good night, and keep a sharp look-out." 
 
 Jack was fast asleep in less than ten minutes ; and Qascoigne, 
 with his pistols lying by him all ready for ^ach hand, sat up at 
 the bottom of the boat. 
 
 There certainly is a peculiar providence in favour of nxid- 
 shipmen compared with the rest of man|^ind ; |hey have more 
 lives than a cat— always in the greatest dapg^r^j but always es- 
 caping from it. 
 
 The padrone of the vessel had bee^ captivated with the 
 doubloons which Jack had so foolishly exposed to his view, 
 and he had, moreover, resolved to obtain them. A^ t-he very 
 time that our two lads were conversing aft, the padrone was 
 talking the matter over with his two nien forward, and it was 
 agreed that they should murder, rifle, and thpi\ thr^w them 
 overboard. 
 
 About two o'clock in the morning, the padrone ^ame aft to 
 see if they were asleep, but found Gascoigne watching. He 
 returned aft again and again, but found the young man still sit- 
 ting up. Tired of waiting, anxious to possess the inoney and 
 not supposing that the lads were armed, he went once more 
 forward and spoke to the men. Gascoigne had watched his 
 motions ; he thought it singular, that with three men in the 
 
160 MR. mS)SHIMAN EASY. 
 
 ^t~'f — . '-■ " ■ 
 vessel, the helm should be confided to the boy — ^d at last he 
 
 saw them draw their knives. He pushed our hero, who woke 
 immediately. Gascoigne put his hand over Jack's mouth, that 
 he might not speak, and then whispered his suspicions. Jack 
 seized his pistols— they both cocked them without noise, and 
 then waited in silence, Jack still lying down while Gascoigne 
 continued to sit up at the bottom of the boat. At last Gas- 
 coigne saw the three men coming aft— he dropped one of his 
 pistols for a second to give Jack a squeeze of the hand, which 
 was returned, and as Gascoigne watched them making their way 
 through the piles of empty baskets he leaned back as if he was 
 slumbering. The padrone, followed by the two men were at 
 last aft,— they paused a moment before they stepped over the 
 strengthening plank, which ran from side to side of the boat 
 betw^een them and the midshipmen, and as neither of them stir- 
 red they imagined that both were asleep — advanced and raised 
 their knives, when Gascoigne and Jack, almost at the same mo- 
 ment, each discharged their pistols into the breast of the pa- 
 drone and one of the men who was with him in advance, who 
 both fell with the sent aft of the boat, so as to encumber 
 the midshipmen with the weight of their bodies. The third 
 man started back. Jack, who could not rise, from the padrone 
 lying accross his legs, took a steady aim with his second pistol 
 and the third man fell. The boy at the helm, who, it appeared, 
 either was aware of what was to be done, or seeing the men ad- 
 vance with their knives, had acted upon what he saw, also 
 drew his knife and struck at Gascoigne from behind ; the knife 
 fortunately, after slightly wounding Gascoigne on the shoulder, 
 had shut on the boy's hand — Gascoigne sprang up with his other 
 pistol, the boy started back at the sight of it, lost his balance 
 and fell overboard. 
 
 Our two midshipmen took a few seconds to breathe. 
 
 ** I say. Jack?'' said Gascoigne at last, **did you ever — " 
 
 '* No, I never — " replied Jack. 
 
 ** What's to be done now?" 
 
 **Why, as we've got possession, Ned, we had better put a 
 man at the helm — for the speronare is having it all her own 
 way." 
 
MR. MIDSHIt>MAN EASY. 161 
 
 ** Very true," replied Gascoigne; " and as I can steer better 
 than you, I suppose it must be me." 
 
 Gascoigne went to the helm, brought the boat up to the wind, 
 and then they resumed their conversation. 
 
 * ' That rascal of a boy gave me a devil of a lick on the shoul- 
 der ; I don't know whether he has hurt me — at all events it's my 
 left shoulder, so I can steer just as well. I wonder whether the 
 fellows are dead." 
 
 " The padrone is, at all events/' replied Jack. "It was as 
 much as I could do to get my legs from under him — but we'll 
 wait till daylight before we see to that— in the mean time, Fll 
 load the pistols again." 
 
 ** The day is breaking now — it will be light in half-an-hour or 
 less. What a devil of a spree, Jack!" 
 
 '* Yes, but how can one help it? we ran away because two 
 men are wounded — and now we are obliged to kill four in self- 
 defence." 
 
 *' Yes, but that is not the end of it ; when we get to Sicily 
 what are we to do ? we shall be imprisoned by the authorities — 
 perhaps hung." 
 
 " We'll argue that point with them," replied Jack. 
 
 **We had better argue the point between ourselves. Jack, 
 and see what will be the best plan to get out of our scrape." 
 
 ** I think that we \\isthave got out of it — never fear but we'll get 
 out of the next. Do you know, Gascoigne, it appears to me 
 very odd, but I can do nothing but there's a hohhery at the bottom 
 of it." 
 
 <' You certainly have a great talent that way. Jack. Don't 
 I hear one of these poor fellows groan?" 
 
 **I should think that not impossible." 
 
 '* What shall we do with them?" 
 
 *' We will argue that point, Ned— we must either keep their 
 bodies or we must throw them overboard. Either tell the whole 
 story or say nothing about it." 
 
 ** Thai's very evident ; in short, we must do something, for 
 your argument goes no further. But now let us take up one of 
 your propositions. Well then, suppose we keep the bodies on 
 
 II 
 
J62 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 board, run into a sea-port, go to the authorities and state all the 
 facts, what then ?" 
 
 <' We shall prove, beyond all doubt, that we have killed three 
 men, if not four; but we shall not prove that we were obhged so 
 to do, Jack. And then we are heretics — we shall be put in 
 prison till they are satisfied of our innocence, which we never can 
 pTOve, and there we shall remain until we have written to Malta, 
 and a-raan-of-war comes to redeem us, if we are not stabbed, or 
 something else, in the mean time." 
 
 "That will not be a very pleasant cruise,'' replied Jack. 
 '* Now let's argue the point on the other side.'' 
 
 "There is some difficulty there — suppose we throw their 
 bodies overboard, toss the baskets after them, wash the boat 
 clean and make for the first port. We may chance to hit upon 
 the very spot from which they sailed, and then there will be a 
 pack of wives, and children, and a populace with knives, asking 
 us what has become of the men of the boat?" 
 
 '* I don't much hke the idea of that," said Jack. 
 
 " And if we don't have such bad luck, still we shall be inter- 
 rogated as to who we are, and how we were adrift by ourselves." 
 
 " There will be a difficulty about that again— we must swear 
 that it is a party of pleasure, and that we are gentlemen yacht- 
 ing." 
 
 "Without a crew or provisions — yachts don't sail with a 
 clean-swept hold, or gentlemen without a spare shirt— we have 
 nothing but two gallons of water and two pairs of pistols." 
 
 " I have it," said Jack — "we are two young gentlemen in 
 our own boat who went out to Gozo with pistols to shoot sea- 
 mews, were caught in a gale, and blown down to Sicily — that 
 will excite interest." 
 
 " That's the best idea yet, as it will account for our having 
 nothing in the boat. Well then, at all events, we will get rid 
 of the bodies ; but suppose they are not dead — we cannot throw 
 them overboard alive, that will be murder," 
 
 " Very true," replied Jack, "then we must shoot them first 
 and toss them overboard afterwards." 
 
 "Upon my soul, Easy, you are an odd fellow — however go 
 and examine the men and we'll decide that point by-and-bye— 
 
> oy 
 
 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. ^ JjB?F ' 
 
 you had better keep your pistol ready cocked, for they may he 
 shamming." 
 
 *' Deyil a hit of sham here, any how,'^ replied Jack pulling at 
 the body of the padrone, '*and as for this fellow you shot, you 
 might put your fist inlo his chest. Now for the third," continued 
 Jack, stepping over the strengthening piece — ** he*s all among 
 the baskets. I say, my cock, are you dead ?" and Jack enforced 
 hisquestionwithakickintheribs. The man groaned, '*That*s 
 unlucky, Gascoigne, but however Til soon settle him," said 
 Jack, pointing his pistol. 
 
 **Stop, Jack," cried Gascoigne, ''it really will be mur- 
 der." 
 
 ** No such thing, Ned ; Fll just blow his brains out, and then 
 Fll come aft and argue the point with you." 
 
 ** Now do obUge me by coming aft and arguing the point first. 
 Do, Jack, I begof you— I entreat you." 
 
 '* With all my heart," replied Jack, resuming his seat by 
 Gascoigne; '* I assert, that in this instance killing's no murder. 
 You will observe, Ned, that by the laws of society, any one who 
 attempts the life of another has forfeited his own ; at the same 
 time, as it is necessary that the fact should be clearly proved 
 and justice be duly administered, the parties are tried, convicted, 
 and then are sentenced to the punishment." 
 
 " I grant all that." 
 
 "In this instancfi the attempt has been clearly proved; we 
 are the witnesses and are the judges and jury, and society in 
 general, for the best of all possible reasons, because there is 
 nobody else. These men's lives being therefore forfeited lo 
 society, belong to us ; and it does not follow because they were 
 not all killed in the attempt, that therefore they are not now to 
 be brought out for punishment. And as there is no common 
 hangman here, we, of course, must do this duty as well as every 
 other. I have now clearly proved that I am justified in what 
 I am about to do. But the argument does not stop there — self- 
 preservation is the first law of nature, and if we do not get rid 
 of this man, what is the consequence?— that we shall have to 
 account for his being wounded, and then, instead of judges, we 
 shall immediately be placed in the position of culprits and have 
 
 II. 
 
m MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 to defend ourselves without witnesses. We therefore risk our 
 lives from a misplaced lenity towards a wretch unworthy to 
 live.^' 
 
 " Your last argument is strong, Easy, but I cannot consent to 
 your doing what may occasion you uneasiness hereafter when 
 you think of it.*' 
 
 ** Pooh I nonsense — I'm a philosopher." 
 
 ** Of what school, Jack? Oh, I presume, you are a disciple of 
 Mesty's. I do not mean to say that you are wrong, hut still hear 
 my proposition. Let us lower down the sail, and then I can 
 leave the helm to assist you. We will clear the vessel of every 
 thing except the man who is still alive. At all events, we may 
 wait a little, and if at last there is no help for it, I will then 
 agree with you to launch him overboard, even if he is not quite 
 dead." 
 
 '* Agreed; even by your own making out, it will be no great 
 sin. He is half dead already— I only do half the work of tossing 
 him over, so it will be only quarter murder on my part, and he 
 would have shown no quarter on his." Here Jack left off argu- 
 ing and punning, and went forward and lowered down the sail. 
 ** I've half a mind to take my doubloons back," said Jack, as they 
 launched over the body of the padrone, **but he may have 
 them— I wonder whether they'll ever turn up again.'* 
 
 ** Not in our lime, Jack," replied Oascoigne. 
 
 The other body, and all the basket lumber, etc. were then 
 tossed over, and the boat was cleared of all but the man who was 
 not yet dead. 
 
 ** Now let's examine the fellow, and see if he has any chance 
 of recovery," said Gascoigne. 
 
 The man lay on his side, Gascoigne turned him over and found 
 that he was dead. 
 
 <* Over with him, quick," said Jack, ''before he comes to life 
 again." 
 
 The body disappeared under the wave — they again hoisted the 
 sail, Gascoigne took the helm, and our hero proceeded to draw 
 water and wash away the stains of blood ; he then cleared the 
 boat of vine-leaves and rubbish, with which it was strewed, 
 swept it clean fore and aft, and resumed his seat by his comrade. 
 
MR. MmSHlPMAN EASY. 165 
 
 ''There/* said Jack, '* now we've swept the decks, we may 
 pipe to dinner. I wonder whether there is any thing to eat in 
 the locker?" 
 
 Jack opened it, and found some hread, garlic, sausages, a 
 bottle of aquadente and a jar of wine. 
 
 ** So the padrone did keep his promise, after all.'' 
 
 ** Yes, and had you not templed him with the sight of so much 
 gold, might now have been alive.^' 
 
 ** To which I reply, that if you had not advised our going olf 
 in a speronare, he would now have been alive." 
 
 " And if you had not fought a duel, I should not have given 
 the advice." 
 
 * * And if the boatswain had not been obliged to come on board 
 without his trousers, at Gibraltar, I should not have fought a 
 duel." 
 
 '* And if you had not joined the ship, the boatswain would 
 have had his trousers on." 
 
 ** And if my father had not been a philosopher, I should not 
 have gone to sea ; so that it is all my father's fault, and he has 
 killed four men off the coast of Sicily, without knowing it— cause 
 and effect. After all, there's nothing like argument ; so having 
 settled that point, let us go to dinner." 
 
 Having finished their meal. Jack went forward and observed 
 the land ahead ; they steered the same course for three or four 
 hours. 
 
 ** We must haul our wind more," said Gascoigne; '*it Avill 
 not do to put into any small town : we have now to choose, whe- 
 ther we shall land on the coast and sink the speronare, or land 
 at some large town." 
 
 ** We must argue that point," replied Jack. ' 
 
 " In the mean time, do you take the helm, for my arm is quite 
 tired," replied Gascoigne : ''you can steer well enough— by- 
 the-bye, I may as well look at my shoulder, for it is quite stiff." 
 Gascoigne pulled off his coat, and found his shirt bloody and 
 sticking to the w^ound, which, as we before observed, was slight. 
 He again took the helm, while Jack washed it clean and then 
 bathed it with aquadente. 
 
166 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 "Now take the helm again/' said Gascoigne; '^Fm on the 
 sick list." 
 
 *' And as surgeon— I'm an idler," replied Jack; ''but what 
 shall we do?" continued he; *' abandon the speronare at night 
 and sink her, or run in for a town ?" 
 
 '* We shall fall in with plenty of boats and vessels if we coast 
 it up to Palermo, and they may overhaul us." 
 
 *' We shall fall in with plenty of people if we go on shore, 
 and they will overhaul us." 
 
 '* Do you know, Jack, that I wish we were back and along 
 side of the Harpy ; I've had cruising enough." 
 
 **My cruises are so unfortunate," replied Jack; '' they are 
 too full of adventure; but then, I have never yet had a cruise 
 on shore. Now, if we could only get to Palermo , we should be 
 out of all our difficulties." 
 
 **The breeze freshens, Jack," replied Gascoigne; ''and it 
 begins to look very dirty to windward. I think we shall have 
 a gale." 
 
 "Pleasant — I know what it is to be short-handed in a gale ; 
 however, there's one comfort, we shall not be blown off shore 
 this time.'' 
 
 " No, but we may be wrecked on a lee shore. She cannot 
 carry her whole sail. Easy, we must lower it down, and take in 
 a reef; the sooner the better, for it will be dark in an hour. Go 
 forward and lower it down, and then I'll help you." 
 
 Jack did so, but the sail went into the water, and he could 
 not drag it in. 
 
 " Avast heaving," said Gascoigne, " till I throw her up and 
 take wind out of it." 
 
 This was done ; they reefed the sail but could not hoist it up ; 
 if Gascoigne left the helm to help Jack, the sail filled ; if he went 
 to the helm and took the wind out of the sail. Jack was not strong 
 enough to hoist it. The wind increased rapidly, and the sea got 
 up, the sun went down, and with the sail half hoisted, they 
 could not keep to the wind, but were obliged to run right for the 
 land. The speronare flew, rising on the crest of the waves with 
 half her keel clear of the water : the moon was already up, and 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 167 
 
 gave them light enough to perceive that they were not five miles 
 from the coast, which was lined with foam. 
 
 " At all events, they can't accuse us of running away with 
 the hoat," ohserved Jack; **for she's running away with us." 
 
 '* Yes," replied Gascoigne, dragging at the tiller with all his 
 strength; ** she has taken the bit between her teeth.'* 
 
 *' I wouldn't care if I had a bit between mine," replied Jack; 
 ** for I feel devilish hungry again. What do you say, Ned?" 
 
 **With all my heart," replied Gascoigne; *' but, do you 
 know. Easy, it may be the last meal we ever make." 
 
 '• Then I vote it's a good one— but why so, Ned?" 
 
 ** In half-an-hour, or there abouts, we shall be on shore." 
 
 ** Well, that's where we want to go." 
 
 *' Yes, but the sea runs high, and the boat may be dashed to 
 pieces on the rocks." 
 
 *' Then we shall be asked no questions about her or the men." 
 
 ** Very true, but a lee shore is no joke; we may be knocked to 
 pieces, as well as the boat— even swimming may not help us. 
 If we could find a cove or sandy beach, we might, perhaps, ma- 
 nage to get on shore.'' 
 
 ** Well," replied Jack; " I have not been long at se&, and, 
 of course, cannot know much about these things. I have been 
 blown off shore, but I never have been blown on. It may be 
 as you say, but I do not see the great danger — let's run her right 
 up on the beach at once." 
 
 ** That's what I shall try to do," replied Gascoigne; who had 
 been four years at sea, and knew very well what he was about. 
 
 Jack handed him a huge piece of bread and sausage. 
 
 '* Thank ye, 1 cannot eat." 
 
 *' I can," replied Jack, with his mouth full. 
 
 Jack ate while Gascoigne steered ; and the rapidity with which 
 the speronare rushed to the beach was almost frightful. She 
 darted like an arrow from wave to wave, and appeared as if 
 mocking their attempts as they curled their summits almost over 
 her narrow stern. They were wilhin a mile of the beach, when 
 Jack, who had finished his supper, and was looking at the foam 
 boiling on the coast, exclaimed, 
 
 *< That's very fine— very beautiful, upon my soul !" 
 
168 MR. MIDSHIPIM^N EASY. 
 
 '* He cares for nothing," thought Gascoigne ; ** he appears to 
 have no idea of danger." 
 
 ** Now, ray dear fellow," said Gascoigne, '*in a few minutes 
 we shall be on the rocks. I must continue at the helm, for the 
 higher she is forced up the better chance for us ; but we may 
 not meet again, so if we do not. Good-bye, and God bless you.'* 
 
 *' Gascoigne," said Jack, ** you are hurt and I am not; your 
 shoulder is stiff, and you can hardly move your left arm. Now 
 I can steer for the rocks as well as you. Do you go to the bow, 
 and there you will have a better chance.— By- ihe-bye," conti- 
 nued he, picking up his pistols, and sticking them into his waist, 
 '* I won't leave them, they've served us too good a turn already. 
 Gascoigne, give me the helm." 
 
 **No, no, Easy." 
 
 *' I say yes," replied Jack, in a loud, authoritative tone, ** and 
 what's more, I will be obeyed, Gascoigne. I have nerve, if I 
 haven't knowledge, and at all events I can steer for the beach. 
 I tell you, give me the helm.-— Well, then, if you won't,— I 
 must take it." 
 
 Easy wrested the tiller from Gascoigne's hand, and gave him 
 a shove forward. 
 
 **Now do you look out ahead, and tell me how to steer." 
 
 Whatever may have been Gascoigne's feelings at this beha- 
 viour of our hero's, it immediately occurred to him, that he 
 could not do better than to run the speronare to the safest point, 
 and that therefore he was probably more advantageously em- 
 ployed, than if he were at the helm. He went forward and 
 looked at the rocks, covered at one moment with the tumultuous 
 waters, and then pouring down cascades from their sides as the 
 waves recoiled. He perceived a chasm right ahead, and he 
 thought if the boat was steered for that, she must be thrown 
 up so as to enable them to get clear of her, for, at every other 
 part, escape appeared impossible. 
 
 ** Starboard a little— that'll do. Steady — port it is — port. — 
 Steer small, for your life. Easy. Steady now— mind the yard 
 don't hit your head — hold on." 
 
 The speronare was at this moment thrown into a large cleft 
 in a rock, the sides of which were nearly perpendicular; no- 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY^ J 69 
 
 thing else could have saved them, as had they struck the rock 
 outside, the boat would have been dashed to pieces, audits frag- 
 ments have disappeared in the undertow. As it was, the cleft was 
 not four feet more than the width of the boat, and as the waves 
 hurled her up into it, the yard of the speronare was thrown fore 
 and aft with great violence, and had not Jack been warned, he 
 would havebeenstruckoverboardwithout a chanceof being saved; 
 but he crouched down, and it passed over him. As the water 
 receded, the boat struck, and was nearly dry between the rocks, 
 but another wave followed, dashing the boat farther up, but, at 
 the same time, filling it with water. The bow of the boat was 
 now several feet higher than the stern, where Jack held on ; and 
 the weight of the water in her, with the force of the returning 
 waves, separated her right across abaft the mast. Jack perceived 
 that the after part of the boat was going out again with the wave; 
 he caught hold of the yard which had swung fore and aft, and as 
 he clung to it, the part of the boat on which he had stood disap- 
 peared from under him, and was swept away by the returning 
 current. 
 
 Jack required the utmost of his strength to maintain his posi- 
 tion until another wave floated him, and dashed him higher up ; 
 but he knew his life depended on holding on to the yard, which 
 he did, although under water, and advanced several feet. When 
 the wave receded, he found footing on the rock, and still cling- 
 ing, he walked till he had gained the fore part of the boat, 
 which was wedged firmly into a narrow part of the cleft. The 
 next wave was not very large, and he had gained so much that 
 it did not throw him off his legs. He reached the rock, and as 
 he climbed up the side of the chasm to gain the ledge above, he 
 perceived Gascoigne standing above him, and holding out his 
 hand to his assistance. 
 
 "Well," says Jack, shaking himself to get rid of the water, 
 ** here we are, ashore at last — I had no idea of anything like 
 this. The rush back of the water was so strong that it has al- 
 most torn my arms out of their sockets. How very lucky I sent 
 you forward with your disabled shoulder. By-the-bye, now 
 that it's all over, and you must see that I was right, I beg to 
 apologize for my rudeness." 
 
no MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 *' There needs no apology for saving my life, Easy," replied 
 Gascoigne, trembling, with the cold; "and no one but yott 
 would ever have thought of making one at such a moment." 
 i *' I wonder whether the ammunition's dry," said Jack; *'I put 
 it all in my hat." 
 
 Jack took off his hat, and found the cartridges had not suf- 
 fered. 
 
 *' Now then, Gascoigne, what shall we do ?" 
 
 *< I hardly know," replied Gascoigne. 
 
 <* Suppose, then, we sit down and argue the point." 
 
 ** No, I thank you, there will be too much cold water thrown 
 upon our arguments — I'm half dead, let us walk on." 
 
 ** With all my heart," said Jack, ** it's devilish steep, but I 
 can argue up hill or down hill, wet or dry— I'm used to it— for, 
 as I told you before, Ned, my father is a philosopher, and so 
 am I." 
 
 *' By the Lord ! you are,^* replied Gascoigne, as he walked on. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 In which our hero follows his destiny aud forms a tableau. 
 
 Our hero and his comrade climbed the precipice, and, after 
 some minutes' severe toil, arrived at the summit, when they sat 
 down to recover themselves. The sky was clear although the 
 gale blew strong. They had an extensive view of the coast, 
 lashed by the angry waves. 
 
 **It's my opinion, Ned," said Jack, as he surveyed the ex- 
 panse of troubled water, *' that weVe just as well out of that." 
 
 "I agree with you. Jack; but it's also my opinion that we 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 171 
 
 should be jast as well out of this, for the wind blows through 
 one. Suppose we go a litle farther inland, where we may find 
 some shelter till the morning." 
 
 " It*s rather dark to find anything," rejoined our hero ; ^' but 
 however a westerly gale on the top of a mountain with wet 
 clothes in the middle of the night, with nothing to eat or drink, 
 is not the most comfortable position in the world, and we may 
 change for the better." 
 
 They proceeded over a flat of a hunared yards and then des- 
 cended — the change in the atmosphere was immediate. As they 
 continued their march inland, they came to a high road, which 
 appeared to run along the shore, and they turned into it; for, 
 as Jack said very truly, a road must lead to something. After 
 a quarter of an hour's walk, they again heard the rolling of the 
 surf, and perceived the white walls of houses. 
 
 *' Here we are at last," said Jack. *^ I wonder if any one will 
 turn out to take us in, or shall we stow away for the night, in 
 one of those vessels hauled up on the beach?" 
 
 ** Recollect this time. Easy," said Gascoigne, *' not to show 
 your money; that is, show only a dollar, and say you have no 
 more, or promise to pay when we arrive at Palermo ; and if they 
 will neither trust us, nor give to us, we must make it out as 
 we can. 
 
 ** How the cursed dogs bark! I think we shall do very well 
 this time, Gascoigne ; we do not look as if we were worth rob- 
 bing, at all events, and we have the pistols to defend ourselves 
 with if we are attacked. Depend upon it I will show no more 
 gold. And now let us make our arrangements. Take you one 
 pistol, and take half the gold— I have it all in my right-hand 
 pocket— my dollars and pistarenes in my left. You shall take 
 half of them, too. We have silver enough to go on with till we 
 are in a safe place." 
 
 Jack then divided the money in the dark, and also gave Gas- 
 coigne a pistol. 
 
 **Now then, shall we knock for admittance?— Let's first 
 walk through the village, and see if there's anything like an 
 inn. Those yelping curs will soon be at our heels ; they come 
 nearer and nearer every time. There's a cart, and it's full ol 
 
172 ]\m. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 straw— suppose we go to bed till to-morrow morning— we shall 
 be warm, at all events." 
 
 ** Yes," replied Gascoigne, ** and sleep much better than in 
 any of the cottages. I have been in Sicily before, and you have 
 no idea how the fleas bile." 
 
 Our two midshipmen climbed up into the cart, nestled them- 
 selves into the straw, or rather Indian corn leaves, and were 
 soon fast asleep. As they had not slept for two nights, it is not 
 to be wondered at, that they slept soundly, — so soundly indeed, 
 that about two hours after they had got into their comfortable 
 bed, the peasant who had brought to the village some casks of 
 wine to be shipped and taken down the coast in a felucca, yoked 
 his bullocks, and not being aware of his freight, drove t)ff with- 
 out, in any way, disturbing their repose, although the roads 
 in Sicily are not yet macadamized. 
 
 The jolting of the roads rather increased than disturbed the 
 sleep of our adventurers ; and, although there Avere some rude 
 shocks, it only had the effect of making them fancy in their 
 dreams that they were again in the boat, and that she was dash- 
 ing against the rocks. In about two hours, the cart arrived at 
 its destination — the peasant unyoked his bullocks and led them 
 away. The same cause will often produce contrary effects : the 
 stopping of the motion of the cart disturbed the rest of our two 
 midshipmen; they turned round in the straw, yawned, spread 
 out their arms, and then awoke. Gascoigne, who felt conside- 
 rable pain in his shoulder, was the first to recall his scattered 
 senses. 
 
 **Easy," cried he, as he sat up and shook off the corn- 
 leaves. 
 
 <'Port it is," said Jack, half dreaming. 
 
 " Come, Easy, you are not on board now. — Rouse andbitt." 
 
 Jack then sat up and looked at Gascoigne. The forage in 
 the cart was so high round them that they could not see above 
 it ; they rubbed their eyes, yawned, and looked at each other. 
 
 "Have you any faith in dreams," said Jack to Gascoigne, 
 '* because I had a very queer one last night." 
 
 ** Well, so had I," replied Gascoigne. " I dreamt that the 
 cart rolled by itself into the sea, and went away with us right in 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASV. i1^ 
 
 the wind*s eye back to Malta ; and considering that it never was 
 built for such service, she behaved uncommonly well. Now, 
 what was your dream ?" 
 
 '* Mine was, that we woke up and found ourselves in the very 
 town from which the speronare had sailed, and that they had 
 found the fore part of the speronare among the rocks, had re- 
 cognised her, and picked up one of our pistols. That they had 
 laid hold of us, and had insisted that we had been thrown on 
 shore in the boat, and asked us what had become of the crew — 
 they were just seizing us, when I awoke." 
 
 ** Your dream is more likely to come true than mine. Easy; 
 but still I think we need not fear that. At the same time, we had 
 better not remain here any longer ; and it occurs to me, that if 
 we tore our clothes more, it would be advisable — we shall, in 
 the first place, look more wretched ; and, in the next place, can 
 replace them with the dress of the country and so travel without 
 exciting suspicion. You know that I can speak Italian pretty 
 well." 
 
 *'Ihave no objection to tear my clothes if you wish," re- 
 plied Jack; " at the same time give me your pistol; I will draw 
 the charges and load them again. They must be wet. " 
 
 Having reloaded the pistols and rent their garments, the two 
 midshipmen stood up in the cart and looked about them. 
 
 ** Halloo I— why how's this, Gascoigne? last night we were 
 close to the beach, and among houses, and now — where the 
 'devil are we ? You dreamt nearer the mark than I did, for the 
 cart has certainly taken a cruise." 
 
 ** We must have slept like midshipmen, then," replied Gas- 
 coigne : * ' surely it cannot have gone far." 
 
 ** Here we are, surrounded by hills on every side, for at least 
 a couple of miles. Surely some good genius has transported us 
 into the interior, that we might escape from the relatives of the 
 crew whom I dreamt about," said Jack, looking at Gascoigne. 
 
 As it afterwards was known to them, the speronare had sailed 
 from the very sea-port in which they had arrived that night, and 
 where they had got into the cart. The wreck of the speronare 
 had been found, and had been recognised, and it was considered 
 by the inhabitants that the padrone and his crew had perished 
 
174 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 in the gale. Had they found our two midshipmen and questioned 
 them, it is not improbable that suscipion might have been exci- 
 ted, and the results have been such as our hero had conjured up 
 in his dream. But, as we said before, there is a peculiar provi- 
 dence for midshipmen. 
 
 On a minuter survey, they found that they were in an open 
 space which, apparently, had been used for thrashing and win- 
 nowing maize, and that the cart was standing under a clump of 
 trees in the shade. 
 
 ** There ought to be a house hereabouts," said Gascoigne; 
 ' ' I should think that behind the trees we shall find one. Come, 
 Jack, you are as hungry as I am, I'll answer for it ; we must look 
 out for a breakfast somewhere." 
 
 ** If they won't give us something to eat, or sell it," replied 
 Jack, who was ravenous, clutching his pistol, '* I shall take it 
 —I consider it no robbery. The fruits of the earth were made 
 for us all, and it never was intended that one man should have a 
 superfluity and another starve. The laws of equality — " 
 
 ** May appear very good arguments to a starving man, 1 grant, 
 but still, wont* prevent his fellow-creatures from hanging him," 
 replied Gascoigne. ** None of your confounded nonsense. Jack; 
 no man starves with money in his pocket, and as long as you 
 have that, leave those that have none to talk about equality and 
 the rights of man." 
 
 "I should like to argue that point with you, Gascoigne." 
 
 *' Tell me, do you prefer sitting down here to argue, or to look 
 out for some breakfast, Jack ?'* 
 
 " Oh, the argument may be put off, but hunger cannot." 
 
 ** That's very good philosophy. Jack, so let's go on." 
 
 <*They went through the copse of wood, which was very 
 thick, and soon discovered the wall of a large house on the other 
 side. 
 
 "All right," said Jack; *' but still let us reconnoitre. It's 
 not a farm-house, it must belong to a person of some consequence 
 — all the belter, they will see that we are gentlemen, notwith- 
 standing our tattered dress. I suppose we are to stick to the 
 story of the sea mews at Gozo." 
 
 ** Yes, replied Gascoigne; <*I can think of nothing better. 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 175 
 
 But the English are well received in this island ; we have troops 
 at Palermo." 
 
 ** Have we? I wish I was sitting down at the mess-table — 
 but what's that? a woman screaming? Yes, by heavens? — 
 come along, Ned." And away dashed Jack towards the house 
 followedby Gascoigne. As they advanced the screams redoubled ; 
 they entered the porch, burstinto the room, from whence they pro- 
 ceeded, and found an elderly gentleman defending himself against 
 two young men, who were held back by an elderly and a young 
 lady. Our hero and his comrade had both drawn their pistols, 
 and just as they burst open the door, the old gentleman who de- 
 fended himself against such odds had fallen down. The two 
 others burst from the women and were about to pierce him 
 with their swords, when Jack seized one by the collar of his 
 coat and held him fast, pointing the muzzle of the pistol to his 
 ear : Gascoigne did the same to the other. It was a very dra- 
 matic tableau. The two women flew to the elderly gentleman 
 and raised him up ; the two asailants being held just as dogs hold 
 pigs by the ear, trembling with fright, with the points of their 
 rapiers dropped, looked at the midshipmen and the muzzles of 
 their pistols with equal dismay ; at the same time, the astonish- 
 ment of the elderly gentleman and the women, at such an unex- 
 pected deliverance, was equally great. There was a silence for 
 a few seconds. 
 
 '* Ned," at last said Jack, '* tell these chaps to drop their 
 swords, or we fire.'* 
 
 Gascoigne gave the order in Italian, and it was complied with. 
 The midshipmen then possessed themselves of the rapiers and 
 gave the young men their liberty. 
 
 The elderly gentleman at last broke the silence. 
 
 '* It would appear, signors, that there was an especial inter- 
 ference of Providence, to prevent you from committing a foul 
 and unjust murder. Who these are that have so opportunely 
 come to my rescue, I know not, but thanking them as I do now, 
 I think that you will yourselves, when you are calm, also thank 
 them for having prevented you from committing an act which 
 would have loaded you with remorse and embittered your future 
 existence. Gentlemen, you are free to depart : you, Don 
 
Ite MR. MiDSfflPMAN EASY. 
 
 Silvio, have indeed disappointed me, your gratitude should have 
 rendered you incapable of such conduct : as for iyou, Don Scipio, 
 you have been misled; but you both have, in one point, dis- 
 graced yourselves. Ten days back my sons were both here, 
 why did you not come then ? if you sought revenge on me, you 
 could not have inflicted it deeper than through my children, and 
 at least you would not have acted the part of assassins in attack- 
 ing an old man. Take your swords, gentlemen, and use 
 them better henceforth. Against future attacks I shall be well 
 prepared.'' 
 
 Gascoigne, who perfectly understood what was said, present- 
 ed the sword to the young gentleman from whom he had taken 
 it — our hero did the same. The two young men returned them 
 to their sheaths, and quitted the room without saying a 
 word. 
 
 ** Whoever you are, I owe to you and thank you for my life," 
 said the elderly gentleman, scanning the outward appearance of 
 our two midshipmen. 
 
 ** We are," replied Gascoigne, ** officers in the English navy 
 and gentlemen ; we were wrecked in our boat last night, and 
 have wandered here in the dark, seekingfor assistance, and food, 
 and some conveyance to Palermo, where we shall find friends 
 and the means of appearing like gentlemen." 
 
 " Was your shipwrecked, gentlemen ?" inquired the Sicilian ; 
 '< and many lives lost?" 
 
 * < No, our ship is at Malta ; we were in a boat on a parly of 
 pleasure, were caught by a gale and driven on the coast. To sa- 
 tisfy you of the truth, observe that our pistols have the king's 
 mark, and that we are not paupers, we show you gold." 
 
 Gascoigne pulled out his doubloons— and Jack did the same, 
 coolly observing, 
 
 ** I thought we were only to show silver, Nedl" 
 
 <* It needed not that," replied the gentleman; '* your conduct 
 in this affair, your manners and address, fully convince me that 
 you are what you represent — but were you common peasants, I 
 am equally indebted to you for my life, and you may command 
 me. Tell me in what way I can be of service." 
 
 *< In giving us something to eat, for we have had nothing for 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 177 
 
 many, many hours. After that, we may, perhaps, trespass a 
 little more upon your kind offices." 
 
 ** You must, of course, be surprised at what has passed, and 
 curious to know the occasion,'' said the gentleman; ** you have 
 a right to he informed of it, and shall be, as soon as you are 
 more comfortable ; in the mean time, allow me to introduce 
 myself as Don Rebiera de Silva." 
 
 '* I wish," said Jack, who, from his knowledge of Spanish, 
 could understand the whole of the last part of the Don's speech, 
 *' that he would introduce us to his breakfast." 
 
 '* So do I," said Gascoigne ; ** but we must wait a little — he 
 ordered the ladies to prepare something instantly." 
 
 *' Your friend does not speak Italian," said Don Rebiera. 
 
 ** No, Don Rebiera, he speaks French and Spanish." 
 
 **If he speaks Spanish, my daughter can converse with him, 
 she has but shortly arrived from Spain. We are closely united 
 with a noble house in that country." 
 
 Don Rebiera then led the way to another room, and in a short 
 time there was a repast brought in, to which our midshipmen 
 did great justice. 
 
 '* I will now," said the Don, <* relate to you, sir, for the infor- 
 mation of yourself and friend, the causes which produced this 
 scene of violence, which you so opportunely defeated. Rut first, 
 as it must be very tedious to your friend, I will send for Donna 
 Clara and my daughter Agnes to talk to him; my wife under- 
 stands a little Spanish, and my daughter, as I said before, has 
 but just left the country, where, from circumstances, she re- 
 mained some years." 
 
 As soon Donna Clara and Donna Agnes made their appearance 
 and were introduced, Jack, who had not before paid attention 
 to them, said to himself, ** I have seen a face like that girl's 
 before." If so, he had never seen many like it, for it was the 
 quintessence of brunette beauty, and her figure was equally per- 
 fect ; although not having yet completed her fifteenth year, it 
 required still a little more developement. 
 
 Donna Clara was extremely gracious, and as, perhaps, she 
 was aware that her voice would drown that of her husband, she 
 proposed to our hero to walk in the garden, and in a few minutes 
 
 12 
 
n& MH. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 they took their seals in a pavilion at the end of it. The old lady 
 did not talk much Spanish, but when at a loss for a word she 
 put in an Italian one, and Jack understood her perfectly well. 
 She told him, her sister had married a Spanish nobleman many 
 years since, and that before the war broke out between the 
 Spanish and the English, they had gone over with all their 
 children to see her ; that when they wished to return, her 
 daughter Agnes, then a child, was suffering under a lingering 
 complaint, and it was thought advisable, as she was very weak, 
 to leave her under the charge of her aunt, who had a little girl 
 of nearly the same age ; that they were educated together at a 
 convent, near Tarragona, and that she had only returned two 
 montlis ago ; that she had a very narrow escape, as the ship in 
 which her uncle, and aunt, and cousins, as well as herself, were 
 on board, returning from Genoa, where her brother-in-law had 
 been obhged to go to secure a succession to some properly be- 
 queathed to him, had been captured in the night by the EngHsh; 
 but the officer, who was very polite, had allowed them to go 
 away next day, and very handsomely permitted them to take 
 all their effects. 
 
 '*0h, oh," thought Jack; ** I thought I had seen her face 
 before ; this then was one of the girls in the corner of the cabin — 
 now, I'll have some fun." 
 
 During the conversation with the mother. Donna Agnes had 
 remained some paces behind, picking now and then a flower, and 
 not attending to what passed. 
 
 When our hero and her mother sat down in the pavilion she 
 joined them, when Jack addressed her with his usual polite- 
 ness. 
 
 *'I am almost ashamed to be sitting by you. Donna Agnes, in 
 this ragged dress— but the rocks of your coast have no respect 
 for persons." 
 
 ** We are under great obligations, signer, and do not regard 
 such trifles." 
 
 *' You are all kindness, signora," replied Jack; *' I little 
 thought this morning of my good fortune, — I can tell the for- 
 tunes of others, but not my own." 
 
 '* You can tell fortunes !" replied the old lady. 
 
MR. MIDSfllPMAtt EASt. 179 
 
 *^ Yes, madam, I am famous for il— shall I tell your daughter 
 her'sP' 
 
 Donna Agues looked at our hero, and smiled. 
 ** I perceive that the young lady does not believe me; I must 
 prove my art, by telling her of what has already happened to 
 her. The signora will then give me credit." 
 '* Certainly, if you do that," replied Agnes. 
 ** Oblige me, by showing me the palm of your hand." 
 Agnes extended her little hand, and Jack felt so very polite, 
 that he was nearly kissing it. However he restrained himself, 
 and examining the lines — 
 
 *' That you were educated in Spain— that you arrived here 
 but two months ago —that you were captured and released by 
 the English your mother has already told me ; but to prove to 
 you that I knew all that, I must now be more particular. You 
 were in a ship mounting fourteen guns — was it not so ?" 
 Donna Agnes nodded her head. 
 '* I never told the signer that," cried Donna Clara. 
 ** She was taken by surprise in the night, and there was no 
 fighting. The next morning, the English burst open the cabin 
 door ; your uncle and your cousin fired their pistols." 
 
 ** Holy Virgin!" cried Agnes with surprise. ' ^ ' 
 
 * ' The English officer was a young man not very good looking." 
 " There you are wrong, signer, he was very handsome." 
 ** There is no accounting for taste, signora ; you were frighten- 
 ed out of your wits, and with your cousin you crouched down 
 in the corner of the cabin. Let me examine that little line 
 closer — you had, yes it's no mistake, you had very little clo- 
 thes on." 
 
 Agnes tore away her hand and covered her face. 
 ** E vero, E vero, Holy Jesus ! how could you know that?" 
 Of a sudden Agnes looked at our hero, and after a minute 
 appeared to recognize him. 
 
 ** Oh mother, 'tis he ; — I recollect now, 'tis he!" 
 ** Who, my child ?" replied Donna Clara, who had been struck 
 dumb with Jack's astonishing power of fortune-telling. 
 " The officer who captured us and was so kind." 
 Jack burst out into a laughter, not to be controlled for some 
 
 12. 
 
m MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 minutes, and then acknowledged that she had discovered him. 
 
 *' At all events, Donna Agnes,'' said he at last, *' acknowledge 
 that, ragged as I am, I have seen you in a much greater dis- 
 habille." 
 
 Agnes sprang up and took to her heels, that she might hide 
 her confusion, and at the same time go to her father and tell 
 him who he had as his guest. 
 
 Although Don Rebiera had not yet finished his narrative, this 
 announcement of Agnes, who ran in breathless to communicate 
 it immediately brought all parlies together, and Jack received 
 their thanks. 
 
 ** I little thought," said the Don, *' that I should have been 
 so doubly indebted to you, sir. Command my services as you 
 please, both of you. My sons are at Palermo, and I trust you 
 will allow them the pleasure of your friendship when you are 
 tired of remaining with us." 
 
 Jack made his politest bow, and then with a shrug of his 
 shoulders looked down upon his habiliments, which, to please 
 Gascoigne, he had torn into ribbands, as much as to say, we are 
 not provided for a lengthened stay. 
 
 *' My brothers' clothes will fit them, I think," said Agnes to 
 her father ; ** they have left plenty in their wardrobes." 
 
 **If the signors will condescend to wear them, till they can 
 replace their own." 
 
 Midshipmen are very condescending— they followed Don Re- 
 biera, and condescended to put on clean shirts belonging to Don 
 Philip and Don Martin ; also to put on their trousers — to select 
 their best waistcoats and coats — in short, they condescended to 
 have a regular fit out— and it so happened that the fit out was 
 not far from a regular Jit. 
 
 Having condescended, they then descended, and the intimacy 
 between all parties became so great that it appeared as if they 
 not only wore the young men's clothes, but also stood in their 
 shoes. Having thus made themselves presentable, Jack pre- 
 sented his hand to both ladies, and led them into the garden, 
 that Don Rebiera might finish his long story to Gascoigne with- 
 out further interruption, and resuming their seats in the pa- 
 vilion, he entertained the ladies with a history of his cruise in 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 181 
 
 the ship after her capture. Agnes soon recovered from her re- 
 serve, and Jack had the forbearance not to allude again to the 
 scene in the cabin, which was the only thing she dreaded. After 
 dinner, when the family, according to custom, had retired for 
 the siesta, Gascoigne and Jack, who had slept enough in the cart 
 to last for a week, went out together in the garden. 
 
 *' Well, Ned,** said Jack, ** do you wish yourself on board the 
 Harpy again?" 
 
 ** No," replied Gascoigne, ** we have fallen on our feet at last, 
 but still not without first being knocked about like peas in a 
 rattle. What a lovely little creature that Agnes is! How strange 
 that you should fall in with her again 1 How odd that we should 
 come here !'* 
 
 *' My good fellow, we did not come here. Destiny brought 
 us in a cart. She may take us to Tyburn in the same way." 
 
 *' Yes, if you sport your philosophy as you did when we awoke 
 this morning.'* 
 
 ** Nevertheless, I'll be hanged if I'm not right. Suppose we 
 argue the point <*'* 
 
 *' Right or wrong, you will be hanged, Jack; so instead of 
 arguing the point, suppose I tell you what the Don made such a 
 long story about.** 
 
 ** With all my heart ; let us go to the pavilion.** 
 
 Our hero and his friend took their seats, and Gascoigne then 
 communicated the history of Don Rebiera, to which we shall 
 dedicate the ensuing chapter. 
 
CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 A long story, which the reader must listen to, as well as our hero. 
 
 "i HAVE^already made you acquainted with my name, and I have 
 only to add, that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that 
 there are few families who possess such large estates. My father 
 was a man who had no pleasure in the pursuits of most of the 
 young men of his age ; he was of a weakly constitution, and was 
 with difficulty reared to manhood. When his studies were 
 completed he retired to his country-seat, belonging to our fa- 
 mily, which is about twenty miles from Palermo, and shutting 
 himself up, devoted himself wholly to literary pursuits. 
 
 ** As he was an only son, his parents were naturally very 
 anxious that he should marry ; the more so as his health did not 
 promise him a very extended existence. Had he consulted his 
 own inclinations he would have declined, but he felt that it was 
 his duty to comply with their wishes ; but he did not trouble 
 himself with the choice, leaving it wholly to them. They se- 
 lected a young lady of high family, and certainly of most exqui- 
 site beauty. I only wish I could say more in her favour, for she 
 was my mother ; but it is impossible to narrate the history with- 
 out exposing her conduct. The marriage took place, and my 
 father, having woke up as it were at the celebration, again re- 
 turned to his closet, to occupy himself in abtruse studies ; the 
 results of which have been published, and have fully established 
 his reputation as a man of superior talent and deep research. 
 But, however much the public may appreciate the works of a 
 man of genius, whether they be written to instruct or to amuse, 
 certain it is, that a literary man requires, in his wife, either a 
 mind congenial to his own, or that pride in her husband's talents 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 183 
 
 which induces her to sacrifice much of her own domestic enjoy- 
 ment to the satisfaction of haying his name extolled abroad. I 
 mention this point as some extenuation of my mother's conduct. 
 She was neglected most certainly, but not neglected for frivo- 
 lous amusements, or because another form had more captivated 
 his fancy; but, in his desire to instruct others, and I may add, 
 his ambition for renown, he applied himself to his literary pur- 
 suits, became abstracted, answered without hearing, and left his 
 wife to amuse herself in any way she might please. A literary 
 husband is, without exception, although always at home, the least 
 domestic husband in the world, and must try the best of tempers, 
 not by unkindness, for my father was kind and indulgent to ex- 
 cess, but by that state of perfect abstraction and indifference 
 which he showed to every thing except the favourite pursuit 
 which absorbed him. My mother had but to speak, and every 
 wish was granted — a refusal was unknown. You may say, what 
 could she want more ; I reply, that any thing to a woman is pre- 
 ferable to indifference. The immediate consent to every wish 
 took away, in her opinion, all merit in the grant; the value of 
 every thing is only relative, and in proportion to the difficulty 
 of obtaining it. The immediate assent to every opinion was 
 tantamount to insult ; it implied that he did not choose to argue 
 with her. 
 
 ** It is true, that women like to have their own way ; but they 
 like, at the same time, to have difficulties to surmount and to con- 
 quer. Otherwise, half the gratification is lost. Although 
 tempests are to be deplored, still a certain degree of oscillation 
 and motion are requisite to keep fresh and clear the lake of 
 matrimony, the waters of which otherwise soon stagnate and 
 become foul, and without some contrary currents of opinion 
 between a married couple such a stagnation must take place. 
 
 *' A woman permitted always and invariably to have her own 
 way without control, is much in the same situation as the child 
 who insists upon a whole instead of half a holiday, and before 
 the evening closes is tired of himself and every thing about him. 
 In short, a little contradiction, like salt at dinner, seasons and 
 appetizes the repast; but too much) like the condiment in 
 
184 m\. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 question, spoils the whole, and it becomes unpalatable in pro- 
 portion to its excess. 
 
 ** My mother was a vain woman in every sense of the word — 
 vain of her birth and of her beauty, and accustomed to receive 
 that homage to which she considered herself entitled. She had 
 been spoiled in her infancy, and as she grew up had learnt 
 nothing, because she was permitted to do as she pleased; she was 
 therefore frivolous, and could not appreciate what she could 
 not comprehend. There never was a more ill-assorted union. '* 
 
 **I have always thought that such must be the case," replied 
 Gascojgne, **in Catholic countries, where a young person is 
 taken out of a convent and mated according to what her family 
 or her wealth may consider as the most eligible connexion." 
 
 ** On that subject there are many opinions, my friend," replied 
 Don Rebiera. * * It is true, that when a marriage of convenience 
 is arranged by the parents, the dispositions of the parties are 
 made a secondary point; but then, again, it must be remember- 
 ed, that when a choice is left to the parties themselves, it is at 
 an age at which there is little worldly consideration ; and, led 
 away, in the first place, by their passions, they form connexions 
 with those inferior in their station, which are attended with 
 eventual unhappiness ; or, in the other, allowing that they do 
 choose in their own rank of life, they make quite as bad or often 
 a worse choice, than if their partners were selected for them.'* 
 
 **I cannot understand that," replied Gascoigne. 
 
 *'The reason is, because there are no means, or if means, no 
 wish, to study each other's disposition, A young man is at- 
 tracted by person, and he admires; the young woman is flattered 
 by the admiration, and is agreeable ; if she has any faults she is 
 not likely to display them— not concealing them from hypocrisy, 
 but because they are not called out. The young man falls in 
 love, so does the young woman ; and when once in love, they 
 can no longer see faults; they marry, imagining that they have 
 found perfection. In the blindness of love, each raises the 
 other to a standard of perfection, which human nature can never 
 attain, and each becomes equally annoyed on finding, by degrees, 
 that they were in error. The re-action takes place, and they 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 185 
 
 then under-rate, as much as hefore they had over-rated, each 
 other. Now, if two young people marry without this violence 
 of passion, they do not expect to find each other perfect, and 
 perhaps have a belter chance of happiness." 
 
 **I don't agree with yoa," thought Gascoigne, "but as you 
 appear to be as fond of argument as my friend Jack, I shall make 
 no reply, lest there be no end to the story." 
 
 Don Rebiera proceeded. 
 
 ** My mother, finding that my father preferred his closet and 
 his books to gaiety and dissipation, soon left him to himself, and 
 amused herself after her own fashion, but not until I was born, 
 which was ten months after their marriage. My father was 
 confiding, and pleased that my mother should be amused, he 
 indulged her in every thing. Time flew on, and I had arrived 
 at my fifteenth year, and came home from my studies, it being 
 intended that I should enter the army, which you are aware is 
 generally the only profession embraced in this country by the 
 heirs of noble families. Of course, I knew little of what had 
 passed at home, but still I had occasionally heard my mother 
 spoken lightly of, when I was not supposed to be present, and 
 I always heard my father's name mentioned with compassion, as 
 if an ill-used man, but I knew nothing more; still this was quite 
 sufficient for a young man, whose blood boiled at the idea of any 
 thing like a stigma being cast upon his family. I arrived at my 
 father's, I found him at his books ; I paid my respects to my 
 mother, I found her with her confessor. I disliked the man at 
 first sight ; he was handsome, ijjBrtainly : his forehead was high 
 and white, his eyes large and fiery, and his figure commanding; 
 but there was a dangerous, proud look about him which disgusted 
 me, — nothing like humility or devotion. I might have admired 
 him as an officer commanding a regiment of cavalry, but as a 
 churchman he appeared to be most misplaced. She named me 
 with kindness, but he appeared to treat me with disdain ; he 
 spoke authoritatively to my mother, who appeared to yield im- 
 phcitly, and I discovered that he was lord of the whole house- 
 hold. My mother, too, it was said, had given up gaieties and 
 become devout. I soon perceived more than a common intelli- 
 gence between them, and before 1 had been two months at home 
 
186 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 I had certain proofs of my father's dishonour ; and, what was 
 still more unfortunate for me, they were aware that such was 
 the case. My first impulse was to acquaint my father ; but, oh 
 consideration, I thought it better to say nothing, provided I 
 could persuade my mother to dismiss Father Ignatio. I took an 
 opportunity when she was alone to express my indignation at 
 her conduct, and to demand his immediate dismissal, as a con- 
 dition of my not divulging her crime. She appeared frightened, 
 and gave her consent; but I soon found that her confessor had 
 more power with her than I had, and he remained. I now 
 resolved to acquaint my father, and I roused him from his stu- 
 dies that he might listen to his shame. I imagined that he 
 would have acted calmly and discreetly ; but, on the contrary, 
 his violence was without bounds, and I had the greatest difficulty 
 from preventing his rushing with his sword to sacrifice them 
 both. At last he contented himself by turning Father Ignatio 
 out of the house in the most ignominious manner, and desiring 
 my mother to prepare for seclusion in a convent for the remainder 
 of her days. — But he fell their victim; three days afterwards, 
 as my mother was, by his directions, about to be removed, he 
 was seized with convulsions and died, I need hardly say, that 
 he was carried off by poison ; this, however, could not be esta- 
 blished till long afterwards. Before he died he seemed to be 
 almost supernaturally prepared for an event which never came 
 into my thoughts. He sent for another confessor, who drew up 
 his confession in writing at his own request, and afterwards in- 
 serted it in his will. My mother remained in the house, and 
 Father Ignatio had the insolence to return, I ordered him 
 away, and he resisted. He was turned out by the servants. I 
 had an interview with my mother, who defied me, and told me 
 that I should soon have a brother to share in the succession, 
 I felt that it' so, it would be the illegitimate progeny of her 
 adultery, and told her my opinion. She expressed her rage in 
 the bitterest curses, and I left her. Shortly afterwards she 
 quitted the house and retired to another of our country-seats, 
 where she lived with Father Ignatio as before. About four 
 months afterwards, formal notice was sent to me of the birth of 
 a brother; but, as when my father's will was opened, he there 
 
MR. MlDSfflPMAN EASY* 187 
 
 had inserted his confession, or the substance of it, in which he 
 stated, that aware of my mother's guilt, and supposing that con- 
 sequences might ensue, he solemnly declared before God that he 
 had for years lived apart. I cared little for this communicatiou 
 — I contented myself with replying, that as the child belonged, 
 to the church, it had better be dedicated to its service. 
 
 '* I had, however, soon reason to acknowledge the vengeance 
 of my mother and her paramour. One night I was attacked by 
 bravos ; and had I not fortunately received assistance, I should 
 have forfeited my life ; as it was, I received a severe wound. 
 
 ** Against attempts of that kind I took every precaution in 
 future, but still every attempt was made to ruin my character, 
 as well as to take my life. A young sister disappeared from a 
 convent in my neighbourhood, and on the ground near the 
 window from which she descended, was found a hat, recognized 
 to be mine. I was proceeded against, and notwithstanding the 
 strongest interest, it was with difficulty that the affair was ar- 
 ranged, although I had inconlestably proved an alibi, 
 
 *' A young man of rank was found murdered with a stiletto, 
 known to be mine, buried in his bosom, and it was with difficulty 
 .that I could establish my innocence. 
 
 **Part of a banditti had been seized, and on being asked the 
 name of their chief, when they received absolution, they con- 
 fessed that I was the chief of the band. 
 
 ** Every thing that could be attempted was put into practice; 
 and if I did not lose my life, at all events I was avoided by almost 
 every body as a dangerous and doubtful character. 
 
 " At last a nobleman of rank, the father of Don Scipio, whom 
 you disarmed, was assassinated ; the bravos were taken, and 
 they acknowledged that I was the person who hired them. 
 I defended myself, but the king imposed upon me a heavy fine 
 and banishment. I had just received the order, and was crying 
 out against the injustice, and lamenting my hard fate, as I sat 
 down to dinner. Latterly, aware of what my enemies would 
 attempt, I had been accustomed to live much alone. My faithful 
 valet Pedro was my only attendant. I was eating my dinner 
 with little appetite, and had asked for some wine. Pedro went 
 to the beaufet behind him, to give me what I requirjed* kmr 
 
188 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 dentally I lifted up my head, and there being a large pierglass 
 opposite to me, I saw the figure of my valet, and that he was 
 pouring a powder in the flagon of wine which he was about to 
 present to me. I recollected the hat being found at the nunnery, 
 and also the stiletto in the body of the young man. 
 
 " Like lightning it occurred to me, that I had been fostering 
 the viper who had assisted to destroy me. He brought me the 
 flagon. I rose, locked the door, and drawing my sword, I ad- 
 dressed him, 
 
 ** * Villain I I know thee ; down on your knees, for your life is 
 forfeited.* 
 
 ** He turned pale, trembled, and sank upon his knees. 
 
 ***Now, then,' continued I, 'you have but one chance — 
 either drink off this flagon of wine, or I pass my sword through 
 your body.— He hesitated, and I put the point to his breast, even 
 pierced the flesh a quarter of an inch. 
 
 " * Drink,' cried I — *is it so very unjust an order, to tell you 
 to drink old wine ? Drink,' continued I, * or my sword does its 
 duty.' 
 
 * * He drank, and would then have quitted the room. * No, no,' 
 said I, 'you remain here, and the wine must have its effect. 
 If I have wronged you I will make amends to you — but I am sus- 
 picious.' 
 
 ** In about a quarter of an hour, during which time I paced up 
 and down the room, with my sword drawn, my servant fell 
 down, and cried in mercy to let him have a priest. I sent for 
 my own confessor, and he then acknowledged that he was an 
 agent of my mother and Father Ignatio, and had been the means 
 of making it appear that I was the committer of all the crimes 
 and murders which had been perpetrated by them, with a view 
 to my destruction. A strong emetic having been administered 
 to him, he partially revived, and was taken to Palermo, where 
 he gave his evidence before he expired. 
 
 **When this was made known, the king revoked his sentence, 
 apologized to me, and I found that once more I was visited and 
 courted by every body. My mother was ordered to be shut up 
 in a convent, where she died, I trust, in grace, and Father 
 Ignatio fled to Italy, and I have been informed is since dead. 
 
n. 
 
 MR, MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 189 
 
 '* Having thus ridden myself of my principal enemies, I con- 
 sidered myself safe, I married the lady whom you have just 
 seen, and before my eldest son was born, Don Silvio, for such 
 was the name given to my asserted legitimate brother, came of 
 age, and demanded his succession. Had he asked me for a 
 proper support, as my uterine brother, I should not have 
 refused ; but that the son of Friar Ignatio, who had so often at- 
 tempted my life, should, in case of my decease, succeed to the 
 title and estates, was not to be borne. A law-suit was imme- 
 diately commenced, which lasted four or five years during which 
 Don Silvio married, and had a son, that young man whom you 
 heard me address by the same name; but after much litigation, 
 it was decided that my father's confessor and will had proved his 
 illegitimacy, and the suit was in my favour. From that time to 
 this, there has been a constant enmity. Don Silvio refused all 
 my offers of assistance, and followed me with a pertinacity which 
 often endangered my life. At last he fell by the hands of his 
 own agents, who mistook him for me. Don Silvio died with- 
 out leaving any provision for his family ; his widow I pensioned, 
 and his son I have had carefully brought up, and have indeed 
 treated most liberally, but he appears to have imbibed the spirit 
 of his father, and no kindness has been able to embue him with 
 gratitude. 
 
 *'He had lately been placed by me in the army, where he 
 found out my two sons, and quarrelled with them both upon 
 slight pretence, but, in both instances, he was wounded and 
 carried off the field. 
 
 '* My two sons have been staying with me these last two 
 months, and did not leave till yesterday. This morning Don 
 Silvio, accompanied by Don Scipio, came to the house, and after 
 accusing me of being the murderer of both their parents, drew 
 their rapiers to assassinate me. — |\Iy wife and child hearing the 
 noise, came down to my assistance.— You know the rest." 
 
CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 In which our hero is brought up all standing under a press of sail. 
 
 Our limits will not permit us to relate all that passed during our 
 hero's slay of a fortnight at Don Rebiera's. He and Gascoigne 
 were treated as if they were his own sons, and the kindness of 
 the female part of the family was equally remarkable. Agnes, 
 naturally perhaps, showed a preference or partiality for Jack; 
 to which Gascoigne willingly submitted, as he felt that our hero 
 had a prior and stronger claim, and during the time that they 
 remained, a feeling of attachment was created between Agnes 
 and the philosopher, which^ if not love, was at least something 
 very near akin to it ; but the fact was, that they were both much 
 too young to think of marriage; and, although they walked and 
 talked, and laughed and played together, they were always at 
 home in time for their dinner. Still, the young lady thought 
 she preferred our hero, even to her brothers, and Jack thought 
 that the young lady was the prettiest and the kindest girl that 
 he had ever met with. At the end of the fortnight, our two 
 midshipmen took their leave, furnished with letters of recom- 
 mendation to many of the first nobility in Palermo, and mounted 
 on two fine mules with bell-bridles. The old Donna kissed them 
 both — the Don showered down his blessings of good wishes, and 
 Donna Agnes* lips trembled as she bade them adieu; and, as 
 soon as they were gone, she went up to her chamber and wept. 
 Jack also was very grave, and his eyes moistened at the thoughts 
 of leaving Agnes. Neither of them were aware, until the hour 
 of parting, how much they had wound themselves together. 
 The first quarter of an hour our two midshipmen followed 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 191 
 
 their guide in silence. Jack wished to be left to hi§ own 
 thoughts, and Gascoigne perceived it, tMid^ll t i 
 
 "Well, Easy," said Gascoigne, at last, ''if I had heen in 
 your place, constantly in company of, and loved by that charm- 
 ing girl, I could never have torn myself away." ; ;: - : 
 
 ' ' Loved by her, Ned," replied Jack, ' ' what makes you say that?* 
 
 ''Because I am sure it was the case; she lived but in your 
 presence. Why, if you were out of the room, she never spoke 
 a word, but sat there as melancholy as a sick monkey — the mo- 
 ment you came in again, she beamed out as glorious as the sun, 
 and was all life and spirit." 
 
 *'l thought people were always melancholy when they were 
 in love," replied Jack. 
 
 " When those that they love are out of their presence." 
 
 "Well, then, I am out of her presence, and I feel very me- 
 lancholy, so I suppose, by your argument, I am in love. Can a 
 man be in love without knowing it ?" 
 
 " I really cannot say. Jack, I never was in love myself, but 
 Fve seen many others spooney. My time will come, I suppose, 
 by-and-bye. They say, that for every man made, there is a 
 woman also made to fit him, if he could only find her. Now, it^s 
 my opinion that you have found yours —I'll lay my life she's 
 crying at this moment." 
 
 "Do you really think so, Ned? let's go back— poor little 
 Agnes — let's go back ; I feel I do love her, and I'll tell her so." 
 
 "Pooh, nonsense I it's too late now; you should have told her 
 that before, when you walked with her in the garden." 
 
 " But I did not know it, Ned. However, as you say, it would 
 be foolish to turn back, so I'll write to her from Palermo." 
 
 Here an argument ensued upon love, which we shall not 
 trouble the reader with, as it was not very profound, both sides 
 knowing very little on the subject. It did, however, end with 
 our hero being convinced that he was desperately in love, and 
 he talked about giving up the service as soon as he arrived at 
 Malta. It is astonishing what sacrifices midshipmen will make 
 for the objects of their adoration. 
 
 It was not until late in the evening that our adventurers ar- 
 rived at Palermo. As soon as they were lodged at the hotel, 
 
192 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY, 
 
 Gascoigne sat down and wrote a letter in their joint names to 
 Don Rebiera, returning him many thanks for his great kindness, 
 informing him of their safe arrival, and trusting that they should 
 soon meet again : and Jack took up his pen, and indicted a letter 
 in Spanish to Agnes, in which he swore that neither tide nor 
 time, nor water nor air, nor heaven nor earth, nor the first lieu- 
 tenant nor his father, nor absence, nor death itself, should pre- 
 vent him from coming back and marrying her, the first conve- 
 nient opportunity, begging her to refuse a thousand offers, as 
 come back he would, although there was no saying when. It 
 was a perfect love-letter, that is to say, it was the essence of 
 nonsense, but that made it perfect, for the greater the love the 
 greater the folly. 
 
 These letters were consigned to the man who was sent as their 
 guide, and also had to return with the mules. He was liberally 
 rewarded; and, as Jack told him to be very careful of his letter, 
 the Italian naturally concluded that it was to be delivered clan- 
 destinely, and he delivered it accordingly, at a time when Agnes 
 was walking in the garden thinking of our hero. Nothing was 
 more opportune than the arrival of the letter; Agnes ran to the 
 pavilion, read it over twenty times, kissed it twenty times, and 
 hid it in her bosom; sat for a few minutes in deep and placid 
 thought, took the letter out of its receptacle, and read it over 
 and over again. It was very bad Spanish and very absurd, but she 
 thought it delightful, poetical, classical, sentimental, argumenta- 
 tive, convincing, incontrovertible, imaginative, and even gram- 
 matical, for if it was not good Spanish, there was no Spanish half 
 so good. Alas I Agnes was, indeed, unsophisticated, to be in 
 such ecstasies with a midshipman's love-letter. Once more she 
 hastened to her room to weep, but it was from excess of joy and 
 delight. The reader may think Agnes silly, but he must take 
 into consideration the climate, and that she was not yet fifteen. 
 
 Our young gentlemen sent for a tailor and each ordered a new 
 suit of clothes ; they delivered their letters of recommendation 
 and went to the banker to whom they were addressed by Don 
 Rebiera. 
 
 '* I shall draw for ten pounds. Jack," said Gascoigne, *' on the 
 strength of the shipwreck ; I shall tell the truth, all except that 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 193 
 
 we forgot to ask for leave, which I shall leave out ; and I'm sure 
 the story will he worth ten pounds. What shall vou drawfor, 
 Jack?" 
 
 *' I shall draw for two hundred pounds," replied Jack; *'I 
 mean to have a good cruise while I can." 
 
 ** But will your governor stand ihat, Easy?" 
 
 **Tobe sure he will." ' 
 
 **Then you're right — he is a philosopher — I wish he'd teach 
 mine, for he hales sight of a hill." 
 
 **Then don't you draw, Ned, — I have plenty for both. If 
 every man had his equal share and rights in the world, you would 
 be able to draw as much as I ; and, as you cannot, upon the 
 principles of equality, you shall have half." 
 
 ** I really shall become a convert to your philosophy. Jack; 
 it does not appear to be so nonsensical as I thought it. At all 
 events, it has saved my old governor ten pounds, which he can 
 ill afford, as a colonel on half-pay." 
 
 On their return to the inn, they found Don Philip and Don 
 Martin, to whom Don Rebiera had written, who welcomed them 
 with open arms. They were two very fine young men of eigh- 
 teen and nineteen, who were finishing their education in the 
 army. Jack asked them to dinner, add they and our hero soon 
 became inseparable. They took him to all the theatres, the 
 conversaziones of all the nobility, and, as Jack lost his money 
 with good humour, and was a very handsome fellow, he was 
 everywhere well received and was made much of; many ladies 
 made love to him, but Jack was only very polite, because he 
 thought more and more of Agnes every day. Three weeks pas- 
 sed away like lightning, and neither Jack nor Gascoigne thought 
 of going back. At last, one fine day, H. M. frigate Aurora an- 
 chored in the bay, and Jack and Gascoigne, who were at a party 
 at the Duke of Pentaro's, met with the captain of the Aurora, 
 who was also invited. The duchess introduced them to Captain 
 Tartar, who, imagining them, from their being in plain clothes, 
 to be young Englishmen of fortune on their travels, was very 
 gracious and condescending. Jack was so pleased with his ur- 
 banity that he requested the pleasure of his company to dinner 
 the next day ; Captain Tartar accepted the invitation, and they 
 
 i3 
 
 
194 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 parted, shaking hands, with many expressions of pleasure in ha- 
 ving made his acquaintance. Jack's parly was rather large, and 
 the dinner sumptuous. The Sicilian gentlemen did not drink 
 much wine, hut Captain Tartar liked his hottle, and although 
 the rest of the company quitted the table to go to a ball given 
 that evening by the Marquesa Novara, Jack was too polite not 
 to sit it out with the captain ; Gascoigne closed his chair to 
 Jack's, who, he was afraid^ being a little affected with the wine, 
 would ** let the cat out of the bag." 
 
 The captain was amazingly entertaining. Jack told him how 
 happy he should be to see him at Forest Hill, which property 
 the captain discovered to contain sjx thousand acres of land, 
 and also that Jack was an only son ; and Captain Tartar was 
 quite respectful when he found that he was in such very excel- 
 lent company. The captain of the frigate inquired of Jack what 
 brought him out here, and Jack, whose prudence was departing, 
 told him that he came out in his majesty's ship Harpy. Gas- 
 coigne gave Jack a nudge, but it was of no use, for s^s the wine 
 got into Jack's brain so did his notions of equality. 
 
 **0h| Wilson gave you a passage, he's an old frjend of 
 mine." 
 
 ** So he J5 of ours/' replied Jack ; *' he's a devilish good sort 
 of a fellow, Wilson." 
 
 *'But where h^ve you been since you came out?" inquired 
 Captain Tartar, 
 
 'f In the Harpy," replied Jack, <* to he sure, I belong to her." 
 
 '* You belong to her! in what capacity may I ask?" inquired 
 Captain Tfirtar, in a piuch Jess respectful and confidential tone. 
 
 ** IVIidshipnian," replied Jack; *^so is Mr. Gascoigne." 
 
 " Uniph ! you are on leave then." 
 
 ''No, indeed," replied Jack ; 'TU tell you how it i*?, ii^y (Jear 
 feUpw." .AuaZh■^'. 
 
 ' ' Excuse me one moment," replied Captain Tartar, rising 
 up; ''I must give some directions to my servant which I 
 forgot," 
 
 Captain Tartar hailed his coxswain out of the window, gave 
 orders just outside of the door, and then returned to the table. 
 Ja the meantime, Gaspoigne, who expected a breeze, had been 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. (95 
 
 cautioning Js^ck, in a low tpne, ^t inlerv£^ls, wte» Captain 
 Tartarus back was turned; but it was useless, the extra quanlity 
 of wine had got into Jack's head, and he cared nothing (or Gas- 
 coigue's remonstrances. When the captain resupied his seat at 
 the table, Jack gave hiip the true narrative of all that had passed, 
 to which his gviest paid the greatest attention , Jacjc wound up 
 his confidence by saying, that in a week or so he should go baQk 
 to Don Rebiera and propose for Donna Agnes. 
 
 <*Ah!" exclaimed Captain Tartar, drawing his breath with 
 astonishment and compressing his lips. 
 
 " Tartar, the wine stands with you,'' said Jack, *^ a)lQW me to 
 Jielp you," 
 
 Captain Tartar threw himself back in his chair and let all the 
 air Qvit of l^is chest with a sort of whistle, as if he could fiardly 
 contain himself. 
 
 '* HaYe you had wine enough ?" said Jacl^ very politely; *' if 
 so, we will go to the IMarquesa's." 
 
 The coxswain came to t|^e door, touched his hat to the captain, 
 and looked significantly, 
 
 * * Aud so, sir," cried Captain Tartar, in a voice of tjiunder, 
 rising from his chair, ** you're a d—d runaway midshipman, 
 who, jf you belonged to my ship, instead of marrying Donna 
 Agnps, I would marry you to the gunner's daughter, by G — d ! 
 Two midshipmen sporting plain clothes in the best society in 
 paler^iQ, ai^d having the impudence to ask a post-captain to dine 
 with tjiem ! To asls me, and address me as Tartar, and my dear 
 fellow ! You infernal young scamps !" continued Captain Tartar, 
 jiQw boiling with rage, and striking his fist on the table so as to 
 set all the glasses waltzing, 
 
 ''iVUpw ?ne to observe, gir," said Jack, who was completely 
 sobered by tbe address, ** that we do not belong to your ship, 
 and that we are in plain clothes." 
 
 '^ Jn plain clothes— midshipmen in mufti — yes, you are so ; a 
 conple of young swindlers, without a sixpence in your pockets, 
 passing yourselves off as young men of fortune, and walking pff 
 Ijirpugh the window withput paying ypur bil)." 
 
 f * Po you mean to call me a swindler, sir ?" repUed Jack, 
 
 ** Yes, sir, you " 
 
 i3. 
 
1% MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 "Then you lie," exclaimed our hero, in a rage.'* lama 
 gentleman, sir — I am sorry I cannot pay you the same com- 
 pliment." 
 
 The astonishment and rage of Captain Tartar took away his 
 breath. He tried to speak, but could not — he gasped, and 
 gasped, and then sat or almost fell down in his chair — at last he 
 recovered himself. 
 
 ** Matthews— Matthews !" 
 
 ** Sir," replied the coxswain, who had remained at the door. 
 
 ** The sergeant of marines." 
 
 <* Here he is, sir." 
 
 The sergeant entered and raised the back of his hand to his 
 hat. 
 
 ** Bring your marines in— take charge of these two. Directly 
 you are on board, put them both legs in irons." 
 
 The marines with their bayonets walked in and took posses- 
 sion of our hero and Gascoigne. 
 
 ** Perhaps, sir,'* replied Jack, who was now cool again, '* you 
 will perniit us to pay our bill before we go on board. We are 
 no swindlers, and it is rather a heavy one — or, as you have 
 taken possession of our persons, you will, perhaps, do us the 
 favour to discharge it yourself;" and Jack threw on the table a 
 heavy purse of dollars. *' I have only to observe. Captain Tar- 
 tar, that I wish to be very liberal to the waiters." 
 
 ** Sergeant, let them pay their bill," said Captain Tartar, in 
 a more subdued tone — taking his hat and sword and walking 
 out of the room. 
 
 *' By heavens, Easy, what have you done?— you will be tried 
 by a court-martial, and turned out of the service." 
 
 **I hope so,'* replied Jack; *M was a fool to come into it. 
 But he called me a swindler, and I would give the same answer 
 to-morrow." 
 
 "If you are ready, gentlemen," said the sergeant, who had 
 been long enough with Captain Tartar to be aware that to be 
 punished by him was no proof of fault having been committed. 
 
 ** I will go and pack up our things. Easy, while you pay the 
 bill," said Gascoigne. ** Marine, you had better come with 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 197 
 
 111 less than half-an-hour, our hero and his comrade, instead 
 of finding themselves at the Marquesa's ball, found themselves 
 very comfortably in irons under the half deck of H. M. frigate 
 Aurora. 
 
 We shall leave them and return to Captain Tartar, who had 
 proceeded to the ball, to which he had been invited. On his 
 entering he was accosted by Don Martin and Don Philip, who 
 inquired what had become of our hero and his friend. Captain 
 Tartar, who was in no very good humour, replied briskly, " that 
 they were on board his ship in irons.** 
 
 ** In irons I for what ?'* exclaimed Don Philip. 
 
 ** Because, sir, they are a couple ofyoung scamps who have 
 introduced themselves into the best company, passing them- 
 selves off as people of consequence, when they are only a couple 
 of midshipmen who have run away from their ship." 
 
 Now the Rebieras knew very well that Jack and his friend 
 were midshipmen ; but this did nol appear to them any reason 
 why they should not be considered as gentlemen and treated 
 accordingly. 
 
 ** Do you mean to say, signor," said Don Philip, *' that you 
 have accepted their hospitality, laughed, talked, walked arm-in- 
 arm with them, pledged them in wine, as we have seen you this 
 evening, and after they have confided in you that you have put 
 them in irons?" 
 
 ** Yes, sir, I do," replied Captain Tartar. 
 
 '*Tlien, by Heaven, you have my defiance, and you are no 
 gentleman !" replied Don Philip, the elder. 
 
 '* And I repeat my brother's words, sir," cried Don Martin. 
 
 The two brothers felt so much attachment for our hero who 
 had twice rendered such signal service to their family, that 
 their anger was without bounds. 
 
 In every other service but the English navy, there is not that 
 power of grossly insulting and then sheltering yourself under 
 your rank ; nor is it necessary for the discipline of any service. 
 To these young officers, if the power did exist, the use of such 
 power under such circumstances appeared monstrous, and they 
 were determined, at all events, to show to Captain Tartar, that 
 in society, at least, it could be resented. They collected their 
 
m Mil. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 friends, told them what h£ld passed, and begged theiti to cilrctilate 
 it through the room. This was soon done, and Captain Tartat* 
 found himself avoided. He Went Up to the Marquesa and spoke 
 to her— she turned her head the other way. He addressed a 
 count he had been conyiersing with the night befote — he turned 
 short tound upon his heel, while Don Philip and Don Martiil 
 walked up and down talking, so that he might h^ht what they 
 said, and lookihg at him with eyes flashing with indignation. 
 Captain Tartar left the ball-room and returned to the inn, more 
 indignant than ever. When he rose the nelt ittOrning he WaS 
 informed that a gentleman wished to speak with him ; he sent 
 up his card as Don Ignatio Verez, colonel comin&riding the fourth 
 regiment of infantry. On being admitted, he informed Captain 
 Tartar that Don Philip de Rebiera Wished to have the pleasurie 
 of crossing swords with him, and requested to kiiow when it 
 would be convenient for Captain Tartar to meet him. 
 
 It was not in Captain Tartar's nature to refuse a challenge, 
 his courage was unquestionable, but he f^lt indigtiant that a 
 midshipman should be the cause of his getting into feucli a 
 scrape. He accepted the challenge, but having no knowledge 
 of the small sword, refused to fight unless with pistols. To this 
 the colotiel raised no objections, and Captain Tartar dispatched 
 his coxswain with a note to his second lieutenant, for he was not 
 on good terms with his first. The meeting took place— at the 
 first fire, the ball of Don Philip passed through Captain Tar- 
 tar's brain, and he instantly fell dead. The secohd lieutenant 
 hastened on board to report the fatal result of the meeting, and 
 shortly after, Don Philip and his brother, with ijiany of their 
 friends, Went off in the governor's barge to condole with our 
 hero. 
 
 The first lieutenant, now captain/?/*o tempore, received them 
 graciously, and listened to their remonstrances relative to our 
 hero and Gascoigne. 
 
 **I have tiever been informed by the captain of the grounds 
 of complaint against the young gentlemen," replied he, "and 
 have therefore no charge to prefer against them. I shall there- 
 fore order them to be liberated. Biit, as I learn that they are 
 officers belonging to one of his Majesty's ships lying at Malta, 1 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. iM 
 
 feel it my duty, as I sail immediately, to take ih^toi ih^i^e arid 
 send them on board of their own ship." 
 
 Jack and Gascoigne were then taken oUt of irons and per- 
 mitted to see Don Philip, who informed them that he had re- 
 venged the insult, but Jack and Gascoigne did not wish to go on 
 shore again after what had passed. After an hour's Cotiversci- 
 tion, and assurances of continued friendship, Don Philip, his 
 brother, and their friends, took leave of our two midshipmen and 
 rowed on shore. 
 
 And now we must be serious. 
 
 We do not write these novels merely to amuse, w6 have 
 always had it in our view to instruct, and it must not be supposed 
 that we have no other end in view than to make the reader 
 laugh. If we were to write an elaborate work telling truths, 
 and plain truths, confining ourselves only to point out errors 
 and to demand reform, it would not be read ; we have therefore 
 selected this light and trifling species of writing, as it is by many 
 denominated, as a channel through which we may convey whole- 
 some advice in a palatable shape. If we would point out an 
 error, we draw a character, and although that character appears 
 to weave naturally into the tale of fiction, it becomes as much a 
 beacon, as it is a vehicle of amusement. We consider this to 
 be the true art of novel writing, and that crime and folly and 
 error can be as severely lashed, as virtue and morality can be 
 upheld, by a series of amusing causes and effects, that entice the 
 reader to take a medicine, which although rendered agreeable 
 to the palate, still produces the same internal benefit as if it had 
 been presented to him in its crude state, in which it would 
 either be refused or nauseated. 
 
 In our naval novels, we have often pointed out the errors 
 which have esdsted, and still do exist, in a service which is an 
 honour to its country ; for what institution is there on earth that 
 is perfect, or into which, if it once were perfect, abuses will not 
 creep ? Unfortunately others have written to decry the service^ 
 alid many have raised up their voices against our writings, he- 
 cause they felt that in eli:posing error, we were exposing them. 
 But to this we have been indifferent ; we felt that we were doing 
 good, and we have continued. To prove that we are correct in 
 
200 m\, MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 asserting that we have done good, we will, out of several, state 
 one single case. 
 
 In the '* King's Own," a captain, when requested to punish a 
 man instanter for a fault committed, replied that he never has 
 and never will punish a man until twenty-four hours after the 
 offence, that he may not be induced by the anger of the moment 
 to award a severer punishment than in his cooler moments he 
 might think commensurate — and that he wished that the Admi- 
 ralty would give out an order to that effect. 
 
 Some time after the publication of that work, the order was 
 given by the Admiralty, forbidding the punishment until a cer- 
 tain time had elapsed after the ofl'ence, and we had the pleasure 
 of knowing from the first lord of the Admiralty of the lime, that 
 it was inconsequence of the suggestion in the novel. 
 
 If our writings had effected nothing else, we might slill lay 
 down our pen with pride and satisfaction; but they have done 
 more, much more, and while they have amused the reader, they 
 have improved the service ; they have held up in their charac- 
 ters a mirror, in which those who have been in error may see 
 their own deformity, and many hints which have been given 
 have afterwards returned to the thoughts of those who have had 
 influence, have been considered as their own ideas, and have 
 been acted upon. The conduct of Captain Tartar may be con- 
 sidered as a libel on the service — is it not. The fault of Cap- 
 lain Tartar was not in sending them on board , or even putting 
 them in irons as deserters, although, under the circumstances, 
 he might have shown more delicacy. The fault was in stigma- 
 tizing a young man as a swindler, and the punishment awarded 
 to the error is intended to point out the moral, that such an 
 abuse of power should be severely visited. The greatest error 
 now in our service is the disregard shown to the feelings of the 
 junior officers in the language of their superiors: that an impro- 
 vement has taken place I grant, but that it slill exists, to a 
 degree injurious to the service, I know too well. The articles 
 of war, as our hero was informed by his captain, were equally 
 binding on officers and crew ; but what a dead letter do they be- 
 come if officers are permitted to break them with impunity I 
 The captain of a ship will turn the hands up to punishment, 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 201 
 
 read the article of war for the transgressing of which the pu- 
 nishment is inflicted, and to show at that lime their high respect 
 for the articles of war, the captain and every officer take off 
 their hats. The moment the hands are piped down, the second 
 article of war, which forhids all swearing, etc., in derogation 
 of God's honour, is immediately disregarded. We are not 
 strait-laced, we care little ahout an oath as a mere expletive; 
 we refer now to swearing at others, to insulting their feelings 
 grossly hy coarse and intemperate language. We would never 
 interfere with a man for d — g his own eyes, hut we deny the 
 right of his d — g those oi another. 
 
 The rank of a master in the service is ahove that of a midship- 
 man, hut still the midshipman is a gentleman hy hirlh, and the 
 master, generally speaking, is not. Even at this moment, in the 
 service, if the master were to d — n the eyes of a midshipman, 
 and tell him that he was a liar, would there be any redress, or if 
 so, would it be commensurate to the insult? If a midshipman 
 were to request a court martial, would it be granted? — certainly 
 not : and yet this is a point of more importance than may be 
 conceived. Our service has been wonderfully improved since 
 the peace, and those who now are permitted to enter it must be 
 gentlemen. We know that even now there are many who cry 
 out against this as dangerous and injurious to the service; as if 
 education spoilt an officer, and the scion of an illustrious house 
 would not be more careful to uphold an escutcheon wiihout ble- 
 mish for centuries, than one who has little more than brute 
 courage ; but those who argue thus are the very people who 
 are injurious to the service, for they can have no other reason, 
 except that they wish the juniors may be tyrannized over with 
 impunity. 
 
 Be it remembered that these are not the observations of a 
 junior officer, smarting under insult — they are the result of deep 
 and calm reflection. We have arrived to that grade, that, al- 
 though we have the power to inflict, we are too high to receive 
 insult, but we have not forgotten how our young blood has boiled 
 when wanton, reckless, and cruel torture has been heaped upon 
 our feelings, merely because, as a junior officer, we were not in 
 a position to retaliate or even to reply. And another evil is. 
 
2d^ MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 that this great error is disseminated. In observing on it, in one 
 of oilr works, called ^* Peter Simple," we have put the following 
 true observation in the mouth of O'Brien. Peter observes, in 
 his simple, right-minded way, 
 
 ^^I should think, O'Brien, that the very circumstance of hav- 
 ing had your feelings so often wounded by such language when 
 you were a junior officer, would make you doubly careful not to 
 use it towards others, when you had advanced in the service ?" 
 
 ** Peler, that's just the first feeling, which wears away after 
 a lime, till at last, your own sense of indignation becomes blunt- 
 ed, and becomes indifferent to it; you forget also, that you 
 wound the feelings of others, and carry the 'habit with you, to 
 the great injury and disgrace of the service." 
 
 Let it not be supposed that in making these remarks we want 
 to cause litigation, or insubordination. On the contrary, we 
 assert that this error is the cause, and eventually will be much 
 more the cause, of insubordination ; for as the junior officers who 
 enter the service are improved so will they resist it. The com- 
 plaint here is more against the officers, than the captains, whose 
 power has been perhaps already too much curtailed by late regu- 
 lations ; that power must remain, for although there may be 
 some few who are so perverted as to make those whom they 
 command uncomfortable, injustice to the service we are proud 
 to assert, that the majority acknowledge, by their conduct^ that 
 the greatest charm attached to power, is to be able to make so 
 many people happy. 
 
CHAPTER XXltl. 
 
 Our hero i^ sick with the service , bbt recovers with prbp^r medicine. An argil* 
 ment, ending as most do, in a blow up. Mesty lectures upon craniology. 
 
 Tflfi daj Elftfef the funeral, H. M. ship Mrou sailed for Mdlta, 
 and on her arrival the acting captain sent our two midshipmen 
 on board the Harpy without any remark, except *' victualled the 
 day discharged," as they had been borne on the ship's books as 
 super nurtieraries. 
 
 Mr. Jartied, who was acting in the Aiirora, Was anxious to join 
 the admiral at Toulon, and intended to sail the next day. He 
 met Captain Wilson at the governor's table, and stated that Jack 
 and Gascoigne had been pnt in irons by order of Captain Tar- 
 tar ; his suspicions, and the report that the duel had in conse- 
 quence taken place ; but Gascoigne and Jack had both agreed 
 that they would not communicate the events of their cruise to 
 anybody on board of the Aurora ; and therefore nothing else Was 
 known, except that they must have made powerful friends some- 
 how or another ; and there appeared in the conduct of Captain 
 Tartar, as well as in the whole transaction, sottiewhat of d 
 mystery, 
 
 '* I should like to know what happened to my friend Jack, 
 who fought the duel,'^ said the governor, who had laughed at it 
 till he held his sides; *' Wilson, do bring him here to-morrow 
 morning, and let Us have his story." 
 
 *' I am afraid of encouraging him, Sir Thomas— he is ffittcii 
 too wild already. I told you of his first cruise. He has nothing 
 but adventures, and they all end too favourably.'* 
 
 ** Well, but you can send for him here and blow hitu up, just 
 as well as in your own cabin, and then we Will haVfe the truth 
 otlt of him." 
 
204 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 '* That you certainly will," replied Captain Wilson, *< for he 
 tells it plainly enough." 
 
 ** Well, to oblige me, send for him — I don't see he was much 
 to blame in absconding, as it appears he thought he would be 
 hung— I want to see the lad." 
 
 ** Well, governor, if you wish it," replied Captain Wilson, 
 who wrote a note to Mr. Sawbridge, requesting he would send 
 Mr. Easy to him at the governor's house at ten o'clock in the 
 morning. 
 
 Jack made his appearance in his uniform — he did not much 
 care for what was said to him, as he was resolved to leave the 
 service. He had been put in irons, and the iron had entered into 
 his soul, 
 
 M. Sawbridge had gone on shore about an hour before Jack 
 had been sent on board, and he had remained on shore all the 
 night. He did not therefore see Jack but for a few minutes, and 
 thinking it his duty to say nothing to him at first, or to express 
 his displeasure, he merely observed to him that the captain 
 would speak to him as soon he came on board. As Gascoigne 
 and our hero did not know how far it might be safe, even at 
 Malta, to acknowledge to what occurred on board of the spero- 
 nare, which might get wind, they did not even tell their mess- 
 mates, resolving only to confide it to the captain. 
 
 When Jack was ushered into the presence of the captain, he 
 found him sitting with the governor, and the breakfast on the 
 table ready for them. Jack walked in with courage, but res- 
 pectfully. He was fond of Captain Wilson, and wished to show 
 him respect. Captain Wilson addressed him, pointed out that 
 he had committed a great error in fighting a duel, a greater 
 error in demeaning himself by fighting the purser's steward, and 
 still greater in running away from his ship. Jack looked res- 
 pectfully to Captain Wilson, acknowledged that he had done 
 wrong, and promised to be more careful another time, if Captain 
 Wilson would look over it. 
 
 ** Captain Wilson, allow me to plead for the young gentle- 
 man," said the governor; ** I am convinced that it has only been 
 an error in judgment." 
 
 ** Well, Mr. Easy, as you express your contrition, and the 
 
MR. ]M1DSH1I^MAN EASV. 205 
 
 governor interferes in your behalf, I shall take no more notice 
 of this; but recollect, Mr. Easy, that you have occasioned me 
 a great deal of anxiety by your mad pranks, and I trust another 
 time you will remember that I am too anxious for your welfare 
 not to be uncomfortable when you run such risks. You may 
 now go on board to your duty, and tell Mr. Gascoigne to do 
 the same ; and pray let us hear of no more duels or running 
 away." 
 
 Jack, whose heart softened at this kind treatment, did not 
 venture to speak ; he made his bow, and was about to quit the 
 room, when the governor said, 
 
 ** Mr. Easy, you have not breakfasted." 
 
 <* I have, sir," replied Jack, *' before I came on shore." 
 
 ** But a midshipman can always eat two breakfasts, particu- 
 larly when his own comes first — so sit down and breakfast with 
 us — it's all over now." 
 
 **Even if it was not," replied Captain Wilson, laughing, 
 *' I doubt whether it would spoil Mr. Easy's breakfast; — come, 
 Mr. Easy, sit down. " 
 
 Jack bowed, and took his chair, and proved that his lecture 
 had not taken away his appetite. When breakfast was over^ 
 Captain Wilson observed, 
 
 '* Mr. Easy, you have generally a few adventures to speak of 
 when you return, will you tell the governor and me what has 
 taken place since you left us." 
 
 *' Certainly, sir," replied Jack; *'but I venture to request 
 that it may be under the promise of secrecy, for it's rather im- 
 portant to me and Gascoigne." 
 
 ** Yes, if secrecy is really necessary, my boy; but Vm the 
 best judge of that," replied the governor. 
 
 Jack then entered into a detail of his adventures, which we 
 have already described, much to the astonishment of the gover- 
 nor and his captain, and concluded his narration by stating that 
 he wanted to leave the service ; he hoped that Captain Wilson 
 would discharge him and send him home. 
 
 "Pooh, nonsense!" said the governor, **you shaVt leave 
 the Mediterranean while I am here. No, no ; you must have 
 more adventures, and come back and tell them to me. And re- 
 
^56 m* MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 collect, my h^> that whenever you cpmp to Malta, 1<bpre is a bed 
 at the goY^iraor'^ jtow^e, and a seat at \\is tahl^, always re^dy for 
 
 " You are very kind, Sir Thomas," replied Jack, **but— " 
 
 **]N[o buts at all, sir — you sha'n't leave the service; besides, 
 reqpllect that I can ask for leave of absence for yoia to go awd 
 gee Donwa Agwes— ay, and send you there too." 
 
 Captain Wilson also remonstrated with our hero, and he gave 
 ^^p the point. It was harsh treatment which madQ hjift form 
 the resolution I it was kiiidness which overcame it. 
 
 ** With your permission, Captain Wilson, Mr, Easy shall dine 
 with us to-day and bring Gascoigne with hiiu ; you shall first 
 scold him? and I'll console him with a good din^er^and, boy, 
 4pn't be afraid to tell your story every where, sit dovn and tell 
 it at ?^ix Mangare stairs, if you please,— I'm governor here." 
 
 Jack made his obeisance and departed. 
 
 '1 The lad must he treated kindly, Captain Wilson," said the 
 governor ; ^* he would be a lo^s to the service. Good heavens, 
 what adventures! and how honestly he tells every thing. I 
 shall ask him to stay with me for the lime you aro here, if you 
 will allow me : I want to makj^ frjeuds with him ; he must not 
 leave the service." 
 
 Captain Wilson, who felt that kindness and attention would 
 be more effectual with our hero than any other measures, gave 
 his consent to the governor's proposition. So Jack ate at the 
 governor's table, and took lessons in Spanish aud Itahan until 
 the Harpy had been refitted, after heaving dowu. Before she 
 was ready a vessel arrived from the fleet, direpling Captain Wil- 
 ;?on to repair to Mahou, aud send a transport, lying there, to 
 procure live bullocks for the fleet. Jack did not join his ship 
 yery willingly, but he had promised the governor to remain in 
 the seryipe, and he went on board the evening before she sailed. 
 He had been living so well that he had, at first, a horror of mid- 
 shipman's fare, but a good appetite seasons every thing, and 
 Jack soon complained tha^ thpre was not enough. He was de- 
 lighted tp see Jolliffe and Mesty after so long an ahsenpe ; he 
 laughed at the boatswain's cheeks, inquired after the purser's 
 ^t^w^rd'§ ^bot^hdtei* $b9ok bmi^ with Gasicpiga^ aud Us other 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN PASy. 207 
 
 messmates, gave Vigors a thrashing, and theij sat dowij to 
 supper. 
 
 * * Ah, Massa Easy, why you take a cruise without me ?" said 
 Mesty , *' dat very shabby— by de power, but I wish I was there: 
 you ab too much danger, Massa Easy, without Mesty, any how." 
 
 The next day the Harpy sailed^ and Jack went to his duty. 
 Mr. Asper borrowed ten pounds, and our hero kept as much 
 watch as Jie pleased, which, as \Yatching did not please him, was 
 very little. Mr. Sawbridge had long conversations with our 
 hero pointing out to him the necessity of discipline and obedience 
 in the service, and that there was no such thing as eq|iality, ai^d 
 that the rights of man secured to every one the property which 
 he held in possession. ** According to your ideas, Mr, Easy, a 
 man bias no more right to his wife than any thing else, and any 
 other man may claim her." Jack thought of Agnes, and he 
 made matrimony an exception, as he continued to argue the 
 point; but although he argued, still his philosophy was almost 
 upset at the idea of any one disputing )vith him the rights of 
 man, with respect to Agnes. 
 
 The Harpy made the African coast, the wind continued con- 
 trary and they were baffled for many ^ays ; at last they espied a 
 brig under the land, about sixteen miles off; her rig aqd appear- 
 ance made Captain Wilson suspect that she was ^ privateer of 
 some description or another, but it was calm, and they could 
 not approach her. Nevertheless, Captain Wilson thought it his 
 duty to examiiie her; so at ten o'clock af night the boats were 
 hoisted out : as this was merely intended for a reconuoitre, for 
 there was no saying what she might; be, M. Sawbridge did not 
 go. Mr. Asper was in the sick list, so Mr. Smallsole the master 
 had the command of the expedition. Jack asked Mr. Sawbridge 
 to let him have charge of one of the boats. Mr, Jolliffe and 
 Mr. Vigors wentin the pinnace with the master. The gunner had 
 the charge of ope putter, and our hero l^ad the command of the 
 other. Jack, although not much more than seventeen, was 
 very strong and tall for his age, indeed, he was a man grown, 
 and shaved twice a week. His only object in going was to have 
 a yarn for the governor when he returned to Malta. Mesty went 
 with hjm, and, as the boat shoved off, Gascoigne slipped in, 
 
508 i\m. Midshipman ea^y. 
 
 telling Jack that he was come to take care of him, for which 
 considerate kindness Jack expressed his warmest thanks. The 
 orders to the master were very explicit; he was to reconnoitre 
 the vessel, and if she proved heavily armed not to attack, for she 
 was embayed, and could not escape the Harpy as soon as there 
 was wind. If not armed he was to board her, but he was to do 
 nothing till the morning : the reason for sending the boats away 
 so soon was, that the men might not suffer from the heat of the 
 sun during the day-time, which was excessive, and had already 
 put many men on the sick-list. The boats were to pull to the 
 bottom of the bay, not to go so near as to be discovered, and 
 then drop their grapnels till daylight. The orders were given 
 to Mr. Smallsole in presence of the other officers who were ap- 
 pointed to the boats, that there might be no mistake, and the 
 boats then shoved off. After a three hour's pull, they arrived 
 to where the brig lay becalmed, and as they saw no lights mo- 
 ving on board, they supposed they were not seen. They dropped 
 their grapnels in about seven fathoms water, and waited for day- 
 light. When Jack heard Captain Wilson's orders that they 
 were to lie at anchor till daylight, he had sent down Mesty for 
 fishing-lines, as fresh fish is always agreeable in a midshipman's 
 berth : he and Gascoigne amused themselves this way, and as 
 they pulled up the fish they entered into an argument, and 
 Mr. Smallsole ordered them to be silent. The point which they 
 discussed was relative to boat service ; Gascoigne insisted that 
 the boats should all board at once — while our hero took it into 
 his head that it was better they should come up one after ano- 
 ther ; a novel idea, but Jack's ideas on most points were sin- 
 ular. 
 
 If you throw your whole force upon the decks at once, you 
 overpower them," observed Gascoigne; ** if you do not, you are 
 beaten in detail." 
 
 **Very true," replied Jack, "supposing that you have an 
 overpowering force, or they are not prepared; but recollect, 
 that if they are, the case is altered ; for instance, as to fire 
 arms — they fire theirs at the first boat, and they have not time 
 to reload, when the second conies up with its fire reserved; 
 every fresh boat arriving ad^s to the courage of those who have 
 
 to 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 209 
 
 boarded, and to the alarm of those who defend ; the men come 
 on fresh and fresh. Depend upon it, Gascoigne, there is nothing 
 like a corps de reserved 
 
 ** Will you keep silence in your boat, Mr. Easy, or will you 
 not ?" cried the master; * * you're a disgrace to theservice, sir." 
 
 ** Thank ye, sir," replied Jack in a low tone. ** I've another 
 bite, Ned." 
 
 Jack and his comrade continued to fish in silence till the day 
 broke. The mist rolled off the stagnant water, and discovered 
 the brig, who, as soon as she perceived the boats, threw out the 
 French tricolor and fired a gun of defiance. 
 
 Mr. Smallsole was undecided ; the gun fired was not a heavy 
 one, and so IMr. Jolliffe remarked ; the men, as usual, anxious 
 for the attack, asserted the same, and Mr. Smallsole, afraid of 
 retreating from the enemy and being afterwards despised by the 
 ship's company, ordered the boats to weigh their grapnels. 
 
 ** Stop a moment, my lads," said Jack to his men, *'l've got 
 a bite." The men laughed at Jack's taking it so easy, but he 
 was iheir pet; and they did stop for him to pull up his fish, in- 
 tending to pull up to the other boats and recover their loss of a 
 few seconds. 
 
 '*rve hooked him now," said Jack; **you may up with the 
 grapnel while I up with the fish." But this delay gave the oiher 
 boats a start of a dozen strokes of their oars, which was a distance 
 not easy to be regained. 
 
 ** They will be aboard before us, sir," said the coxswain. 
 
 *' Never mind that," replied Jack; **some one must be last." 
 
 ** But not the boat I am in," replied Gascoigne; "if I could 
 help it." 
 
 ** I tell you," replied Jack, '* we shall be the corps de reserve ^ 
 and have the honour of turning the scale in our favour." 
 
 *' Give way, my lads," cried Gascoigne, perceiving the other 
 boats still kept their distance ahead of them, which was about a 
 cable's length. 
 
 *' Gascoigne, I command the boat," said Jack' " and I do not 
 wish my men to board without any breath in their bodies — 
 that's a very unwise plan. A steady pull, my lads, and not too 
 much exertion." 
 
 i4 
 
2^6 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 **By heavens, they'll take the vessel before we get along- 
 side." 
 
 '< Even if they should, I am right, am I not, Mesty ?" 
 
 ** Yes, Massa Easy, you very right — suppose they take vessel 
 without you, they no want you— suppose they want you, you 
 come." And the Negro, who had thrown his jacket off, bared 
 hLs arm, as if he intended mischief. 
 
 The first cutter, commanded by the gunner, now gained upon 
 the launch, and was three boat's lengths ahead of her when she 
 came alongside. The brig poured in her broadside — it was well 
 directed, and down went the boat. 
 
 ** Cutter's sunk," exclaimed Gascoigne, ''by heavens! Give 
 way my men." 
 
 *' Now, don't you observe, that had we all three been pulling 
 up together, the broadside would have sunk us all ?" said Jack, 
 very composedly. 
 
 ** There's board in the launch — give way, my men, give way," 
 said Gascoigne, stamping with impatience. 
 
 The reception was evidently warm ; by the time that the 
 launch had poured in her men the second cutter was close under 
 the brig's quarter — two more strokes and she was alongside ; 
 when of a sudden, a tremendous explosion took place on the deck 
 of the vessel, and bodies and fragments were hurled up in the 
 air. So tremendous was the explosion, that the men of the se- 
 cond cutter, as if transfixed, simultaneously stopped pulling, 
 their eyes directed to the volumes of smoke which poured 
 through the ports and hid the whole of the masts and rigging of 
 the vessel. 
 
 ** Now's your time, my lads, give way and alongside," cried 
 our hero. 
 
 The men, reminded by his voice, obeyed — but the impetus 
 already given to the boat was sufficient. Before they could drop 
 their oars in the water they grazed against the vessel's sides, 
 and, following Jack, were in a few seconds on the quarter deck 
 of the vessel. A dreadful sight presented itself — the whole 
 deck was black and corpses lay strewed ; their clothes on them 
 still burning, and among the bodies lay fragments of what once 
 were men. 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 211 
 
 The capstern was unshipped and turned over on its side — the 
 binnacles were in remnants, and many of the ropes ignited. 
 There was not one person left on deck to oppose them. 
 
 As they afterwards learnt from some of the men who had 
 saved their lives by remaining below, the French captain had 
 seen the boats before they anchored, and had made every pre- 
 paration ; he had filled a large ammunition chest with car- 
 tridges for the guns, that they might not have to hand them up. 
 The conflict between the men of the pinnace and the crew of the 
 vessel was carried on near the capstern, and a pistol fired, had 
 accidentally communicated with the powder, which blew up in 
 the very centre of the dense and desperate struggle. 
 
 The first object was to draw water and extinguish the flames 
 which were spreading over the vessel ; as soon as that was ac- 
 complished, our hero went aft to the taffrail, and looked for the 
 cutter which had been sunk — ** Gascoigne, jump into the boat 
 with four men — I see the cutter floats a quarter of a mile astern: 
 there may be some one alive yet, I think now I see a head or 
 two." 
 
 Gascoigne hastened away, and soon returned with three of 
 the cutter's men ; the rest had sunk, probably killed or wound- 
 ed by the discharge of the broadside. 
 
 '* Thank God, there's three saved !" said Jack, *' for we have 
 lost too many. We must now see if any of these poor fellows 
 are yet alive, and clear the decks of the remnants of those who 
 have been blown to pieces. 1 say, Ned, where should we have 
 been if we had boarded with the pinnace?" 
 
 " You always fall upon your feet, Easy/' replied Gascoigne ; 
 '* but that does not prove that you are right." 
 
 ** I see there's no convincing you, Ned, you are so confound- 
 edly fond of argument. However, I've no time to argue now — 
 we must look to these poor fellows ; some are still alive." 
 
 Body after body was thrown through the ports, the habili- 
 ments, in most cases, enabling them to distinguish whether it 
 was that of a departed friend or foe. 
 
 Jack turned round and observed Mesty with his foot on a head 
 which had been blown from the trunk. 
 
 ** What are you about, Mesty?" 
 
 14. 
 
212 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 ** Massa Easy, I look at dis, and I tink it Massa Vigor's head, 
 and den I tink dis skull of his enemy nice present make to little 
 Massa Gossett; and den I tink again, and I say, no, he dead and 
 nebber thrash any more— so let him go overboard.'* 
 
 Jack turned away, forgiving Vigors in his heart; he thought 
 of the peliy animosities of a midshipman's berth, as he looked 
 at the blackened portion of a body, half an hour before pos- 
 sessing intellect. 
 
 ** Massa Easy," said Mesty, ** I tink you say right, any how, 
 when you say forgive : den, Massa Vigors," continued Mesty, 
 taking up the head by the singed hair, and tossing it out of the 
 port ; ** you really very bad man — but Ashantee forgive you." 
 
 ' ' Here's somebody alive," said Gascoigne to Jack, examining 
 a body, the face of which was black as a cinder and not to be re- 
 cognised, ** and he is one of our men too, by his dress." 
 
 Our hero went up to examine and to assist Gascoigne in dis- 
 engaging the body from a heap of ropes and half-burnt tar- 
 paulings with which it was entangled. Mesty followed, and 
 looking- at the lower extremities said, '* Massa Easy, dat Massa 
 Jolliffe, I know him trousers; marine tailor say he patch um 
 for ever, and so old dat de thread no hold : yesterday he hab 
 dis patch put in , and marine tailor say he be d — n if he patch 
 any more, please nobody." 
 
 Mesty was right, it was poor Jolliffe, whose face was burnt as 
 black as a coal by the explosion. He had also lost three fingers 
 of the left hand, but as soon as he was brought out on the deck 
 he appeared to recover, and pointed to his mouth for water, 
 w hich was instantly procured. 
 
 *' Mesty," said Jack, ** I leave you in charge of Mr. Jolliffe; 
 take every care of him till I can come back." 
 
 The investigation was then continued, and four English sailors 
 found who might be expected to recover, as well as about the 
 same number of Frenchmen; the remainder of the bodies were 
 then thrown overboard. The hat only of the master was picked 
 up between the guns, and there were but eleven Frenchmen 
 found below. 
 
 The vessel was the Franklin, a French privateer, of ten guns 
 and sixty-five men, of which, eight men were away in prizes. 
 
MR. MIDSHIPiMAN EASY. 213 
 
 The loss ou the part of the vessel was forty-six killed and 
 wounded. On that of the Harpy^ it was five drowned in the 
 cutter, and eighteen blown up belonging to the pinnace, out of 
 which total of twenty-three, they had only Mr, JoUiffe and five 
 seamen alive. 
 
 ** The Harpy is standing in with a breeze from the offing," 
 said Gascoigne to Easy. 
 
 ** So much the better, for Vm sick of this, Ned, there is some- 
 thing so horrible in it, and I wish I was on board again. I have 
 just been to Jolliffe; he can speak a little; I think he will 
 recover. I hope so, poor fellow, he will then obtain his pro- 
 motion, for he is the commanding officer of all us who are 
 left." 
 
 ** And if he does,'' replied Gascoigne, ** he can swear that it 
 was by having been blown up which spoilt his beauty — but here 
 comes the Harpy. I have been looking for an English ensign 
 to hoist over the French, but cannot find one, so I hoist a wheft 
 over it, that will do." 
 
 The Harpy was soonhove-to close to the brig, and Jack went 
 on board in the cutter to report what had taken place. Captain 
 Wilson was much vexed and grieved at the loss of so many 
 men : fresh hands were put in the cutter to man the pinnace, 
 and he and Sawbridge both went on board to witness the hor- 
 rible effects of the explosion as described by our hero. 
 
 Jolliffe and the wounded men were taken on board, and all of 
 them recovered. We have before stated how disfigured the 
 countenance of poor Mr. Jolliffe had been by the small pox — so 
 severely was it burned that the whole of the countenance came 
 off in three weeks like a mask, and every one declared that, 
 seamed as it still was, Mr. Jolliffe was better looking than he 
 was before. It may be as well here to state, that Mr. Jolliffe 
 not only obtained his promotion but a pension for his wounds, 
 and retired from the service. He was still very plain, but as it 
 was known that he had been blown up, the loss of his eye as 
 well as the scars on his face were all put down to the same ac- 
 cident, and he excited interest as a gallant and maimed officer. 
 He married and lived contented and happy to a good old age. 
 
 The Harpy proceeded with her prize to Mahon; Jack, as 
 
314 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 usual, obtained a great deal of credit; whether he deserved it> 
 or whether, as Gascoigne observed, he always fell upon his 
 feet, the reader may decide from our narrative ; perhaps there 
 was a little of both. The seamen of the Harpy, if summoned in 
 a hurry, used very often to reply, ** Stop a minute, Tve got a 
 bite"— as for Jack he often said to himself '* I've a famous good 
 yarn for the governor." 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 Jack goes on another cruise— Love and Diplomacy — Jack proves himself too clever 
 for three, and upsets all the arrangements of the high contracting powers. 
 
 A FEW days after the arrival of the Harpy at Port Mahon, a 
 cutter came in with dispatches from the admiral. Captain 
 Wilson found that he was posted into the Aurora frigate, in 
 which a vacancy had been made by the result of our hero's 
 transgressions. 
 
 Mr. Sawbridge was raised to the rank of commander, and 
 appointed to the command of the Harpy. The admiral informed 
 Captain Wilson that he must detain the Aurora until the ar- 
 rival of another frigate, hourly expected, and then she would be 
 sent down to Mahon for him to take the command of her. 
 Further, he intimated that a supply of live bullocks would be 
 very agreeable, and begged that he would send to Tetuan im* 
 mediately. 
 
 Captain Wilson had lost so many officers that he knew not 
 whom to send; indeed, now he was no longer in command of the 
 Harpy, and there was but one lieutenant, and no master or 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 215 
 
 master's mate. Gascoigiie and Jask were the only two ser- 
 viceable midshipmen, and he was afraid to trust them on any 
 expedition in which expedition was required. 
 
 **What shall we do, Sawbridge? shall we send Easy or 
 Gascoigne, or both, or neither?— for if the bullocks are not 
 forthcoming the admiral will not let them off as we do." 
 
 ** We must send somebody, Wilson," replied Captain Saw- 
 bridge, *' and it is the custom to send two officers, as one 
 receives the bullocks on hoard, while the other attends to the 
 embarkation." 
 
 "Well then, send both, Sawbridge, but lecture them well 
 first." 
 
 ** I don't think they can get into any mischief there," replied 
 Sawbridge; **and it's such a hole that they will be glad to get 
 away from it." 
 
 Easy and Gascoigne were summoned, listened very respect- 
 fully to all Captain Sawbridge said, promised to conduct them- 
 selves with the utmost propriety, received a letter to the vice- 
 consul, and were sent with their hammocks and chests in the 
 cabin, on board the Eliza Ann, brig, of two hundred and sixteen 
 tons, chartered by government — the master and crew of which 
 were all busy forward heaving up their anchors. 
 
 The master of the transport came aft to receive them : he was 
 a short red-haired young man, with hands as broad as the 
 flappers of a turtle ; he was broad-faced, broad-shouldered, well 
 freckled and pug-nosed ; but if not very handsome he was re- 
 markably good-humoured. As soon as the chests and hammocks 
 were on the deck, he told them that when he could get the 
 anchor up and make sail, he would give them some bottled 
 porter. Jack proposed that he should get the porter up, and 
 they would drink it while he got the anchor up, as it would save 
 time. 
 
 ** It may save time mayhap, but it won't save porter," replied 
 the master; ** however, you shall have it." 
 
 He called the boy, ordered him to bring up the porter, and 
 then went forward. Jack made the boy brhig up two chairs, 
 put the porter on the companion hatch, and he and Gascoigne 
 sat down. The anchor was weighed and the transport ran out 
 
216 MR, MIDSHIPMAN FASY. 
 
 under her foretopsail, as they were light-handed, and had to 
 secure the anchor. The transport passed within ten yards of 
 the Harpy, and Captain Sawbridge, when he perceived the two 
 midshipmen taking it so very easy, sitting in their chairs with 
 their legs crossed, arms folded, and their porter before them, 
 had a very great mind to order the transport to heave-to, but 
 he could spare no other officer, so he walked away, saying to 
 himself, '* There'll be another yarn for the governor, or Fm 
 mistaken." 
 
 As soon as sail was made on the transport, the master, whose 
 name was Hogg, came up to our hero, and asked him how he 
 found the porter. Jack declared that he never could venture 
 an opinion upon the first bottle — **So, Captain Hogg, we'll 
 trouble you for a second" — after which they troubled him for a 
 third— begged for a fourth — must drink his health in a fifth, 
 and finally, pointed out the propriety of making up the half- 
 dozen. By this time they found themselves rather light- 
 headed, so desiring Captain Hogg to keep a sharp look-out and 
 not to call them on any account whatever, they retired to their 
 hammocks. 
 
 The next morning they awoke late ; the breeze was fresh and 
 fair : they requested Captain Hogg not to consider tRe expense, 
 as they would pay for all they ate and drank, and all he did, 
 into the bargain, and promised him a fit-out when they got to 
 Tetuan. 
 
 What with this promise and calling him captain, our hero 
 and Gascoigne won the master's heart, and being a very good- 
 tempered fellow, they did what they pleased. Jack also tossed 
 a doubloon to the men for them to drink on their arrival, and 
 all the men of the transport were in a transport, at Jack's coming 
 to '* reign over them." It must be acknowledged that Jack's 
 reign was, for the most part of it, ** happy and glorious." At 
 last they arrived at Tetuan, and our Pylades and Orestes went 
 on shore to call upon the vice-consul, accompanied by Captain 
 Hogg. They produced their credentials and demanded bullocks. 
 The vice-consul was a very young man, short and thin and 
 light-haired ; his father had held the situation before him, and 
 he had been appointed his successor because nobody else had 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 217 
 
 thought the silualion worth applying for. Nevertheless 
 Mr. Hicks was impressed with the immense responsibihty of his 
 office. It was, however, a place of some Httle emolument at 
 this moment, and Mr. Hicks had plenty on his hands besides his 
 sister, who being the only English lady there, set the fashion of 
 the place, and usurped all the attention of the gentlemen ma- 
 riners, who occasionally came for bullocks. But Miss Hicks 
 knew her own importance, and had successively refused three 
 midshipmen, one master's mate, and an acting purser. African 
 bullocks were plentiful at Teiuan, but English ladies were scarce; 
 moreover, she had a pretty little fortune of her own, to wit, 
 three hundred dollars in a canvas bag, left her by her father, 
 and entirely at her own disposal. Miss Hicks was very like her 
 brother, except that she was more dumpling in her figure, with 
 flaxen hair; her features were rather pretty, and her skin very 
 fair. As soon as the preliminaries had been entered into, and 
 arrangements made in a small room with bare walls which 
 Mr. Hicks denominated his office, they were asked to walk into 
 the parlour to be introduced to the vice-consul's sister. Miss 
 Hicks tossed her head at the two midshipmen, but smiled most 
 grjiciously at Captain Hogg. She knew the relative ranks of 
 midshipman and captain. After a short time she requested the 
 honour of Captain Hogg's company to dinner, and begged that 
 he would bring his midshipmen with him, at which Jack and 
 Gascoigne looked at each other and burst out in a laugh, and 
 Miss Hicks was very near rescinding the latter part of her in- 
 vitation. As soon as they were out of the house, they told the 
 captain to go on board and gel all ready whilst they walked 
 round the town. Having peeped into every part of it, and 
 stared at Arabs, Moors, and Jews, till they were tired, they 
 proceeded to the landing-place, where they met the captain, 
 who informed them that he had done nothing, because the men 
 were all drunk with Jack's doubloon. Jack replied that a doub- 
 loon would not last for ever, and that the sooner they drank it 
 out the better. They then returned to the vice- consul's, whom 
 they requested to procure for them fiftzy dozen of fowls, twenty 
 sheep, and a great many other articles, which might be obtained 
 at the place ; for as Jack said they would live well going up to 
 
218 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 Toulon, and if there were any of the stock left, they would give 
 them to the admiral, for Jack had taken the precaution to put 
 M\% father^ s philosophy once more to the proof, before he quitted 
 Mahon. As Jack gave such a liberal order, and the vice-consul 
 cheated him out of at least one third of what he paid, Mr. Hicks 
 thought he could do no less than offer beds to our midshipmen 
 as well as to Captain Hogg; so, as soon as dinner was over they 
 ordered Captain Hogg to go on board and bring their things on 
 shore, whi ch he did . As the time usual for transports remaining 
 at Tetuan before they could be completed with bullocks was 
 three weeks, our midshipmen decided upon staying at least so 
 long if they could find anything to do, or if they could not, 
 doing nothing was infinitely preferable to doing duty. So they 
 took up their quarters at the vice-consul's, sending for porter 
 and other things which were not to be had but 'from the transport, 
 and Jack, to prove that he was not a swindler, as Captain 
 Tartar had called him, gave Captain Hogg a hundred dollars 
 on account, for Captain Hogg had a large stock of porter and 
 English luxuries, which he had brought out as a venture, and 
 of which he had still a considerable portion left. As, therefore, 
 our midshipmen not only were cheated by the vice-consul but 
 they also supplied his table, Mr. Hicks was very hospitable, and 
 every thing was at their service except Miss Julia , who turned 
 up her nose at a midshipman, even upon full pay ; but she 
 made great advances to the captain, who, on his part, was 
 desperately in love : so the mate and the men made all ready for 
 the bullocks, Jack and Gascoigne made themselves comfortable, 
 and Captain Hogg made love, and thus passed the first week. 
 
 The chamber of Easy and Gascoigne was at the top of the 
 house, and finding it excessively warm, Gascoigne had forced 
 his way up to the flat roof above ; ( for the houses are all built in 
 that way in most Mahomedan countries, to enable the occupants 
 to enjoy the cool of the evening, and sometimes to sleep there.) 
 Those roofs where houses are built next to each other, are 
 divided by a wall of several feet, to insure that privacy which 
 the Mahomedan customs demand. 
 
 Gascoigne had not been long up there before he heard the 
 voice of a female, singing a plaintive air in a low tone, on the 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 219 
 
 other side of the wall. Gascoigne sang well himself, and ha- 
 ying a very fine ear, he was pleased with the correctness of the 
 notes, although he had never heard the air before. He leant 
 against the wall, smoked his cigar, and listened. It was re- 
 peated again and again at intervals; Gascoigne soon caught the 
 notes, which sounded so clear and pure in the silence of tjie 
 night. 
 
 At last they ceased, and having waited another half hour in 
 vain, our midshipman returned to his bed, humming the air 
 which had so pleased his ear. It haunted him during his sleep, 
 and rang in his ears when he awoke, as it is well known any new 
 air that pleases us will do. Before breakfast was ready, Gas- 
 coigne had put English words to it, and sang them over and over 
 again. He inquired of the vice-consul who lived in the next 
 house, and was answered, that it was an old Moor, who was 
 reported to be wealthy, and to have a daughter, whom many of 
 the people had asked in marriage, but whether for her wealth 
 or for her beauty he could not tell ; he had, however, heard 
 that she was very handsome. Gascoigne made no further in- 
 quiries, but went out with Jack and Captain Hogg, and on board 
 to see the water got in for the bullocks. 
 
 ' * Where did you pick up that air, Gascoigne ? it is very pretty, 
 but I never heard you sing it before." 
 
 Gascoigne told him, and also what he had heard from 
 Mr. Hicks. 
 
 *' Vm determined, Jack^ to see that girl if I can. Hicks can 
 talk Arabic fast enough ; just ask him the Arabic for these words 
 — * Don't be afraid — I love you — I cannot speak your tongue,* — 
 and put them down on paper as they are pronounced." 
 
 Jack rallied Gascoigne upon his fancy, which could end in 
 nothing. 
 
 ** Perhaps not," replied Gascoigne ; " and I should have cared 
 nothing about it, if she had not sung so well. I really believe 
 the way to my heart is through my ear; — however, I shall try 
 to-night, and soon find if she has the feeling which I think she 
 has. Now let us go back; Vm tired of looking at women in 
 garments up to their eyes, and men in dirt up to their fore- 
 heads." 
 
220 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 As they entered the house they heard an altercation between 
 Mr. and Miss Hicks. 
 
 *' I shall never give my consent, Julia; one of those midship- 
 men you turn your nose up at, is worth a dozen Hoggs." 
 
 ** Now, if we. only knew the price of a hog in this country,*' 
 observed Easy ; ** we should be able to calculate our exact value, 
 Ned." 
 
 *' A hog being an unclean animal, is not. — " 
 
 *' Hush," said Jack. 
 
 '* Mr. Hicks," replied Miss Julia, '* I am mistress of myself 
 and my fortune, and I shall do as I please." 
 
 ** Depend upon it, you shall not, Julia. I consider it my 
 duty to prevent you from making an improper match ; and, as 
 his majesty's representative here, I cannot allow you to marry 
 this young man." 
 
 " Mercy on us!" said Gascoigne, '*his majesty's represen- 
 tative!!" 
 
 *' I shall not ask your cousent," replied the lady. 
 
 ** Yes, but you shall not marry without my consent. I have, 
 as you know, Julia, from my situation here, as one his majesty's 
 corps diplomatic^, great power, and I shall forbid the banns ; in 
 fact, it is only I who can marry you." 
 
 ** Then I'll marry elsewhere." 
 
 ** And what will you do on board of the transport until you 
 are able to be married ?" 
 
 *' I shall do as I think proper," replied the lady; *^and I'll 
 thank you for none of your indelicate insinuations." So saying, 
 the lady bounced out of the room into her own, and our midship- 
 men then made a noise in the passage, to intimate that they 
 had come in. They found Mr. Hicks looking very red and vice- 
 consular indeed, but he recovered himself; and Captain Hogg 
 makitjg his appearance, they went to dirmer; but Miss Julia 
 would not make her appearance, and Mr. Hicks was barely civil 
 to the captain, but he was soon afterwards called out, and our 
 midshipmen went into the office to enable the two lovers to 
 meet. They were heard then talking together, and after a time 
 they said less, and their language was more tender. 
 
 ** Let us see what's going on. Jack," said Gascoigne ; and they 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 221 
 
 walked softly so as to perceive the two lovers, who were too 
 busy to be on the look out. 
 
 Captain Hogg was requesting a lock of his mistresses hair. 
 The pUimp Julia could deny him nothing; she let fall her flaxen 
 tresses and taking out her scissars cut off a thick bunch from 
 her hair behind, which she presented to the captain ; it was at 
 least a foot and a half long and an inch in circumference. The 
 captain took it in his immense hand and thrust it into his coat- 
 pocket behind, but one thrust down to the bottom would not 
 get it in, so he thrust again, until it was all coiled away like a 
 cable in a tier. 
 
 ** That's a liberal girl," whispered Jack ; ** she gives by who^ 
 lesale what it will take some time to retail. But here comes 
 Mr. Hicks, let's give them warning; I like Hogg, and as she fan- 
 cies pork, she shall have it, if I can contrive to help them." 
 
 That night Gascoigne went again on the roof, and after wait- 
 ing some time, heard the same air repeated : he waited until it 
 was concluded, and then, in a very low tone, sung it himself to 
 the words he had arranged for it. For some time all was silent, 
 and then the singing recommenced, but it was not to the same 
 air. Gascoigne waited until the new air had been repeated se- 
 veral times, and then giving full scope to his fine tenor voice, 
 sang the first air again. It echoed through the silence of the 
 night air, and then he wailed, but in vain; the soft voice of the 
 female was heard no more, and Gascoigne retired to rest. 
 
 This continued for three or four nights, Gascoigne singing the 
 same airs the ensuing night that he had heard the preceding, 
 until at last it appeared that the female had no longer any fear, 
 but changed the airs so as to be amused with the repetition of 
 them next evening. On the fifth night she sang the first air, and 
 our midshipman responding, she then sang another, until she had 
 sung them all, waiting each time for the response. The wall 
 was not more than eight feet high, and Gascoigne now determined, 
 with the assistance of Jack, to have a sight of his unknown song- 
 stress. He asked Captain Hogg to bring on shore some inch line, 
 and he contrived to make a ladder which with three or four poles 
 were up stairs used for drying linen. He fixed them against the 
 wall without noise, all ready for the evening. It was a beautiful 
 
222 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 clear moonlight night, when he went up, accompanied hy Jack. 
 The air was again sung and repeated by Gascoigne, who then 
 softly mounted the ladder, held by Jack, and raised his head 
 above the wall ; he perceived a young Moorish girl, splendidly 
 dressed, half lying on an ottoman, with her eyes fixed upon the 
 moon, whose rays enabled him to observe that she was indeed 
 beautiful. She appeared lost in contemplation ; and Gascoigne 
 would have given the world to have devined her thoughts. Sa- 
 tisfied with what he had seen, he descended, and singing one of 
 the airs, he then repeated the words, ** Do not be afraid — I love 
 you — I cannot speak your language.'' He then sang another of 
 the airs, and after he had finished he again repeated the words 
 in Arabic; but there was no reply. He sang the third air, and 
 again repeated the words, when, to his delight, he heard an 
 answer in Lingua Franca. 
 
 ** Can you speak in this tongue?" 
 
 ** Yes," replied Gascoigne, ** I can, Allah be praised. Be 
 not afraid— I love you.'' 
 
 ** I know you not ; who are you ? you are not of my people." 
 
 **No, but I will be any thing that you wish. I am a Frank 
 and an English officer." 
 
 At this reply of Gascoigne there was a pause. 
 
 *' Am i then despised?" said Gascoigne. 
 
 ' ' No, not despised,' but you are not of my people or of my 
 land; speak no more, or you will be heard." 
 
 ** I obey," replied Gascoigne: " since you wish it, but I 
 shall pine till to-morrow's moon ; I go to dream of you. Allah 
 protect you!" 
 
 '* How amazingly poetical you were in your language, Ned," 
 said Easy, when they went down into their room. 
 
 '* To be sure. Jack, I've read the Arabian nights. You never 
 saw such eyes in your life : what a houri she is!" 
 
 *'Is she as handsome as Agnes, Ned?" 
 
 *' Twice as handsome by moonlight." 
 
 <* That's all moonshine, and so will be your courting, for it 
 will come to nothing." 
 
 ''Not ifl can help it." 
 
 */ Why, Gascoigne^ what would you do with a wife?" 
 
MR. MIDSHIPiMAN EASY. 223 
 
 '* Just exactly what you would do, Jack.*' 
 
 ** I mean, my dear Ned, can you afford to marry?" Irj^n'} • ;j 
 
 '* Ndl while the old governor lives, but I know he has some 
 money in the funds. He told me one day, that I could not 
 expect more than three thousand pounds. You know I have 
 sisters." 
 
 ** And before you come into that you'll have three thousand 
 children." 
 
 ** That's a large family, Jack/' replied Gascoigne, bursting 
 out into laughter, in which our hero joined. 
 
 Well, you know I only wanted to argue the point with 
 you." 
 
 ** I know that. Jack, but I think we're counting our chickens 
 before they are hatched, which is foolish." 
 
 ** In every other case except when we venture upon matri- 
 mony." 
 
 ** Why, Jack, you're becoming quite sensible." 
 
 * * My wisdom is for my friends, my folly for myself. Good 
 night." 
 
 But Jack did not go to sleep. *' I must not allow Gascoigne 
 to do such a foolish thing," thought he — ** marry a dark girl on 
 midshipman's pay, if he succeeds, — get his throat cut if he does 
 not." As Jack said, his wisdom was for his friends, and he was 
 so generous that he reserved none for his own occasions. 
 
 Miss Julia Hicks, as we before observed, set the fashions at 
 Tetuan, and her style of dress was not unbecoming. The Moo- 
 rish women wore large veils, or they may be called what you 
 will, for their head-dresses descend to their heels at times, and 
 cover the whole body, leaving an eye to peep with, and hiding 
 every thing else. Now Miss found this much more convenient 
 than the bonnet, as she might walk out in the heat of the sun 
 without burning her fair skin, and stare at everybody and every 
 thing without being stared at in return. She therefore never 
 went out without one of the overalls, composed of several yards 
 of fine muslin. Her dress in the house was usually of coloured 
 sarcenet, for a small vessel came into the port one day during 
 her father's lifetime, unloaded a great quantity of bales of goods 
 with English marks; and as the vessel had gone out in ballast, 
 
224 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 there was a surmise on his part by what means they came into 
 the captain's possession. He therefore cited the captain up to 
 the governor, but the affair was amicably arranged by the vice- 
 consul receiving about one quarter of the cargo in bales of silks 
 and muslijis. Miss Hicks had therefore all her dresses of blue, 
 green, and yellow sarcenet, which, with the white muslin ove- 
 rall, made her as conspicuous as the only Prankish lady in the 
 town had a right to be, and there was not a dog which barked 
 in Tetuan which did not know the sister of the vice-consul, al- 
 though few had seen her face. 
 
 Now it occurred to Jack, as Gascoigne was determined to carry 
 on his amour, that in case of surprise it would be as well if he 
 dressed himself as Miss Hicks. He proposed it to Gascoigne the 
 next morning, who approved of the idea, and in the course of 
 the day, when Miss Hicks was busy with Captain Hogg, he con- 
 trived to abstract one of her dresses and muslin overalls— which 
 he could do in safely, as there were plenty of them, for Miss 
 Hicks was not troubled with mantua-maker's bills. 
 
 When Gascoigne went up on the roof the ensuing night, he 
 put on the apparel of Miss Hicks, and looked very like her as far 
 as figure went, although a little taller. He waited for the Moo- 
 rish girl to sing, but she did not — so he crept up the ladder and 
 looked over the wall — when he observed that she was reclining, 
 as before, in deep thought. — His head covered with the muslin 
 caught her eye, and she gave a faint scream. 
 
 **Fear not, lady," said Gascoigne, **itis not the first time 
 that I have beheld that sweet face. I sigh for a companion. 
 What would I not give to be sitting by your side? I am not of 
 your creed, 'tis true — but does it therefore follow that we should 
 not love each other?" 
 
 The Moorish girl was about to reply, when Gascoigne received 
 an answer from a quarter whence he little expected it. It was 
 from the Moor himself, who, hearing his daughter scream, had 
 come swiftly up to the roof. 
 
 ** Does the Prankish lily wish to mingle her perfumes with 
 the dark violet ?" said he, for he had often seen the sister of the 
 vice-consul, and he imagined it was she who had come on the roof 
 and ascended the wall to speak with his daughter. 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 225 
 
 Gascoigne had presence of mind to avail himself of ihis fortu- 
 nate mistake. 
 
 *'I am alone, worthyMoor/' replied he, pulling the muslin 
 more over his face, ** and I pine for a companion. I have heen 
 charmed by the nightingale on the roof of your dwelling ; but I 
 thought not to meet the face of a man, when I took courage to 
 climb this ladder." 
 
 ** If the Frankish lily will have courage to descend she can sit 
 by the side of the dark violet." 
 
 Gascoigne thought it advisable to make no reply. 
 
 '* Fear not," said the old Moor; ** what is an old man but a 
 woman?" and the Moor brought a ladder, which he placed 
 against the wall. 
 
 After a pause, Gascoigne said, *Mt is my fate;" and he then 
 descended, and was led by the Moor to the mattress upon which 
 his daughter reclined. The Moor then took his seat near them, 
 and they entered into conversation. Gascoigne knew quite 
 enough of the vice-consul and his daughter to play his part — 
 and he thought proper to tell the Moor that her brother wished 
 to give her as a wife to the captain of the ship, whom she ab- 
 horred, and would lake her to a cold and foggy climate ; that she 
 had been born here^ and wished to live and die here, and would 
 prefer passing her life in his wotnen^s apartments, to leaving 
 this country. — At which Abdel Faza, for such was his name, felt 
 very amorous ; he put his hands to his forehead, salaamed, and 
 told Gascoigne that his zenana, and all that were in it, were hers 
 as well as his house and himself. After an hour's conversation, 
 in which Azar, his daughter, did not join, the old Moor asked 
 Gascoigne to descend into the women's apartment— and observ- 
 ing his daughter's silence, said to her, 
 
 '* Azar, you are angry that this Frankish houri should come 
 to the apartments of which you have hitherto been sole mistress. 
 Fear not, you will soon be another's, for Osman Ali has asked 
 thee for his wife, and I have listened to his request." 
 
 Now Osman Ali was as old as her father, and Azar hated 
 him. She offered her hand tremblingly, and led Gascoigne into 
 the zenana. The Moor attended them to the threshold, bowed, 
 and left ihen>. 
 
 i5 
 
226 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 That Gascoigne had time to press his suit, and that he did not 
 hs^ feiifch a gbld^ii opportunity ihay easily be imagined, and her 
 father's communication relative to Osman Ali very miich assisted 
 our ttiidstiiptiian's cause. 
 
 He left the zenana, like most midshipmen, in love, that is, a 
 littlfe above quicksilver boiling heat. Jack, who had remained 
 in a state of some suspense all this time, was not sorry to hear 
 voices in an amicable tone, and in a few minutes afterwards he 
 Jiierceived that Gascoigne was ascending the ladder. It occur- 
 red to our hero that it was perhaps advisable that he should not 
 be seen, as the Moor, in his gallantry, might come up the ladder 
 with the supposed lady. He was right, for Abdel Faza not only 
 followed her up the ladder on his side, but assisted her to des- 
 cend on the other, and with great ceremony took his leave. 
 
 Gascoigne hastened to Jack, who had been peeping, and gave 
 him a detail of what had passed, describing Azar as the most 
 beautiful, fascinating, and fond creature that ever was created . 
 
 After half-an-hour's relation, he stopped short because he dis- 
 covered that Jack was fast asleep. 
 
 The visits of Gascoigne were repeated every night ; old Abdel 
 Faza became every time more gallant, and our midshipman was 
 under the necessity of assuming a virtue if he had it not. He 
 pretended to be very modest. 
 
 In the meantime. Captain Hogg continued his attentions to 
 the real Miss Hicks ; the mate' proceeded to get the bullocks on 
 board, and as more than three weeks had already passed away, 
 it was time to think of departing for Toulon ; but Captain Hogg 
 was too much in love, and as for Gascoigne, he intended, like 
 all midshipmen in love, to give up the service. Jack reasoned 
 with the captain, who appeared to listen to reason, because Miss 
 Hicks had agreed to follow his fortunes, and crown his transports 
 in the transport Mary Ann. He therefore proposed that they 
 should get away as fast as they could, and as soon as they had 
 Wdghed the anchor, he would come on shore, take off Miss 
 Hicks, and make all sail for Toulon. 
 
 Jack inight have suffered this ; the difficulty was with Gas- 
 cbigii'e, who would not hear of going away without his lovely 
 Azai*, At last Jack planned a scheme which he thought would 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 227 
 
 succeed, and which would he a good joke to tell the governor. 
 He tnerefore appeared to consent to Gascoigne's carrying off his 
 little Moor, and they canvassed how it was to he managed. Jack 
 then told Gascoigne that he had hit upon a plan which would 
 succeed. *' I find,'' said he, " from Captain Hogg, that he has 
 an intention of carrying off Miss Hicks, and when I sounded him 
 as to his having a lady with him, he ohjected to it immediately, 
 saying, that he must have all the cahin to himself and his intend- 
 ed. Now, in the first place, I have no notion of giving up the 
 cahin to Miss Hicks or Mrs. Hogg. It will he very uncomfor- 
 tahle to he shut out, because he wishes to make love ; I there- 
 fore am determined that he shall not take off Mis Hicks. He 
 has proposed to me that he shall go onboard, and get the brig un- 
 der weigh, leaving me with a boat on shore to sign the vouchers, 
 and that Miss Hicks shall slip into the boat when I go off at dusk. 
 Now I will not bring off Miss Hicks : if he wants to marry her, 
 let him do it when I am not on board. I have paid for every 
 thing, and I consider the cabin as mine. 
 
 '* Look, you Ned, if you wish to carry off your little Moor there 
 is but one way, and that is a very simple one : leave her a dress 
 of Miss Hicks*s when you go there to-morrow night, and tell her 
 to slip down at dusk, and come out of the house : all the danger 
 will be in her own house, for as soon as she is out, she will be 
 supposed to be the vice-consul's sister, and will not be observed 
 or questioned. I will look out for, and bring her on board in- 
 stead of Miss Hicks. Hogg will have the brig under-weigh, and 
 will be too happy to make all sail, and she shall lock the cabin 
 inside, so that the mistake shall not be discovered till the next 
 morning, and we shall have a good laugh at Captain Hogg." 
 
 Gascoigne pronounced that Jack's scheme was capital, and 
 agreed to it, thanking him and declaring that he was the best 
 friend that he ever had. ** So I will be," thought Jack, " but you 
 wil Inot acknowledge it at first." Jack then went to Captain Hogg 
 and appeared to enter warmly into his views, but told him that 
 Hicks suspected what was going on, and had told him so, at the 
 same time declaring that he would not lose sight of his sister 
 until after Hogg was on board. 
 
 ** Now," says Jack, ** you know you cannot do the thing by 
 
 1 5. 
 
228 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 main force, so the best plan will be for you to go on board and 
 get under weigh, leaving me to bring off Miss Hicks, when her 
 brother will imagine all danger to be over." 
 
 **Many thanks, Mr. Easy," replied Captain Hogg; ** it will 
 be capital, and I'll arrange it all with my Sophy. How very 
 kind of you 1" 
 
 <*But, Hogg, will you promise me secrecy?" 
 
 ** Yes," replied the captain, ** that Gascoigne is a very silly 
 fellow, and wants to run away with a girl he has made acquain- 
 tance with here ; and what do you think he has proposed? that 
 after the ship is under weigh, that I shall carry her off in the 
 boat ; and he has borrowed one of the dresses of Miss Hicks, that 
 it may appear to be her. I have agreed to it, but as I am de- 
 termined that he shall not commit such a folly, I shall bring off 
 Miss Hicks instead; and observe, Hogg, he is that sort of wild 
 fellow, that if he was to find that I had cheated him, he would 
 immediately go on shore and be left behind; therefore we must 
 hand Miss Hicks down in the cabin, and she will lock the door 
 all night, so that he may not observe the trick till the next mor- 
 ning, and then we shall have a fine laugh at him." 
 
 Captain Hogg replied it would be an excellent joke, as Gas- 
 coigne did before him. 
 
 Now it must be observed that the water and the bullocks, and 
 the sheep and fowls, were all on board ; and Mr. Hicks having 
 received his money from Jack, had very much altered his man- 
 ner; he was barely civil, for as he had got all he could out of 
 our hero, he was anxious to get rid of him as well as of Captain 
 Hogg. Our hero was very indignant at this, but as it would not 
 suit his present views, pretended not to notice it— on the con- 
 trary, he professed the warmest friendship for the vice-consul, 
 and took an opportunity of saying that he could not return his 
 kindness in a better way than by informing him of the plot 
 which had been arranged. He then told him of the intended 
 escape of his sister, and that he was the person intended to 
 bring her off. 
 
 '* Infamous, by heavens!" cried the vice-consul; *<I shall 
 write to the foreign office on the subject.'' 
 
 " I think," said Jack, ** it will be much better to do what I 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 229 
 
 shall propose, which will end in a hearty laugh, and to the con- 
 fusion of Captain Hogg. Do you dress yourself in your sister's 
 clothes, and I will bring you off instead of her. Let him imagine 
 that he has your sister secure ; I will hand yon down to the 
 cabin, and do you lock yourself in. He cannot sail without my 
 orders, and I will not sign the vouchers. The next morning 
 we will open the cabin door and have a good laugh at him. 
 Desire your boat to be off at daylight to take you on shore, and 
 1 will then make him proceed to Toulon forthwith. It will be a 
 capital joke." 
 
 So thought the vice-consul, as well as Gascoigne and Captain 
 Hogg. He shook hands with Jack, and was as civil to him as 
 before. 
 
 That night Gascoigne left one of Miss Hick's many dresses 
 with Azar, who agreed to follow his fortunes, and who packed 
 up all the jewels and money she could lay her hands upon. 
 Poor little child, she trembled with fear and delight. Miss 
 Hicks smuggled, as she thought, a box of clothes on board, and 
 in the box was her fortune of three hundred dollars. Mr. Hicks 
 laughed in his sleeve, so did Jack ; and every one went to bed, 
 with expectations that their wishes would be realized. After 
 an early dinner Captain Hogg and Gascoigne went on board, 
 both squeezing Jack's hand as if they were never to see him 
 again, and looks of intelligence passed between all the parties. 
 
 As soon as they were out of the door the vice-consul chuckled, 
 and Miss Hicks, who thought he chuckled at the idea of having 
 rid himself of Captain Hogg, chuckled still more as she looked 
 at our hero, who was her confidant; and our hero, for reasons 
 known to the reader, chuckled more than either of them. 
 
 A little before dark, the boat was sent on shore from the brig, 
 which was now under weigh, and Mr. Hicks, as had been agreed, 
 said that he should go into the office and prepare the vouchers 
 — that is, put on his sister's clothes. Miss Hicks immediately 
 rose, and wishing our hero a pleasant voyage, as had been 
 agreed, said that she should retire for the night, as she had a bad 
 head-ache — she wished her brother good night, and went into 
 her room to wait another hour, when our hero, having shoved 
 off the boat to deceive the vice-consul, was to return, meet her 
 
iSO MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 in the garden, and take her off to the brig. Our hero then 
 went into the office and assisted the vice-consul, who took off all 
 his own clothes and tied them up in a handkerchief, intending to 
 resume them after he had gone into the cabin. 
 
 As soon as he was rendy. Jack carried his bundle and led the 
 supposed Miss Hicks down to the boat. They shoved off in a great 
 hurry, and Jack took an opportunity of dropping Mr. Hicks* 
 bundle overboard. As soon as they arrived alongside, Mr. Hicks 
 ascended and was handed by Jack down into the cabin : he 
 squeezed Jack's hand as he entered, saying in a whisper, *' To- 
 morrow morning what a laugh we shall have !" and then he lock- 
 ed the door. In the mean time the boat was hooked on and 
 hoisted up, and Jack took the precaution to have the dead lights 
 lowered that Mr. Hicks might not be able to ascertain what was 
 going on. Gascoigne came up to our hero and squeezed his 
 hand. 
 
 * ' I'm so much obliged to you. Jack. I say, to-morrow mori^- 
 ing what a laugh we shall have I" 
 
 As soon as the boat was up, and the mainyard filled, Captain 
 Hogg also came up to our hero, shaking him by the hand and 
 thanking him ; and he too concluded by saying, " I say, Mr. Easy, 
 to-morrow morning what a laugh we shall have!" 
 *' Let those laugh who win," thought Jack. 
 The wind was fair, the watch was set, the course was steered, 
 and all went down to their hammocks, and went to sleep, waiting 
 for to-morrow morning. M. Hicks, also, havipg nothing better 
 to do, went to sleep, and by the morning dawn, the transport 
 Mary Ann was more than a hundred miles from the African 
 shore. 
 
 
CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 Our hero plays the very devil. 
 
 "We must leave the reader to imagipe the effept of tlie next 
 morning's denouement. Every one was in a fury eij^cept Jack, 
 who did nothing but laugh. The captain wanted tq return to 
 obtain Miss Hicks, Gascoigne to obtain Azar, and the vice- 
 consul to obtain his liberty —but the wind ^as foul for their re- 
 turn, and Jack soon gained the captain on his side. He pqinted 
 put to him that, in the first place, if he presumed to return, he 
 would forfeit his charter bond ; in the second, l\e WQuld haye to 
 j)ay for all the bullocks which died ; in the third, that if he wished 
 to take Miss Hicks as his wife, }^e must not first injure \\er char- 
 acter by haying her on board l)efore the solemnity ; and lastejy, 
 |;hat he could always go and m^irry her when ever he pleased ; the 
 brother could not prevent him. All this was very gpo4 advice, 
 ^nd the captain became quite calm and rational, and set his stiid- 
 ding sails below and aloft. 
 
 As for Gascoigne, it was no use reasoning with him, so it was 
 agreed that he should have satisfaction as soon as they cpuldget 
 on shore again. Mr. Hicks was the most violent; he insisted 
 that the vessel should return, while both Jack and the capti^in 
 refused, although he threatened then^ witli the whole foreign of- 
 fice. He insisted upon hayipg hjs clothes, biit Jack replied that 
 they had tumbled overboard as they pulled from the shpre. 
 He then commanded the mate and ^eu tp take the yessel b^clf, 
 but tjiey laughpd ^t him and his wQir^sm's clothes, '^J^t ftll 
 events^ I'll have yp^ turned out of the service," sai(} he to puf 
 hero in his fury, '* I shall tje pxtren^ely oblige^ tp Y^\^" §^1^ 
 Jack — and Captain Hogg was so much amused with the vice con- 
 
232 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 suFs appearance in his sister's clothes, that he quite forgot his 
 own disappointment in laughing at his intended brother-in-law. 
 He made friends again with Jack, who regained his ascendency, 
 and ordered out the porter on the capstern-head. They had an 
 excellent dinner, but Mr. Hicks refused to join them, which 
 however did not spoil the appetite of Jack or the captain ; as for 
 Gascoigne, he could not eat a mouthful, but he drank to excess, 
 looking over the rim of his tumbler as if he could devour our 
 hero, who only laughed the more. Mr. Hicks had applied to 
 the men to lend him some clothes, but Jack had foreseen that, 
 and he was omnipotent. There was not a jacket or a pair of 
 trousers to be had for love or money. M. Hicks then considered 
 itadvisable to lower his tone, and he applied to Captain Hogg, who 
 begged to be excused without he consented to his marriage with his 
 sister, to which Mr. Hicks gave an indignant negative. He then 
 applied to Gascoigne who told him in a very surly tone to go to 
 h — 11. At last he applied to our hero, who laughed, and said 
 that he would see him d— d first. So Mr. Hicks sat down in 
 his petticoats and vowed revenge. Gascoigne, who had drunk 
 much and eaten nothing, turned in and went to sleep— while 
 Captain Hogg and our hero drank porter on the capstern. Thus 
 passed the first day, and the wind was famously fair— the bull- 
 ocks lowed, the cocks crew, the sheep baaM, and the Mary Ann 
 made upwards of two hundred miles. Jack took possession of 
 the other berth in the cabin, and his majesty's representative 
 was obliged to lie down in his petticoats upon a topsail which 
 lay between decks, with a bullock on each side of him, who every 
 now and then made a dart at him with their horns, at if they 
 knew that it was to him that they were indebted for their em- 
 barkation and being destined to drive the scurvy out of the 
 Toulon fleet. 
 
 We cannot enter into the details of the passage, which, as the 
 wind was fair, was accomplished in ten days without the loss of 
 a bullock. During this time Mr. Hicks condescended to eat 
 without speaking, imagining that the hour of retribution would 
 come, when they joined the admiral. Gascoigne gradually re- 
 covered himself, but did not speak to our hero, who continued 
 to laugh and drink porter. On the eleventh morning they were 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 233 
 
 in the midst of the Toulon fleet, and Mr. Hicks smiled exultingly 
 as he passed our hero in his petticoats, and wondered that Jack 
 showed no signs of trepidation. 
 
 The fleet hove-to. Jack ran under the admiral's stern, lowered 
 down his hoat and went on board, showed his credentials, and 
 reported his bullocks. The general signal was made, there was 
 a fair division of the spoil, and then the admiral asked our hero 
 whether the master of the transport had .iny other stock on 
 board. Jack replied that he had not; but that having been 
 told by the governor of Malta that they might be acceptable, 
 he had bought a few sheep and some dozen of fowls, which were 
 much at his service, if he would accept of them. The admiral 
 was much obliged to the governor, and also to Jack, for thinking 
 of him, but would not, of course, accept of the stock without 
 paying for them. He requested him to send all of them on 
 board that he could spare , and then asked Jack to dine with 
 liim, for Jack had put on his best attire, and looked very much 
 of a gentleman. 
 
 *'Mr. Easy," said the flag-captain, who had been looking at 
 the transport with his glass, " is that the master's wife on 
 board?" 
 
 *'No, sir," replied Jack; ^'it's the vice-consul." 
 
 ** What, in petticoats I the vice-consul?" 
 
 ** Yes, the vice-consul of Tetuan. He came on board in that 
 dress when the brig was under weigh, and I considered it my 
 duty not to delay, being aware how very important it was that 
 the fleet should be provided with fresh beef." 
 
 ** What is all this, Mr. Easy?" said the admiral; '* there 
 has been some trick here. You will oblige me by coming into 
 the cabin." 
 
 Easy followed the admiral and flag-captain into the cabin, and 
 then boldly told the whole story how he tricked them all. It 
 was impossible for either of them to help laughing, and when 
 they began to laugh it was almost as impossible to stop. 
 
 ** Mr. Easy," said the admiral at last, *' I do not altogether 
 blame you ; it appears that the captain of the transport would 
 have delayed saiUng because he was in love— and that Mr. Gas- 
 coigne would have staid behind because he was infatuated ; in- 
 
284 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 dependent of the ill-\yill against the English which would have 
 been excited by abduction of the girl. But I think you might 
 have contrived to manage all that without putting the vice-consul 
 in petticoats." 
 
 ** I acted to the best of my judgment, sir," replied Jack very 
 humbly. 
 
 '* And altogether you have done well. Captain Malcolm j, 
 send a boat for the vice-consul." 
 
 Mr. Hicks was too impatient to tell hjs wrongs to care for his 
 being in his sister's clothes : he came on board, and although 
 the tittering was great, he imagined that it would soon be all in 
 his favour, when it was known that he was a diplom£^tic. He 
 told his story and waited for the decision of the admiral, which 
 was to crush our hero, who stood with the midshipmen on the 
 leeside of the deck; but the adipiral replied, " Mr. Hicks, in 
 the first place, this appears to me to \)e a family affair concern- 
 ing the marriage of your sister, with which I have nothing to 
 do. You went on board of your own free will in woman's 
 clothes. Mr. Easy's orders were positive, and he obeyed them. 
 It was his duty to sail as soon as the transport was ready. You 
 may forward your complaint if you please, but, as a friend^ I tell 
 you that it will probably occasion yopr dismissal^ for these kinds 
 of pranks are not understood at the foreign office, ypu m^j re- 
 turn to the transport, which, after she has touched at Mahon^i 
 will proceed again to Tetuan. The boat is alongside, sir." 
 
 Mr. Hicks, astonished at the want of respect paid tq a vjcp- 
 consul, shoved his petticoatsi between his legs and went dpwn 
 the side amidst the laughter of the ship's copap^ny. Our her^ 
 dined with the admiral, and was well received. He got his Ofr 
 ders to sail that night for Minorca, and as soon as dinner was 
 Qver Jie returned on board, where he found Captain Hogg very 
 busy selling his porter — Gascoigne walking the deck ii\ ^ 
 brown study — and Mr. Hicks solus abaft, sulking ip his petticoats. 
 
 ^s soon as they were clear of the boats, the Mary Ann hoisted 
 her ensign and made sail^ and as all the porter wa^ not yet sold, 
 Jac]i ordered a bottle. 
 
 Ji^ck was much pleased witli |:he result pf his explanation wjt^h 
 the admiral, and he felt that, for once, he had not only got into 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 285 
 
 no scrape himself, but that he had preyented others. Gas- 
 coigne walked the deck gloomily ; the fact was, that he was very- 
 unhappy ; he had had time to reflect, and now that the first vio- 
 lence had subsided, he felt that our hero had done him a real 
 service, and had prevented him from committing an act of egre- 
 gious folly; and yet he had summoned this friend to meet 
 him in the field— and such had been his gratitude. He would 
 have given the world to recall what had passed and to make 
 friends, but he felt ashamed, as most people do, to acknowledge 
 his error ; he had, however, almost made up his mind to it, and 
 was walking up and down thinking in what manner he might 
 contrive it, when Jack, who was sitting, as usual, in a chair by 
 the capstern, with his porter by him, said to himself, *"' Now I'll 
 lay my life that Ned wants to make friends, and is ashamed to 
 speak fii'st; I may be mistaken, and he may fly off at a tangent, 
 but even if I am, at all events, it will not be I who am wrong — 
 I'll try him." Jack waited till Gascoigne passed him again^ and 
 then said, looking kindly and knowingly in his face, 
 
 " I say, Ned, will you have a glass of porter?" 
 
 Gascoigne smiled, and Jack held out his hand ; the reconci- 
 liation was effected in a moment, and the subject of quarrel was 
 not canvassed by either party. 
 
 *' We ^hall be at Minorca in a day or two," replied Jack^ after 
 a while ; * * now I shall be glad to get there. Do you know, Ned, 
 that ^ feel very much satisfied with myself; I have got into no 
 scrape this time, and I shall, notwithstanding, have a good story 
 to tpll the governor when I go to Malta." 
 
 '* Party at my expense," replied Gascoigne. 
 
 ** Why, you will figure a little in it, but others will figure 
 much more." 
 
 * ' I wonder what has become of that poor girl,'^ observed 
 Gascoigne, who could not refrain from mentioning her; what 
 hurts me most is, that she must think me such a brute." 
 
 * * No doubt of that, Ned, — take another glass of porter." 
 
 '* Her father gave me this large diamond." 
 
 '* The old goat — sell it, and drink his health with it.^* * 
 
 ''No, I'll keep it in memory of his daughter.'' > 
 
 •'■■-■■■■ ^ l •'• ^ Y ^ •■■■ i-yn-uo', 
 
236 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 Here Gascoigne fell into a melancholy, reverie, and Jack 
 thought of Agnes. 
 
 In two days they arrived at Mahon^ and found the Aurora al- 
 ready there, in command of Captain Wilson. Mr. Hicks had 
 persuaded Captain Hogg to furnish him with clothes, Jack hav- 
 ing taken off the injunction as soon as he had quitted the admiral. 
 M. Hicks was aware that if the admiral would not listen to his 
 complaint, it was no use speaking to a captain : so he remained 
 on hoard a pensioner upon Captain Hogg, and after our mid- 
 shipmen quitted the transport they became very good friends. 
 Mr. Hicks consented to the match, and Captain Hogg was made 
 happy. As for poor Azar, she had wandered about until 
 she was tired, in Miss Hick's dress, and at last returned broken- 
 hearted to her father's and was admitted by Abdel Faza himself; 
 he imagined it was Miss Hicks, and was in transports— he dis- 
 covered it was his daughter, and he was in a fury. The next 
 day she went to the zenana of Osman Ali. 
 
 When Jack reported himself he did not tell the history of the 
 elopements, that he might not hurt the feelings of Gascoigne. 
 Captain Wilson was satisfied with the manner in which he had 
 executed his orders, and asked him, " whether he preferred 
 staying in the Harpy, or following him into the Aurora." 
 
 Jack hesitated. 
 
 '* Speak frankly, Mr. Easy ; if you prefer Captain Sawbridge 
 to me, I shall not be affronted." 
 
 " No, sir," replied Easy, ** I do not prefer Captain Sawbridge 
 to you ; you have both been equally kind to me, but I prefer you. 
 But the fact is, sir, that I do not much like to part with Gas- 
 coigne, or " 
 
 " Or who ?" said the captain, smiling. 
 
 *' With Mesty, sir, you may think me very foolish — but I 
 should not be alive at this moment, if it had not been for him." 
 
 ** I do not consider gratitude to be foolish, Mr. Easy," replied 
 Captain Wilson. ** Mr. Gascoigne, I intend to take with me, 
 if he chooses to come, as I have a great respect for his father, 
 and no fault to find with him, that is, generally speaking— but as 
 for Mesty — why he is a good man, and as you have behaved 
 yourself very well, perhaps I may think of it." 
 
Mil. MIt)SHlt>MA]Sf EASY. S37 
 
 The next day Mesty was included among the boat's crew taken 
 with him, by Captain Wilson, according to the regulations of 
 the service, and appointed to the same situation under the mas- 
 ter at arms of the Aurora. Gascoigne and our hero were also 
 discharged into the frigate. 
 
 As our hero never has shown any remarkable predilection for 
 duty, the reader will not be surprised at his requesting from Cap- 
 lain Wilson a few days on shore, previous to his going on board 
 of the Aurora. Captain Wilson allowed the same license to 
 Gascoigne, as they had both been cooped up for some time on 
 board of a transport. Our hero took up his quarters at the only 
 respectable hotel in the town, and whenever he could meet an 
 officer of the Aurora, he very politely begged the pleasure of his 
 company to dinner. Jack^s reputation had gone before him, 
 and the midshipmen drank his wine and swore he was a trump. 
 Not that Jack was to be deceived, but upon the principles of 
 equality, he argued that it was the duty of those who could afford 
 dinners to give them to those who could not. This was a sad 
 error on Jack's part, but he had not yet learnt the value of mo- 
 ney ; he was such a fool as to think that the only real use of it 
 was to make other people happy. It must, however, be offered 
 in his extenuation that he was a midshipman and a philosopher, 
 and not yet eighteen. 
 
 At last Jack had remained so long on shore, keeping open 
 house, and the first lieutenant of the Aurora found the officers 
 so much more anxious for leave, now that they were at little or 
 no expense, that he sent him a very polite message, requesting 
 the pleasure of his company on board that evening. Jack re- 
 turned an equally polite answer, informing the first lieutenant 
 that not being aware that he wished to see him, he had promised 
 to accompany some friends to a masquerade that night, but that 
 he would not fail to pay his respects to him the next day. The 
 first lieutenant admitted the excuse, and our hero, after having 
 entertained half-a-dozen of the Auroras, for the Harpy had sailed 
 two days before, dressed himself for the masquerade, which was 
 held in a church about two miles and a half from Mahon. 
 
 Jack had selected the costume of the devilj as being the most 
 appropriate, and mounting a jackass, he rode down in his dress 
 
238 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 to the masquerade. But, as Jack was just going in, he perceived 
 a yellow carriage, with two footmen in gaudy livferies, draw up, 
 and, with his usual politeness, when the footmeh opened the 
 door, offered his arm to hand out a fat old dowager covered with 
 diamonds ; the lady looked up, and perceiving Jack covered with 
 hair with his trident and his horns, and long tail, gave a loud 
 scream, and would have fallen had it not been for Captain Wil- 
 son, who, in his full uniform, was coming in and caught her in 
 his arms : while the old lady thanked him, and Captain Wilson 
 bowed. Jack hastily retreated. '* I shall make no conquests to- 
 night," thought he, so he entered the church, and joined the 
 crowd; but it was so dense that it was hardly possible to move, 
 and our hero soon got tired of flourishing his trident, and 
 sticking it into people, who wondered what the devil he 
 meant. 
 
 ** This is stupid work,'' thought Jack, '* I may have more fun 
 outside :" so Jack put on his cloak, left the masquerade, and went 
 out in search of adventures. He walked into the open country, 
 about half a mile, until he came to a splendid house, standing in 
 a garden of orange-trees, which he determined to reconnoitre. 
 He observed that a window was open and lights were in the 
 room; and he climbed up to the window, and just opened the 
 white curtain and looked in. On a bed lay an elderly person, 
 evidently dying, and by the side of the bed were three priests, 
 one of whom held the crucifix in his hand, another the censor, 
 and a third was sitting at a table with a paper, pen, and ink. 
 As Jack understood Spanish, he listened, and heard one of the 
 priests say, 
 
 *^ Your sins have been enormous, my son, and I cannot give 
 you extreme unction or absolution unless you make some 
 amends." 
 
 **I have," answered the moribund, *Meft money for ten 
 thousand masses to be said for my soul." 
 
 ** Five hundred thousand masses are not sufficient : how have 
 you gained your enormous wealth ? by usury and robbing the 
 poor." 
 
 *'I have left a thousand dollars to be distributed among the 
 poor on the day of my funeral." 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 239 
 
 **One thousand dollars is nothing — you must leave all your 
 ^T6p^tty tbthe hbly chutch." 
 
 '^ And my children!'' replied ttie dying Mah, faintly. 
 
 **What are your children coniJ)ared to yOUr salvation?— 
 i'eply not : dthet- consent, or not bnly do I refiisfe yoti the cori- 
 isoUtioriS of the dying, but I excortitaUhicate— — *' 
 
 ** Miercy, holy father — mercy I'* said the old iiidn, in a dying 
 tbifce. 
 
 " There is no mercy, you arfe damiied for fevei: arid ever. 
 Amen. Now hear : excommunicaho te " 
 
 '* Slop— stop— have you the p^^per ready ?'^ 
 
 **Tis here, all ready, by which you revoke all forttier wills, 
 and endow the holy church with yOur property. We will i-ead 
 it, for God forbid that it should be said that the holy chiifch re- 
 ceived an involuntary gift." 
 
 *'I will sign it," replied the dying man; *'btit my sight fails 
 me; be quick, absolve me." And the paper was signed, with 
 difficulty, ais the priests supported the dying man. ''* Arid now — 
 absolve me." 
 
 <* 1 do absolve thee," replied the priest, who then went 
 through the ceremony. 
 
 **Now this is a confounded rascally business," said Jack to 
 himself; who then dropped his cloak, jiiniped Upon the window- 
 cill, opened wide the window-curtains with both hands, and 
 uttered a yelling kind of ** ha ! ha ! ha ! ha !" 
 
 The priests turned round, saw the demon, as they iiiiagined — 
 dropped the paper on the table, and threw themselves wiih their 
 faces on the floor. 
 
 ^' Exorciso /^^," stammered one. 
 
 ''Hal ha! ha! hal" repeated Jiack, entering the room, and 
 taking up the paper which he burnt by the flame of the candle. 
 Our hero looked at the old man oh the bed ; his jaw had fallen, 
 his eyes were turned, tie was dead. Jack then gave one 
 more "hal ha! ha! ha!" to keep the priests in their places, 
 blew out the candles, made a fepring out of the window, caught 
 up his cloak, and disappeared as fast as his legs could carry him. 
 
 Jack ran until he was out of breath, and then he stopped, and 
 sat down by the side of the road. It wAs broad moonlight, and 
 
240 MR. MIDSHIPMA.N EASY. 
 
 Jack knew not where he was : *' but Minorca has not many high 
 roads," thought Jack, ** and I shall find my way home. Now, 
 let me see, I have done some good this evening. I have pre- 
 vented those rogues from disinheriting a family. 1 wonder who 
 they are ; they ought to be infinitely obliged to me. But if the 
 priests find me out, what shall I do ? I never dare come on 
 shore again — they'd have me in the inquisition. I wonder 
 where I am," said Jack, *' I will get on that hill, and see if I can 
 take a departure." 
 
 The hill was formed by the road being cut perpendicularly 
 almost through it, and was perhaps some twelve or fourteen feet 
 high. Jack ascended it, and looked about him. ** There is the 
 sea, at all events, with the full moon silvering the waves," said 
 Jack, turning from the road, ** and here is the road; then that 
 must be the way to Port IMahon. But what comes here ? — it's 
 a carriage. Why it's the yellow carriage of that old lady with 
 her diamonds and her two splashy footmen !" Jack was watch- 
 ing it as it passed the road under him, when, of a sudden, he 
 perceived about a dozen men rush out, and seize the horses' 
 heads,— a discharge of fire-arms, the coachman dropt off the 
 box, and the two footmen dropt from behind. The robbers 
 then opened the door and were hauling out the fat old lady 
 covered with diamonds. Jack thought a second — it occurred to 
 him, that, although he could not cope with so many, he 
 might frighten them, as he had frightened one set of robbers 
 already that night. The old lady had just been tumbled 
 out of the carriage-door, like a large bundle of clothes tied up 
 for the wash, when Jack, throwing off his cloak, and advancing 
 to the edge of the precipice, with the full moon behind him 
 throwing out his figure in strong relief, raised his trident, and 
 just as they were raising their knives, yelled a most unearthly 
 * * ha ! ha ! ha 1 ha 1" The robbers looked up, and forgetting the 
 masquerade, for there is a double tremor in guilt, screamed 
 with fear ; most of them ran away, and dropped after a hundred 
 yards, others remained paralyzed and insensible. Jack des- 
 cended the hill, went to the assistance of the old lady, who had 
 swooned , and had to put her into the carriage ; but although 
 our hero was very strong, this was a work of no small difficulty. 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 241 
 
 After one or two attempts, he lowered down the steps, and con- 
 trived to hump her on the first, from the first he purchased her 
 on to the second, and from the second he at last seated her at 
 the door of the carriage. Jack had no time to he over-polite ; 
 he then threw her hack into the bottom of the carriage, her heels 
 went up to the top. Jack shoved in her petticoats as fast as he 
 could, for decency, and then shutting the door, seized the reins, 
 and jumped upon the box. ** I don't know the way,'* thought 
 Jack, " but we must needs go when the devil drives; so slicking 
 his trident into the horses, they set off at a rattling pace, passing 
 over the bodies of the two robbers, who had held the reins, and 
 who both lay before him in a swoon. As soon as he had brought 
 the horses into a trot, he slackened the reins, for, as Jack wisely 
 argued, they will be certain to go home if I let them have their 
 own way. The horses, before they arrived at the town, turned 
 off, and stopped at a large country house. That he might not 
 frighten the people, Jack had put on his cloak, and taken off his 
 mask and head-piece, which he had laid beside him on the box. 
 At the sound of the carriage-wheels the servants came out, when 
 Jack, in few words, told them what had happened. Some of 
 the servants ran in, and a young lady made her appearance, 
 while the others were helping the old iady out of the carriage, 
 who had recovered her senses, but had been so much frightened 
 that she had remained in the posture in which Jack had put her. 
 As soon as she was out. Jack descended from the coach-box 
 and entered the house. He stated to the young lady what had 
 taken place, and how opportunely he had frightened away the 
 robbers, just as they were about to murder her relation ; and 
 also suggested the propriety of sending after the servants who 
 had fallen in the attack, which was immediately done by a strong 
 and well-armed party collected for the occasion. Jack having 
 made his speech, made a very polite bow and took his leave, 
 stating that he was an English officer, belonging to a frigate in 
 the harbour. He knew his way back, and in half an hour was 
 again at the inn, and found his comrades. Jack thought it 
 advisable to keep his own secret, and therefore merely said, that 
 he had taken a long walk in the country ; and soon afterwards 
 went to bed. 
 
 i6 
 
242 MR; MlDSttlPMAl!^ EASif i 
 
 The next mornihg our hero; who was always a mdti of 1114 
 word, packed up his portmanteau, ahd paid his bill. He had 
 just completed this heavy operation, when somebody wanted to 
 speak to him, and a sort of half-clerical, half-legal sort of looking 
 gentleman was introduced, who, with a Starch face and prim air, 
 said that he came to request in writing the name of the officer 
 who was dressed as a devil, in the masquerade of the night 
 before. • 
 
 Jack looked at his interrogator, aiid thought of the prifesls 
 and the inquisition. *' No, no," thought he, " that won't do ; a 
 name I must give, but it shall be one that you date not meddle 
 with. A midshipman you might gfet hold of, but it\s more thari 
 the whole island dare to touch a post-captaill of one of his ma- 
 jesty's frigates. So Jack took the paper and wrbte Captain 
 Henry Wilson, of his majesty's ship Aurora. 
 
 The prim man made a prim bow, folded up the paper, and 
 left the room. ^i'-'' i '"-' -^^^ > ? ■ ^ i ^>»- » 
 
 Jack threw the waiter hallM datbfetffi, li|iit«ft1fi^ ypt, and 
 went on board. 
 
 -ifidv/ 
 
 i,«d CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 In which the old proverb is illustrated, *' That yoU miist not count your 
 
 chickens before they are hatched." i 
 
 The fii'st lieutenant of the Aurora was a vety good otficer iti 
 iridtiy tespects, but, as a midshipman, he had contracted the 
 habit bf putting his haiids in his pockets and cbiild never keep 
 thetn out, eveh when the ship was in a gale of wind ; and hands 
 are of some use iti a heatjr lurch. He had thdre thah once re- 
 ceived serious injury from falhng on these occasion^, but habit 
 
MRi MIDSHIPMAN EASY. Uh 
 
 kas too powerful; aridj although he had ohcie broken his leg by 
 falling dbwii the hatchtvay, and had moreover a lar^fe scSir on 
 his forehead, received from being thrown to leeward against Ond 
 of the guns, he still eontinued the practice; indeed, it was said 
 that once, when it Was necessary for him tO go aloft, he had 
 actually taken the two first rounds of the Jacob's ladder without 
 withdrawing them, until losing his balance, he discovered that it 
 was tiot quite so easy to go aloft with his hands in his pockets. 
 In fact, there was ilo getting up his hands, even when all hands 
 were tufned up. He had another peculiarity, which was, that 
 he had taken a peculiar fancy to a quack medicine, called EnOuy's 
 Universal Medicine for all Mankind ; and Mr. Potty far was con- 
 vinced in his own niind that the label was no libel, except froiii 
 the greatness of its truth. Ih his Opinion, it cured every thing, 
 Imd he spent one of his quarterly bills every year in bottles of 
 this stuff; which he not only took himself every time he waife 
 unwell, but occasionally when quite well, to prevent his falling 
 Sifcki He recottiniended it tO every body in the ship, and nothing 
 pleased him so much, as to give a dose of it to every one who 
 could be persuaded to take it. The officers laughed at him, but 
 it was generally behind his back, for he became very angry if 
 contradicted Upon this one point, upon Which he certainly might 
 be considered to be a little cracked. He was indefatigable in 
 making proselytes to his creed, and expatiated upon the virtues 
 of the medicine for an hour running, proving the truth of his 
 assertions by a pamphlet, which, with his hands, he always car- 
 ried in his trousers* pocket. 
 
 Jack reported himself when he came on board, and Mr. Pot- 
 tyfar, who was on the quarter-deck at the time, expressed a hope 
 that Mr. Easy would take his share of the duty, now that he had 
 had such a spell on shore ; to which Jack very graciously acceded, 
 and then went down below, where he found Gascoigne and his 
 new messmates, with most of whom he was already acquainted. 
 
 ** Well, Easy," said Gascoigne, *' have you had ehough Of the 
 shore?" 
 
 ** Quite," replied Jack, recoliecting that after the events of 
 the night before, he was just as well on board ; '* I don*t intend 
 to ask for any more leave." 
 
 i6. 
 
2U MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 * ' Perhaps it's quite as well, for Mr. Pottyfar is not very liberal 
 on that score, I can tell you ; there is but one way of getting 
 leave from him." 
 
 * * Indeed," replied Jack ; *' and what is that?" 
 
 ** You must pretend that you are not well, take some of his 
 quack medicine^ and then he will allow you a run on shore to 
 work it off." 
 
 "Oh! that's it, is it? well then, as soon as we anchor in Va- 
 lette, I'll go through a regular course, but not till then." i 
 
 '* It ought to suit you, Jack; it's an equality medicine; cures 
 pne disorder just as well as the other." 
 
 ,,,ff * Or kills — which levels all the patients. You're right, Gas- 
 coigne, I must patronize that stuff — for more reasons than one. 
 Who was that person on deck in mufti ?" 
 
 ** The mufti. Jack? In other words, the chaplain of the ship; 
 but he's a prime sailor, nevertheless.'' 
 
 "How's that?" 
 
 "Why he was brought up on the quarter-deck, served his 
 lime, was acting lieutenant for two years, and then, somehow or 
 another, he bore up for the church." 
 
 " Indeed — what were his reasons ?" 
 
 "No one knows— but they say he has bejen unhappy ever 
 since." j ,\/k . 
 
 "Why so? 
 
 ' * Because he did a very foolish thing, which cannot now be 
 remedied. He supposed at the time that he would make a good 
 parson, and now that he has long got over his fit, he finds him- 
 self wholly unfit for it — he is still the officer in heart, and is 
 always struggling with his natural bent, which is very contrary 
 to what a parson should feel." 
 
 "Why don't they allow parsons to be broke by a court- 
 martial, and turned out of the service, or to resign their com- 
 missions, like other people ?" 
 
 " It won't do. Jack— they serve Heaven— there's a difference 
 between that and serving his majesty." 
 
 "Well, I don't understand these things. When do we sail?'* 
 r " The day after to-morrow." j 
 
 ' ' * To join the fleet off Toulon ?" [^ 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 245 
 
 <* Yes; but I suppose we shall be driven on the Spanish coast 
 going there. I never knew a man-of-war that was not." 
 
 *' No ; wind always blows from the south, going up the Medi- 
 terranean.'* 
 
 ** Perhaps you'll take another prize, Jack — mind you don't go 
 away without the articles of war." . ,''?^ 
 
 '* I won't go away without Mesty, if I can help it. O deai*, 
 how abominable a midshipman's berth is after a long run on 
 shore ! I positively must go on deck and look at the shore, if I 
 can do nothing else.'' 
 
 " Why, ten minutes ago you had had enough of it ?" 
 
 '* Yes, but ten minutes here has made me feel quite sick. 
 I shall go to the first lieutenant for a dose. 
 
 '* I say. Easy, we must both be physicked on the same 
 day." 
 
 *' To be sure; but stop till we get to Malta." 
 
 Jack went on deck, made acquaintance with the chaplain and 
 some of the officers whom he had not known, then climbed up 
 into the main-top, where he took a seat on the armolest, and, as 
 he looked at the shore, thought over the events that had passed, 
 until Agnes came to his memory, and he thought only of her. 
 When a mid is in love, he always goes aloft to think of the object 
 of his affection; why, I don't know, except that his reverie 
 is not so likely to be disturbed by an order from a superior 
 officer. 
 
 The Aurora sailed on the second day, and with a fine breeze, 
 stood across, making as much northing as easting; the con- 
 sequence was, that one fine morning they saw the Spanish coast 
 before they saw the Toulon fleet. Mr. Pottyfar took his hands 
 out of his pockets, because he could not examine the coast 
 through a telescope without so doing; but this, it is said, was 
 the first time that he had done so on the quarter-deck from the 
 day that the ship had sailed from Port Mahon. Captain Wil- 
 son was also occupied with his telescope, so were many of the 
 officers and midshipmen, and the men at the mast-heads used 
 their eyes, but there was nothing but a few small fishing-boats 
 to be seen. So they all went down to breakfast, as the ship 
 was hove- to close in with the land. '' * ^ 
 
246 MR, MIDSHIPMAN EA§Y. 
 
 ''What will Easy bet/' said one of the midshipmen, "that 
 we don' t see a prize to-day ?" 
 
 '*I >yill not bet that we do iiot see a vessel— but I'll bet you 
 what you please, that we do not take one before twelve o'clock 
 at night/' 
 
 " No, no, that won't do — just Ipt the tea-pot travel over this 
 way, for it's my forenoon watch." 
 
 *'It'sa ftne morning," observed one of the m^tes, of the name 
 of Martin ; '* b^t I've a notion it won't be a (ine evening." ^ 
 
 "Why not?" inquired another. 
 
 ** I've now been eight years in the Mediterranean, and know 
 something about the weather* There's a watery sky, apd the 
 wind is very steady. If we are ni?^ ttSfeiiPwWs f^efe^ topsails 
 |:o-night, say Tm no conjuror.?.?„j ■^;uix dw ^y/bS. ,y&B 
 
 That you will be, all the same, if we are under bare poles," 
 said another. 
 
 ** You're devilish free with your tongue, my youngster.— 
 Easy, pull his ears for me." ^.^^^ 
 
 '* Pull them easy. Jack, then/' said the boy, laughjng. '? ? * 
 ^l^^l* All hands make sail I" now resounded at the hatchways. 
 
 ^* There they are, depend upon it," cried Gascoigne, catching 
 lip his hat and bolting out of the berth, followed by all the 
 others except Martin, who had just been relieved, ancj thought 
 that his presence in the waist might be dispensed with for the 
 short time, at4east, which it took him to swallow a cup of tea. 
 
 It was very true ; a galhot and four lateen vessels had just 
 made their appearance round the easternmost point, and, as 
 soon as they observed the frigate, had hauled their wind. la a 
 minute the Aurora was under a press of canvas, and the teles- 
 copes were all directed to the vessels. 
 
 '' All deeply laden, sir," observed Mr. Hawkins, the chaplain; 
 **how the topsail of the galliot is scored!" 
 
 **They have a fresh breeze just nQy3?/'fll)^ejj^4Xlaptain 
 Wilson to the first lieutenant, ^j^i ^^^^ k3u\m'>&'mlB zm tm 
 '* Yes, sir, and it's coming down fast." 
 '* Hands by the royal haulyards, there." 
 
 The Aurora careened with the canvas to the rapidly increasing 
 breeze. ■> .:■ ., , -wjr'r, . •,. .-■..' 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 247 
 
 ** Top-gallant sheet t^nd liaulya^-ds." 
 
 ''Luff you may, qija^^tpr master; luff, I tell you. A small 
 pull of that we^f-her main-top gallant hrace-r-that will do," said 
 the master. 
 
 '* Top-men, aloft there; — stand by to due up the royals — and, 
 Captain Wilspn, shall we take them in? — Fm afraid of that 
 pole— it bends now like a coach-whip," said Mr. Pottyfar, 
 looking up aloft, with his hands in both pockets. 
 
 ** In royals— lower ^way.'^ 
 
 '* They are going about, sir," said the second lieutenant, Mr. 
 Haswell. 
 
 **Look out," observed the chaplain, *'it's coming." 
 
 Again the breeze increases, and the frigate was borne down. 
 
 '< Hands reef topsails in stays, Mr. Pottyfar." 
 
 *' Aye, aye, sir— 'bout ship." 
 
 The' helm was put down and the topsails lowered and reefed 
 ix\ stays. 
 
 "Very well, my lads, very well indeed^" said Captain 
 Wlsoii. 
 
 ^gain the topsails were hoisted and top-gallant sheets home. 
 It was a strong breeze although the water was smooth, and the 
 ^urora dashed through at the rate of eight miles an hour, with 
 her weather leeches lifting. 
 
 *' Did'nt I tell you so ?" said Martin to his messmates on the 
 gangway; *' but there's more yet, my boys." 
 
 " We must take the top -gallant sails off her,'' said Captain 
 Wilson, looking aloft — for the frigate now careened to her 
 bearings, and the wind was increasing and squally. ** Try them 
 a little longer;" but another squall came suddenly— the haul- 
 yards were lowered and the sails clewed up and furled. 
 
 In the mean time the frigate had rapidly gained upop the 
 vessels, which still carried on every stitch of canvas, making 
 short tacks in shore. The Aurora was again put about with her 
 head towards them, and they were not two points on her weather 
 bow. The sky, which had been clear in the morning, was now 
 overcast, the sun was obscured with opaque white clouds, and 
 the sea was rising fast. Another ten minutes, and then they 
 Wer^ W^^r dpftble reefed |;pp-§ails, and the squalls wereaccom- 
 
248 M^. MiDSfflMAN EASY. 
 
 panied with heavy rain. The frigate now dashed through the 
 waves, foaming in her course and straining under the press of 
 sail. The horizon was so thick that the vessels ahead were no 
 longer to be seen. 
 
 ''We shall have it, I expect," said Captain Wilson. 
 
 '^ Didn't I say so," observed Martin to Gascoigne. **We 
 take no prizes this day, depend upon it." 
 
 *'We must have another hand to the wheel, sir, if you 
 please," said the quarter-master, who was assisting the helms- 
 man. 
 
 Mr. Pottyfar, with his hands concealed as usual, stood by the 
 capstern. **I fear, sir, we cannot carry the main-sail much 
 longer." 
 
 '* No," observed the chaplain, ** I was thinking so." 
 
 ** Captain Wilson, if you please, we are very close in," said 
 the master; *' don't you think we had better go about?" 
 
 *'Yes, Mr. Jones," — Hands about ship— and — yes by hea- 
 vens, we must! — up mainsail." 
 
 The mainsail was taken off, and the frigate appeared to be 
 immediately relieved. She no longer jerked and plunged as 
 before. 
 
 ** We're very near the land. Captain Wilson ; thick as it is, 
 I think I can make out the loom of it— shall we wear round, 
 sir ?" continued the master. 
 
 ** Yes, — hands, wear ship — put the helm up." 
 
 It was but just in time, for, as the frigate flew round, des- 
 cribing a circle, as she payed off before the wind, they could per- 
 ceive the breakers lashing the precipitous coast, not two cables' 
 length from them. 
 
 **I had no idea we were so near," observed the captain, 
 compressing his lips — ** Can they see any thing of those 
 vessels ?" 
 
 *'I have not seen them this quarter of-an-hour, sir," replied 
 the signalman, protecting his glass from the rain under his 
 jacket. 
 
 ** How's her head now, quarter- master ?" 
 
 "South -south-east, sir." 
 
 The sky now assumed a different appearance — the white 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 249 
 
 clouds had been exchanged for others dark and mUrky, the wind 
 roared at intervals, and the rain came down in torrents. Cap- 
 tain Wilson went down into [the cabin to examine the baro- 
 meter. 
 
 '* The barometer has risen," said he on his return on deck. 
 **Is the wind steady?" ' 
 
 "No, sir, she's up and off three points." 
 
 '* This will end in a south-wester." 
 
 The wet and heavy sails now flapped from the shifting of the 
 wind. 
 
 *' Up with the helm, quarter-master.'* 
 
 ** Up it is— she's off to south-by-west.'' 
 
 The wind lulled, the rain came down in a deluge— for a minute 
 it was quite calm, and the frigate was on an even keel. 
 
 * ' Man the braces. We shall be taken aback directly, depend 
 upon it." 
 
 The braces were hardly stretched along before this was the 
 case. The wind flew round to the south-west with a loud roar, 
 and it was fortunate that they were prepared— the yards were 
 braced round, and the master asked the captain what course 
 they were to steer. 
 
 ** We must give it up," observed Captain Wilson, holding on 
 by the belaying pin. '* Shape our course for Cape Sicie, Mr. 
 Jones." 
 
 And the Aurora flew before the gale, under her fore-sail and 
 top-sails close reefed. The weather was now so thick that 
 nothing could be observed twenty yards from the vessel ; the 
 thunder pealed, and the lightning darted in every direction over 
 the dark expanse. The watch was called as soon as the sails 
 were trimmed, and all who could, went below, wet, uncomfor- 
 table, and disappointed. 
 
 " What an old Jonah you are, Martin," said Gascoigne. 
 
 ** Yes, I am," replied he; " but we have the worst to come 
 yet, in my opinion. I recollect, not two hundred miles from 
 where we are now, we had just such a gale in the Favourite, 
 and we as nearly went down, when " 
 
 At this moment a tremendous noise was heard above, a shock 
 was felt throughout the whole ship, which trembled fore and 
 
250 MR. IVUDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 ^ft gs if }t was about |o fall into pieces; loud shrieks were 
 followed by plaintive cries, the lower deck was filled with smoke, 
 jand the frigate was down on her beam ends. Without ex- 
 changing a word, the whole of the occupants of the berth flew 
 (put, and were up the hatchway, not knowing what to tl^ink, but 
 convinced that some dreadful accident had takei^ place. 
 
 On their gaining the d^ck it was at once explained ; the fore- 
 mast of the frigate had been struck by lightning, had bpe^ riven 
 into several pieces, and had fallen over the larbpar4 bow, 
 carrying with it the main-top mast and jib-boom. The jagged 
 stump of the foremast was in flames and buri^t brightly, not- 
 withstanding the rain fell in torrents. The ship, as soou as the 
 foremast and main-top-mast had gone overboard, broached to 
 furiously, throwing the men over the wheel and das}iing them 
 senseless against the carronades; the forecastle, the fore part of 
 the main deck, and even the lower deck, were spread wjth ?uen 
 either killed or seriously wounded, or insensible from the elec- 
 tric shock. The frigate was on her bea^ ends and the sea 
 broke furiously over her : all was dark as pitch, except the light 
 from the blazing stump of tjie foremast, appearing like a torch, 
 held up by the wild demons of the storm, or lyhen occasionally 
 Jhe gleaming lightning cast a mpmentary gl^re, threatening 
 jBvery moment to repeat its attack upon the vessel, while tl^e 
 deafening thunder burst almost on their devoted heads. All 
 yva^s dismay and confusion for a ruinute pr two : at last Captain 
 Wilson, who had himself Ipst his sight for a short time, called 
 for the carpenter and axes— they climbed up, that is, two or 
 three of them, and he pointed to the mizen-mast ; the master was 
 also there, and he cut loose the axes for the seamen to use; in a 
 few minutes the mizen-mast fell over ijie quarter, and the helm 
 being put hard up, the frigate payed off and slowly righted. 
 But the horror pf the scene was not yet over. The boafswain, 
 who had been on the forecastle, had been led below, for his 
 yision was gone for ever. The meu who lay scattered about, 
 had bepn examined , and they were assisting them down to |:lie 
 care of the surgeon, when the cry pf 'f Fipe}" iss^ed frppi l^he 
 Jowpr deck. Thp sl^ip had taken fire at the coal-hole and car- 
 pmf^ mrM99m m^ ^hn smoke Ij^^t ^^^^ asgen4.9[i w^ 
 intense. 
 
]\IR, MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 251 
 
 ''Call the drummer," said Captaiij Wilson, *' and let him heat 
 to quarters" — all hands to their stations — let the pumps he 
 rigged and the buckets passed along. Mr. Martin, see that the 
 wounded men are taken down below. Where's Mr. Haswell? 
 Mr. Pottyfar, station the men to pass the water on by hand on 
 the lower deck. I will go there myself. Mr. Jones, take charge 
 oftheship.";"'^^ ' ' ''^-' -'"^^^ 
 
 Pottyfar, who actually had taken his hands out of his pockiets, 
 hastened down to comply with the captain's orders on the main- 
 deck, as Captain Wilson descended to the deck below. 
 
 * * I say. Jack, this is very different from this morning," ob- 
 served Gascoigne. 
 
 *' Yes," replied Jack, " so it is; but I say, Gascoigne, what's 
 the best thing to do?— when the chimney's on fire on shore, 
 they put a wet blanket over it." 
 
 ^* Yes,' replied Gascoigne ; *' but when the cojal-hole's on fire 
 on board, they will not find that sufficient." 
 
 ** At all events, wet blankets must be a good thing, Ned, so 
 let us pull out the hammocks ; cut the lanyards and get some 
 out — we can but offer them, you know, and if they do no good, 
 at least it will show our zeal." 
 
 ** Yes, Jack, and I think when they turn in again, those whose 
 blankets you take will agree with you, that zeal makes the ser- 
 vice very uncomfortable. However, I think you are right." 
 
 The two midshipmen collected three or four hands, and in a 
 very short time tHey had more blankets than they could carry 
 — there was no trouble in wetting them, for the main-deck was 
 afloat— and followed by the men they had collected, Easy and 
 Gascoigne went down with large bundles in their arms to where 
 Captain Wilson was giving directions to the men. 
 
 ** Excellent, Mr. Easy, excellent, Mr. Gascoigne," said Cap- 
 tain Wilson. ** Come, my lads, throw them over now, and 
 stamp upon them well; the men's jackets and the captain's coat 
 had already been sacrificed to the same object. 
 
 Easy called the other midshipmen, and they went up for a 
 further supply; but there was no occasion, the fire had been 
 smothered; still the danger had been so great that the fore naa- 
 gazine had been floated. During all this, which lasted perhaps 
 
252 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 a quarler-of-an-hoiir, the frigate had rolled gunnel under, and 
 many were the accidents which occured. At lasl, all danger 
 from fire had ceased, and the men were ordered to return to 
 their quarters, when three officers and forty-seven men were 
 found absent — seven of them were dead, most of them were al- 
 ready under the care of the surgeon, but some were still lying in 
 the scuppers. 
 
 No one had been more active or more brave during this time 
 of danger, than Mr. Hawkins the chaplain. He was every- 
 where, and when Captain Wilson went down to put out the fire 
 he waa there encouraging the men and exerting himself most 
 gallantly. He and Mesty came aft when all was over, one just 
 as black as the other. The chaplain sat down and wrung his 
 hands — ** God forgive me 1" said he, '* God forgive me I" 
 
 ** Why so, sir ?" said Easy, who stood near, ** I am sure you 
 need not be ashamed of what you have done." 
 
 '' No, no, not ashamed of what Fve done! but, Mr. Easy— I 
 have sworn such oaths at the men in my haste— I, the chaplain, 
 God forgive me — I meant nothing.'* It was very true that 
 Mr. Hawkins had sworn a great deal during his exertions, but 
 he was at that time the quarter-deck officer and not the chaplain ; 
 the example to the men and his gallantry had been most servi- 
 ceable. 
 
 *' Indeed, sir," said Easy, who saw that the chaplain was in 
 great tribulation, and hoped to pacify him; ** I was certainly 
 not there all the time, but I only heard you say, God bless you, 
 my men, be smart, and so on ; surely, that is not swearing." 
 
 '* Was it thatl said, Mr. Easy, are you sure? I really had an 
 idea that Ihad d d them all in heaps, as some of them deserv- 
 ed. Did I really bless them — nothing but bless them ?" 
 
 ** Yes, sir," said Mesly, who perceived what Jack wanted, 
 *< it was nothing, I assure you, but God bless you, Captain 
 Wilson — Bless your heart, my good men— Bless the king, and so 
 on. You do nothing but shower down blessing and wet blanket." 
 
 '* I told you so," said Jack." 
 
 *' Well, Mr. Easy, you've made me very happy," replied the 
 chaplain ; *' I was afraid it was otherwise." 
 
 So indeed it was, for the chaplain had sworn like a boatswain ; 
 
MR. MIDSHIPiMAN EASY. 253 
 
 but, as Jack and Mesty had turned all his curses into blessings, 
 the poor man gave himself absolution, and shaking hands with 
 Jack hoped, he would come down into the gun room and take a 
 glass of grog ; nor did he forget Mesty, who received a good al- 
 lowance at the gun-room door, to which Jack gladly consented, 
 as the rum in the middy's berth had all been exhausted after the 
 rainy morning — but Jack was interrupted in his third glass, by 
 somebody telling him the captain wanted to speak with M. Haw- 
 kins and with him. 
 
 Jack went up, and found the captain of the quarter-deck with 
 the officers. 
 
 **Mr. Easy,'' said Captain Wilson, "I have sent for you, 
 Mr. Hawkins, and Mr. Gascoigne, to thank you on the quarter- 
 deck, for your exertions and presence of mind on this trying oc- 
 casion.'' Mr. Hawkins made a bow, Gascoigne said nothing, but 
 he thought of having extra leave when they arrived at Malta. 
 Jack felt inclined to make a speech, and began something about 
 when there was danger that it levelled every one to an equality 
 even on board of a-raan-of-war. 
 
 ** By no means, Mr. Easy," replied Captain Wilson, '* it does 
 the very contrary, for it proves which is the best man, and those 
 who are best raise themselves at once above the rest." 
 
 Jack, was very much inclined to argue the point, but he took 
 the compliment and held his tongue, which was the wisest thing 
 he could have done, so he made his bow, and was about to go 
 down into the midshipmen's berth when the frigate was pooped 
 by a tremendous sea, which washed all those who did not hold 
 on down into the waist. Jack was among the number, and na- 
 turally catching at the first object which touched him, he caught 
 hold of the chaplain by the leg, who commenced swearing most 
 terribly, but before he could finish the oath, the water which 
 had burst into the cabin through the windows, for the dead 
 lights, in the confusion, had not yet been shipped, burst out the 
 cross bulk-heads, sweeping like a torrent the marine, the 
 cabin-door and every thing else in its force, and floating. Jack 
 and the chaplain with several others down the main hatchway 
 on to the lower deck. The lower deck being also full of water, 
 men and chests were rolling and tossing about, and Jack was 
 
M Mr. MIDStllPMAl^ EASY. 
 
 somefimes in company with the chaplain, and at others times 
 separated; at last they hoth recovered their legs, and gained the 
 midshipmen*s berth, which although afloat was still a haven of 
 security. Mr. Hawkins spluttered and spit, and so did Jack, 
 until he began to laugh, 
 
 ** This is very trying, Mr. Easy," said the chaplain; **very 
 trying indeed to the temper. I hope 1 have not sworn — I hope 
 not." 
 
 *' Not a word," said Jack — '< I was close to you all the time — 
 yOii only said, God preserve us.*' 
 
 " Only that ; I was afraid that I said God d— n it ?" 
 
 ^^ Qiiite a mistake, Mr. Hawkins. Let*s go into the gun-room 
 
 ahtt try to wash this salt water out of our mouths, and then I 
 
 will tell 'you all you said, as far as I could hear it, word for 
 
 Word." f ^ ■ °' : 
 
 So Jack by this means got another glass of grog, which was 
 very acceptable in his wet condition, and made himself very 
 comfortable, while those on deck were putting on the dead 
 lights, and very busy setting the goose wings of the main-sail 
 to prevent the frigate from being pooped a second time. 
 
 ., ... -,...,.' . , --■■ i. 
 
 , . iClliiPTEll XXVII. 
 
 In which our hero b6comes excessively unwell , and agrees to go through 
 a course of medicine. 
 
 Tt^iiE hammocks were hot piped down that ni^ht, some were tslketi 
 indiscriminately for the wounded, but the rest remained in the 
 hettings, for all hands were busy preparing jury masts and jury 
 rigging, and Mr. t^ottyfar was so well employed that, for twelve 
 
hdiiirs, his harids werfe not in his pOckeits. It wds itide^d a 
 dreadful night, the waves were motihtaiti^ high, and chafed the 
 frigate in their fury, cresting, breaking, ahd roaring al her 
 taffrail, but she flew before them with the livings of tlie Wind ; 
 four men at the helm assisted by others at the relieving tackles 
 belo\V. Jack having been thanked on and washed dff the 
 qUarter-diick, thought that he had done quite etibtigh ; he wds as 
 deep as he could swim, before he had satisfied all the sci'uplieji 
 of thfe chaplain, and stowing hirilself awajr on one of the lockers 
 of the midshipmen's berth, was soon fast asleep, notwithstanding 
 that the frigate rolled gunnel under. Gascoi^nie had done 
 much better; he had taken down a hammock, as hfe said, for a 
 poor wounded man, hung it up and turned in himself. The con- 
 sequence was, that the next morning the surgeon, who SaW him 
 lying in the hammock, had put him down in the report, but as 
 Gascoighe had got up as well as ever, he laUghed dtld sci-atched 
 his name out ofthe list of wounded. j =>. ^ i^». «■ u' y 
 
 Before morning, the ship had been pumped blft clr*^, aiitl^ll 
 below made as secure and safe as circumstances would permit ; 
 but the gale still continued its violence, and there was 2iriy thing 
 but comfort on board. 
 
 ** I say, Martin, you ought to be thrown overboard," said 
 Gascoigne ; '* all this comes from your Ctoaking — your're a Mo- 
 ther Gary's chicken.'' 
 
 *' I wish I had been any one's chicken," replied Martiti; ** but 
 the devil a thing to nestle under have I had since I can well re- 
 member." 
 
 " What a bore to havie ho galley fire lighted," said one ofthe 
 youngsters, ** no tea, and not allowed any grog.^' 
 
 " The gale will last three days," replied Martin, ** and by that 
 time we shall not be far from the admiral ; it won't blow home 
 there." 
 
 ** Well then, we shall be ordered in directly, hhd I shall go on 
 shore to-morrow" replied Easy . 
 
 *' Yes, if you're ill," replied Gascoigne. 
 
 * * Never fear, 1 shall be isick enough : we shall be there at 
 least six weeks, and then we'll forget all this." ' ' ^-'-''^^**'' 
 
 *' Yes,^^ replied Martin, '* we inay forget it, bUt will Ifig poo? 
 
256 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 fellows whose limbs are shrivelled forget it ? and will poor Miles, 
 the boatswain, who is blind for ever?'' 
 
 *'Very true, Martin, we are thinking about ourselves, not 
 thankful for our escape, and not feeling for others," replied 
 Gascoigne. 
 
 *' Give us your hand, Ned," said Jack Easy. *' And, Martin, 
 we ought to thank you for telling us the truth— we are a selfish 
 set of fellows." f^ 
 
 *' Still we took our share with the others," replied one of the 
 midshipmen. 
 
 ** That's more reason for us to be grateful and to pity them,'* 
 replied Jack ; *' suppose you had lost your arm or your eye-sight 
 — we should have pitied you ; so now pity others*" 
 
 " Well, so I do, now I think of it." 
 
 '* Think oftener, youngster," observed Martin, going on deck. 
 
 What a change from the morning of the day before! — but 
 twenty-four hours had passed away, and the sea had been smooth, 
 the frigate dashed through the blue water, proud in all her can- 
 vas, graceful as a swan. Since that, there had been fire, tem- 
 pest, lightning, disaster, danger and death ; her masts were 
 tossed about on the snowy waves hundreds of miles away from 
 her, and she, a wreck, was rolling heavily, groaning and com- 
 plaining in every timber as she urged her impetuous race with 
 the furious running sea. 
 
 How wrong are those on shore who assert that sailors are not 
 religious I — how is it possible, supposing them to be possessed 
 of feeling, to be otherwise? On shore, where you have nothing 
 but the change of seasons, each in its own peculiar beauty — 
 nothing but the blessings of the earth, its fruit, its flowers — 
 nothing but the bounty, the comforts, the luxuries which have 
 been invented, where you can rise in the morning in peace, and 
 lay down your head at night in security — God may be neglected 
 and forgotten for a long lime ; but at sea, when each gale is a 
 warning, each disaster acts as a check, each escape as a homily 
 upon the forbearance of Providence, that man must be indeed 
 brutalized who does not feel that God is there. On shore we 
 seldom view him but in all his beauty and kindness ; but at sea 
 we are as often reminded how terrible he is in his wrath. Can 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 557 
 
 it be supposed that the occurrences of the last twenty-four hours 
 were lost upon the minds of any one man in that ship ? No, no. 
 In their courage and activity they might appear reckless, but in 
 their hearts they acknowledged and bowed unto their God. 
 
 Before the day was over, a jury-foremast had been got up, 
 and sail having been put upon it, the ship was steered with 
 greater ease and safety— the main brace had been spliced to 
 cheer up the exhausted crew, and the hammocks were piped 
 down. 
 
 As Gascoigne had observed, some of the men were not very 
 much pleased to find that they were minus their blankets, but 
 Captain Wilson ordered their losses to be supplied by the purser 
 and expended by the master : this quite altered the case, as they 
 obtained new blankets in most cases for old ones, but still it was 
 impossible to light the galley fire, and the men sat on their chests 
 and nibbled biscuit. By twelve o'clock that night the gale 
 broke, and more sail was necessarily put on the scudding vessel, 
 for the sea still ran fast and mountains high. At daylight the 
 sun burst out and shone brightly on them, the sea went gra- 
 dually down, the fire was lighted, and Mr. Pottyfar, whose hands 
 were again in his pockets, at twelve o'clock gave the welcome 
 order to pipe to dinner. As soon as the men had eaten their 
 dinner, the frigate was once more brought to the wind, her 
 jury-mast forward improved upon, and more sail made upon it. 
 The next morning there was nothing of the gale left except the 
 dire effects which it had produced, the black and riven stump of 
 the foremast still holding up a terrific warning of the power and 
 fury of the elements. 
 
 Three days more, and the Aurora joined the Toulon fleet. 
 When she was first seen it was imagined by those on board of 
 the other ships that she had been in action, but they soon learnt 
 that the conflict had been against more direful weapons than any 
 yet invented by mortal hands. Captain Wilson waited upon the 
 admiral, and of course received immediate orders to repair to 
 port and refit. In a few hours the Aurora had shaped her 
 course for Malta, and by sunset the Toulon fleet were no longer 
 insight. 
 
 " By de holy poker, Massa Easy, but that terrible sort of gale 
 
 17 
 
258 W. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 the other day any how— I tiuM 9p^ tigiCj we ^U g^ j^ p^vy 
 Joney's lacker." \'^Z'-rx. . in^?.;,;..f ^>d^ mvn/t^of .y. 
 
 <* Very true, Mesty, I hope never to meet with such another," 
 
 *' Den, Massa Easy, why you go to sea? when man ah no 
 money, noting lo eat, den he go to sea, but every body say you 
 ab plenty money — why you come to sea?" 
 
 ** I'm sure I don't know" replied Jack thoughtfully; ** I came 
 to sea on account of equality and the rights of man." 
 
 ** Eh, Massa Easy, you come to wrong place any how; now I 
 link a good deal lately, and by all de power, I tink equahty all 
 stuff." 
 
 ** All stuff, Mesty, why? you used to think otherwise." 
 ' 'f Yes, Massa Easy, but den I boil de kettle for all young 
 gentleman. Now dat I ship's corporal and hab cane, I tink so 
 no longer." 
 
 Jack made no reply, but he thought the more. The reader 
 must have perceived that Jack's notions of equality were rapidly 
 disappearing ; he defended them more from habit, and perhaps 
 a wilfulness which would not allow him to acknowledge himself 
 wrong ; to which may be added, his love of argument. Already 
 he had accustomed himself to obedience of his superiors, and, 
 notwithstanding his arguments, he would admit of no resistance 
 from those below him; not that it was hardly ever attempted, 
 for Jack was any thing but a tyrant, and was much beloved by 
 all in the ship. Every day brought its lesson, and Captain 
 Wilson was now satisfied that Jack had been almost cured of the 
 effects of his father's ridiculous philosophy. 
 
 After a few minutes, Mesty tapped his cane on the funnel, and 
 re-commenced. 
 
 * * Then why you stay at sea, Massa Easy ?" 
 
 *' I don't know, Mesty 1 don't dislike it." 
 
 *< But, Massa Easy, why you stay in Midshipman berth— eat 
 hard biscuit, salt pig, salt horse, when you can go shore, and 
 live hke gentleman ? Dat very foolish 1 Why not be your own 
 master ? By all power I suppose I had money, catch me board 
 ship. Little sea very good, Massa Easy — open one eyes ; but 
 link of the lightning t'other night : poor massa boatswain, Jie 
 shut un^ eyes for ebber l'^ 
 
MR. MmSfflPMAN EASY*^^ 2^f 
 
 '* Very true, Mesty/' 
 
 *' Me hope you link of this, sar, and when you go on shore> 
 you take Mesty wid you ; he sarve you well, Massa Easy, long 
 as he live, by de holy St. Patrick. And den, Massa Easy, you 
 marry wife— hab pickaninny — lib like gentleman. Youtinkof 
 this, Massa Easy." 
 
 The mention of the word marriage turned the thoughts of our 
 hero to his Agnes, and he made no reply. Mesty walked away, 
 leaving our hero in deep thought. 
 
 This conversation had more effect upon Jack than would have 
 been imagined, and he very often found he was putting to him- 
 self the question of Mesty —" Why do you stay at sea ?" He had 
 not entered the service with any particular view, except to find 
 equality ; and he could not but acknowledge to himself that, as 
 Mesty observed, he had come to the wrong place. He had 
 never even thought of staying to serve his time, nor had he 
 looked forward to promotion, and one day commanding a ship. 
 He had only cared for the present, without indulging in a future 
 anticipation of any reward, except in a union with Agnes. 
 Mesty's observations occasioned Jack to reflect upon the future 
 for the first time in his life ; and he was always perplexed when 
 he put the question of Mesty, and tried to answer to himself as 
 to what were his intentions in remaining in the service. 
 
 Nevertheless Jack did his duty very much to the satisfaction 
 of Mr. Poltyfar ; and after a tedious passage, from baffling and 
 light winds, the Aurora arrived at Malta. Our hero had had 
 some conversation with his friend Gascoigne, in which he can- 
 vassed his future plans ; all of which, however, ended in one 
 settled point, which was that he was to marry Agnes. As for 
 the rest, Gascoigne was of opinion that Jack ought to follow up 
 the service, and become a captain, but there was plenty of time 
 to think about that, as he observed, now all they had to consider 
 was, how to get on shore ; for the refitting of the ship was an 
 excuse for detaining them on board, which they knew Mr. Pot- 
 tyfar would avail himself of. Jack dined in the gun-room on 
 the day of their arrival, and he resolved that he would ask that 
 very evening. Captain Wilson was already on shore at the go- 
 vernor's. Now, there had been a little difference of opinion 
 
 17- 
 
260 l^m. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 between Mr. Pottyfar and Mr. Hawkins, the chaplain, bri a point 
 of seamanship; and most of the officers sided with the chaplain, 
 who, as we have before observed, was a first-rate seaman. It 
 had ended in high words, for Mr. Hawkins had forgotten himself 
 so far as to tell the first lieutenant that he had a great deal to learn, 
 not having even got over the midshipman's trick of keeping his 
 hands in his pockets ; and Mr, Pottyfar had replied that it was 
 very well for him as chaplain to insult others, knowing that his 
 cassock protected him. This was a bitter reply to Mr. Hawkins, 
 who at the very time ihatthe insinuation made his blood boil, 
 was also reminded that his profession forbade a retort: he rush- 
 ed into his cabin, poor fellow, having no other method left, ven- 
 ted his indignation in tears, and then consoled himself by de- 
 grees with prayer. In the mean time, Mr. Poltyfar had gone 
 on deck, wroth with Hawkins and with his messmates, as well as 
 displeased wilh himself. He was, indeed, in a humour to be 
 pleased with nobody, and in a most unfortunate humour to be 
 asked leave by a midshipman. Nevertheless, Jack politely took 
 off his hat, and requested leave to go on shore and see his friend 
 the governor. Upon which Mr. Pottyfar turned round to him, 
 with his feet spread wide open, and thrusting his hands to the 
 very bottom of his pockets, as if in determination, said, 
 <* Mr. Easy, you know the state of the ship; we have every thing 
 to do— new rigging — every thing almost to refit, and yet you 
 ask to go on shore ! Now, sir, you may take this answer for 
 yourself and all the other midshipmen in the ship, that not one 
 soul of you puts foot on shore until we are again all ataunto." 
 
 «* Allowfme to observe, sir, " said our hero, ** that it is very 
 true that all our services may be required when the duly com- 
 mences, but this being Saturday night, and to-morrow Sunday, 
 the frigate will not be even moved till Monday morning ; and as 
 the work cannot begin before that, I trust you will permit leave 
 until that time." 
 
 ** My opinion is different, sir," replied the first lieutenant. 
 
 " Perhaps, sir, you will allow me to argue the point," replied 
 Jack. 
 
 <* No, sir, I never allow argument; jwalk over to the other 
 side of the deck, if you please/'^ 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 '' certainly, sir," said Jack, " if you wish it.* ^.^ * .^.v,,^ 
 
 Jack's first idea was to go on shore without leave, but from 
 this he was persuaded by Gascoigne, who told him that it would 
 displease Captain Wilson, and that old Tom, the governor, 
 would not receive him. Jack agreed to this, and then, after a 
 flourish about the rights of man, tyranny, oppression, and so 
 forth , he walked forward to the forecastle, where he found his 
 friend Mesly, who had heard all that had passed, and who insi- 
 diously said to him in a low tone, 
 
 " Why you stay at sea, Massa Easy ?" 
 
 " Why, indeed," thought Jack, boiling with indignation, '* to 
 be cooped up here at the will of another? I am a fool— Mesly 
 is right— ril ask for my discharge to-morrow." Jack went 
 down below and told Gascoigne what he had determined to do. 
 
 ** You'll do no such thing. Jack," replied Gascoigne, ** de- 
 pend upon it, you'll have plenty of leave in a day or two. Pot- 
 ty far was in a pet with the chaplain, who was too much for him. 
 Captain Wilson will be on board by nine o'clock." 
 
 Nevertheless, Jack walked his first watch in the ^^magnifi- 
 cents " as all middies do when they cannot go on shore, and 
 turned in at twelve o'clock, with the resolution of sticking to his 
 purpose, and quitting his majesty's service ; in fact, of present- 
 ing his majesty with his between two and three years time, ser- 
 ved as midshipman, all free, gratis and for nothing, except his 
 provisions and his pay, which some captains are bold enough to 
 assert that they not only are not worth, but not even the salt 
 that accompanies it ; forgetting that they were once midship- 
 men themselves, and at the period were, of course, of about the 
 same value. 
 
 The next morning Captain Wilson came off; the ship's com- 
 pany were mustered, the service read by Mr. Hawkins, and 
 Jack, as soon as all the official duties were over, was about to 
 go up to the captain, when the captain said to him, 
 
 *' Mr. Easy, the governor desired me to bring you on shore to 
 dine with him, and he has a bed at your service." .,,,,^ 
 
 Jack touched his hat and ran down below, to make his few 
 preparations. 
 
 By the time that Mesty, who had taken charge of his 
 
26t MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 chest, etc., had put his necessaries in the hoat, Jack had almost 
 made up his mind that his majesty should not he deprived yet 
 awhile of so valuahle an officer. Jack returned on deck, and 
 found that the captain was not yet ready ; he went np to Mr. Pot- 
 tyfar, and told him that the captain had ordered him to go on 
 shore with him ; and Mr. Pottyfar, who had quite got over his 
 spleen, said, 
 
 " Very well, Mr. Easy — I wish you a great deal of plea- 
 sure." 
 
 "This is very different from yesterday,** thought Jack; 
 *' suppose I try the medicine?" 
 
 *' I am not very well, Mr, Pottyfar, and those pills of the 
 doctor's don't agree with me— I always am ill if I am long with- 
 out air and exercise." 
 
 ** Very true," said the first lieutenant, ** people require air 
 and exercise. I've no opinion of the doctor's remedies ; the only 
 thing that is worth a farthing is the universal medicine." 
 
 " I should so long to try it, sir," replied Jack. '* I read the 
 book one day, and it said that if you took it daily for a fortnight 
 or three weeks, and with plenty of air and exercise, it would do 
 wonders." 
 
 ** And it's very true," replied Mr. Pottyfar, ''and if you'd 
 like to try it you shall — I have plenty— shall I give you a dose 
 now?" 
 
 *' If you please, sir," replied Jack; " and tell me how often 
 I am to take it, for my head aches all day." 
 
 Mr. Pottyfar took Jack down, and putting into his hand three 
 or four bottles of the preparation, told him that he was to take 
 thirty drops at night, when he went to bed, not to drink more 
 than two glasses of wine, and to avoid the heat of the sun. '^ ' 
 
 '* But, sir," replied Jack, who had put the bottles in his fvdc- 
 ket, '* I am afraid that I cannot take it long; for as the ship is 
 ready for fitting, I shall be exposed to the sun all day." 
 
 "Yes, if you were wanted, Mr. Easy; but we have plenty 
 here without you ; and when you are unwell you cannot be ex- 
 pected to work. Take care of your health, and I trust, indeed 
 I am sure, that you will find this medicine wonderfully efiica- 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 263 
 
 '* I will begin to-night, sir, if you please," replied Jack, *' and 
 I am very much obliged to you. I sleep at the governor's — 
 shall I come on board to-morrow morning ?^ 
 
 *' No, no ; take care of yourself and get well ; I shall be glad 
 to hear that you get better. Send me word how it acts." 
 
 **I will, sir, send you word by the boat every day," replied 
 Jack, delighted; <'I am very much obliged to you, sir. Gas- 
 coigne and I were thinking of asking you, but did not like to do 
 so ; he, poor fellow, suffers from headaches almost as bad as I do, 
 and the doctor's pills are of no use to him." 
 
 "He shall have some too, Mr. Easy. I thought he looked 
 pale. I'll see to it this afternoon. Recollect, moderate exercise, 
 Mr. Easy, and avoid the sun at mid-day." 
 
 '*Yes, sir," replied Jack, "TU not forget;" and off went 
 Jack, dehghted. He ordered Mesty to put up his whole port- 
 manteau instead of the small bundle he put into the boat, and 
 telling Gascoigne what a spoke he had put into his wheel, was 
 soon in the boat with the captain, and went on shore, where he 
 was cordially greeted by the governor. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 In which Captain Wilson is repaid with interest for Jack's borrowing his name ; 
 proving that a good name is as good as a legacy. 
 
 *' Well, Jack, my boy, have you any long story ready for me ?" 
 inquired the governor. 
 
 ** Yes, sir," replied Jack, '* I have one or two very good 
 ones." .. .:/.iJ. 
 
264 nn. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 '* Very well, we'll hear them after dinner," replied old Tom. 
 " In the meantime, find out your room, and take possession." 
 
 "That must not he for very long, governor," observed Cap- 
 tain Wilson. ''Mr. Easy must learn his duty, and there is a 
 good opportunity now." 
 
 '* If you please, sir, replied Jack, " Fm on the sick list." 
 
 *' Sick list," said Captain Wilson; *' you were not in the re- 
 port that M. Wilson gave me this morning.'' 
 
 " No, Fm on Mr. Potty far's list ; and I'm going through a 
 course of the universal medicine." 
 
 *' What's all this, Jack — what's all this?— there's some story 
 here— don't be afraid of the captain — you\e me to back you," 
 said the governor. 
 
 Jack was not at all afraid of the captain, so he told him how 
 the first lieutenant had refused him leave the evening before, 
 and how he had now given him permission to remain, and try 
 the universal medicine, at which the governor laughed heartily, 
 nor could Captain Wilson refrain from joining. 
 
 **But, Mr. Easy," replied the captain, after a pause, ''if 
 Mr. Pottyfar will allow you to stay on shore, I cannot — you have 
 your duty to learn. You must be aware that now is your lime, 
 and you must not lose opportunities that do not occur every day. 
 You must acknowledge the truth of what I say." 
 
 "Yes, sir," replied Jack, "I admit it all, provided I do in- 
 tend to follow the profession ;" and so saying, our hero bowed 
 and left the veranda where they had been talking. 
 
 This hint of Jack's, thrown out by him, more with the inten- 
 tion of preventing his being sent on board than with any defi- 
 nite idea, was not lost upon either the captain or the governor. 
 
 " Does he jib then ?" observed the governor. 
 
 ' * On the contrary, I never knew him more attentive and so 
 entirely getting rid of his former notions. He has behaved 
 most nobly in the gale, and there has not been one complaint 
 against him — I never was more astonished — he must have 
 meant something." 
 
 " I'll tell you what he means, Wilson, that he does not like 
 to be sent on board, nothing more. He's not to be cooped up — 
 you may lead him, but not drive him." , o 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 265 
 
 <*Yes, but the service will not admit of it. I never could 
 allow it — he must do his duly like the rest, and conform to the 
 rules." 
 
 '* Exactly, so he must; but look ye, Wilson, you must not 
 lose him : it's all easily settled — appoint him your orderly 
 midshipman to and from the ship ; that will be employment, and 
 he can always remain here at night. 1 will tell him that I have 
 asked, as a favour, what I now do, and leave me to find out 
 what he is thinking about." 
 
 ** It may be done that way, certainly," replied Captain Wil- 
 son, musing ; * * and you are more likely to get his intentions 
 from him than I am. I am afraid he has too great a command 
 of money ever to be fond of the ship; it is the ruin of a junior 
 officer to be so lavishly supplied.^' 
 
 *' He's a long way from ruin yet, Wilson — he's a very fine 
 fellow, even by your own acknowledgment. You humoured him 
 out of gratitude to his father, when he first came into the ser- 
 vice ; humour him a little now to keep him in it. Besides, if 
 your first lieutenant is such a fool with his universal medicine, 
 can you wonder at a midshipman taking advantage of it ?" 
 
 " No, but I ought not to allow him to do so with my eyes 
 open." 
 
 *' He has made it known to you upon honour, and you ought 
 not to take advantage of his confidence : but still what I pro- 
 posed would, I think, be the best, for then he will be at his 
 duty in a way that will suit all parties. You, because you em- 
 ploy him on service — the first lieutenant, because Jack can take 
 his medicine — and Jack, because he can dine with me every 
 day." 
 
 " Well, I suppose it must be so," replied Captain Wilson, 
 
 laughing; '*but still, I trust, you will discover what is working 
 
 in his mind to induce him to give me that answer, governor.^' 
 
 ** Never fear, Jack shall confess, and lay his soul as bare as 
 
 that of a Catholic bigot before his padre." 
 
 The party sat down to dinner, and what with the governor's 
 aid-de-camp and those invited, it was pretty numerous. After 
 the cloth had been removed, the governor called upon Jack for 
 his stories, whereupon, much to the surprise of Captain Wilson, 
 
266 MR. MIDSftlPMAlNf EASY. 
 
 who had never heard one word of it, for the admiral had not 
 mentioned anything about it to him during the short time the 
 Aurora was with the Toulon fleet, our hero gave the governor 
 and the company the narrative of all that happened in the Eliza 
 Ann transport — the loves of Captain Hogg and Miss Hicks — the 
 adventures of Gascoigne — and his plan, by which he balked 
 them all. The governor was delighted, and Captain Wilson 
 not a little astonished. 
 
 ** You prevented a very foolish thing, Mr. Easy, and behaved 
 very well," observed the captain, laughing again at the idea; 
 but you never told me of all this." 
 
 ** No, sir," replied Jack, '* Ihave always reserved my stories 
 for the governor's table, where I am sure to meet you, and then 
 telling once does for all." 
 
 Jack received his appointment as orderly midshipman, and 
 every thing went on well; for, of his own accord, he stayed on 
 board the major part of the day to learn his duty, which very 
 much pleased the captain and Mr. Potlyfar. In this Jack 
 showed a great deal of good sense, and Captain Wilson did not 
 repent of the indulgence he had shown him. Jack's health im- 
 proved daily, much to Mr. Pottyfar's satisfaction, who imagined 
 that he took the universal medicine night and morning. Gas- 
 coigne also was a patient under the first lieutenant's hands, and 
 often on shore with our hero, who thought no more of quitting 
 the service. 
 
 For seven weeks they had now remained in harbour, for even 
 the masts had to be made, when, one day, Captain Wilson 
 opened a letter he received at breakfast-time, and having read 
 it, laid it down with the greatest surprise depicted in his 
 countenance. ** Good heavens I what can this mean?" said he. 
 
 ** What's the matter, Wilson ?" said the governor. 
 
 ** Just hear its contents. Sir Thomas." 
 
 Captain Wilson then read in Spanish as follows — 
 
 '* Honourable Sir, 
 
 <* It is my duty to advise you that the Honourable Lady 
 Signora Alforgas de Guzman, now deceased, has, in her testa- 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 267 
 
 ment bequeathed to you the sum of one thousand doubloons in 
 gold, as a testimony of your kind services on the night of the 
 1 2th of August. If you will authorise any merchant here to 
 receive the money, it shall be paid forthwith, or remitted in 
 any way you please to appoint. May you live a thousand 
 years. 
 
 ** Your most obedient servant, 
 
 *'Alfonzo Xerez." 
 
 Jack heard the letter read, rose quietly, whistled low, as if 
 not attending to it, and then slipped out of the room, unper- 
 ceived by the governor or Captain Wilson. 
 
 The fact was, that although Jack had longed to tell the go- 
 vernor about his adventures after the masquerade, he did not 
 like yet awhile, until he was sure that there were no conse- 
 quences — because he had given the captain's name instead of 
 his own. As soon as he heard the letter read, he at once per- 
 ceived that it had been the old lady, and not the priests, who 
 had made the inquiry, and that by giving Captain Wilson's 
 name he had obtained for him this fine legacy. Jack was de- 
 lighted, but still puzzled, so he walked out of the room to reflect 
 a little. 
 
 *'What can it mean?*' said Captain Wilson. *'I never 
 rendered any services to any one on the 12th of August or after 
 it. It is some mistake— 12th of August, that was the day of the 
 grand masquerade.'* 
 
 '* A lucky one for you, at all events— for you know, mistake 
 or not, no one else can touch the legacy. It can only be paid 
 to you." 
 
 *' I never heard of any thing taking place at the masquerade 
 — I was there, but I left early, for I was not very well. Mr. 
 Easy," said Captain Wilson turning round, but Jack was gone. 
 
 ** Was he at the masquerade ?" asked the governor. 
 
 " Yes, I know he was, for the first lieutenant told me that he 
 requested not to come on board till the next day." 
 
 * * Depend upon it," replied the governor, striking his fist Oh 
 the table, ** that Jack's at the bottom of it." 
 
263 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 <* I should not be surprised at his being at the bottom of any 
 thing," replied Captain Wilson, laughing. 
 
 ** Leave it to me, Wilson, I'll find it out.'^ 
 
 After a little more conversation. Captain Wilson went on 
 board, leaving Jack on purpose that the governor might pump 
 him. But this Sir Thomas had no occasion to do, for Jack had 
 made up his mind to make the governor his confidant, and he 
 immediately told him the whole story. The governor held his 
 sides at our hero's description, especially at his ruse of giving 
 the captain's name instead of his own. 
 
 ** You'll kill me, Jack, before you've done with me,'* said old 
 Tom, at last ; ' * but now what is to be done ?" 
 
 Our hero now became grave ; he pointed out to the governor 
 that he himself had plenty of money and would come into a large 
 fortune, and that Captain Wilson was poor, with a large family. 
 All Jack wished the governor to manage was, that Captain 
 Wilson might consent to accept the legacy. 
 
 ''Right, boy, right! you're my own boy," replied the gover- 
 nor ; * * but we must think of this, for Wilson is the very soul of 
 honour, and there may be some difficulty about it. You have 
 told nobody ?" 
 
 *' Not a soul but you. Sir Thomas." 
 
 *' It never will do to tell him all this. Jack, for he would insist 
 that the legacy belonged to you." 
 
 '* I have it, sir," replied Jack. ' ' When I was going into the 
 masquerade, I offered to hand this very old lady, who was 
 covered with diamonds, out of her carriage, and she was so 
 frightened at my dress of a devil, that she would have fallen 
 down had it not been for Captain Wilson, who supported her, 
 and she was very thankful to him." 
 
 <* Yoa are right. Jack," replied the governor, after a short 
 pause ; ** that will, I think, do. I must tell him the story of the 
 friars, because I swore you had something to do with it— but I'll 
 tell him no more : leave it all to me." 
 
 Captain Wilson returned in the afternoon, and found the go- 
 vernor in the veranda. 
 
 ** I have hold some talk with young Easy," said the governor, 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 2i59 
 
 *' and he has told me a strange story about that night, which he 
 was afraid to tell to every body." 
 
 The governor then narrated the history of the friars and the 
 will. 
 
 ** Well, but," observed Captain Wilson, '* the history of that, 
 will afford no clue to the legacy." i 
 
 ** No, it does not ; but still, as I said, Jack had a hand in this. 
 He frightened the old lady as a devil, and you caught her in 
 your arms and saved her from falling, so he had a hand in it, 
 you see/' 
 
 ** I do now remember that I did save a very dowager-like old 
 personage from falling at the sight of a devil, who, of course, 
 must have been our friend Easy." 
 
 *' Well, and that accounts for the whole of it." 
 
 ** A thousand doubloons for picking up an old lady I 
 
 *< Yes, why not? — have you not heard of a man having a 
 fortune left him for merely opening the pew door of a church to 
 an old gentleman?'' 
 
 * * Yes, but it appears so strange." 
 
 ** There's nothing strange in this world, Wilson, nothing at all 
 — we may slave for years and get no reward, and do a trifle out 
 of politeness and become independent. In my opinion, this 
 mystery is unravelled. The old lady, for I knew the family, 
 must have died immensely rich : she knew you in your full 
 uniform, and she asked your name ; a heavy fall would have been 
 to one so fat a most serious affair — you saved her, and she has 
 rewarded you handsomely." 
 
 ** Well," replied Captain Wilson, "as I can give no other 
 explanation, I suppose yours is the correct one ; but it's hardly 
 fair to take a thousand doubloons from her relations merely for 
 an act of civility." 
 
 * * You really are quite ridiculous ; the old lady owned half 
 Murcia, to my knowledge. It is no more to them than any one 
 leaving you a suit of mourning in an English legacy. I wish 
 you joy ; it will help you with a large family, and in justice to 
 them you are bound to take it. Every body does as he pleases 
 with his own money, depend upon it —you saved her from break- 
 ing her leg short off at the hip joint/' 
 
HIQ MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 " Upon that supposition I presume I must accept of the le- 
 gacy," replied Captain Wilson, laughing. 
 
 " Of course, send for it at once. The rate of 'exchange is 
 now high. I will give you government bills which make it 
 nearly four thousand pounds.'' 
 
 ** Four thousand pounds for preventing an old woman from 
 falling !'' replied Captain Wilson. 
 
 ** Devilish well paid, Wilson, and I congratulate you.'' 
 
 *' For how much am I indebted to the father of young Easy 1" 
 observed Captain Wilson, after a silence of some minutes ; *' if 
 he had not assisted me when I was appointed to a ship I should 
 not have gained my promotion— nor three thousand pounds I 
 have made in prize-money— the command of a fine frigate — and 
 now four thousand pounds in a windfall.'' 
 
 The governor thought that he was more indebted to Jack than 
 to his father for some of these advantages, but he was careful 
 not to point them out. 
 
 ** It's very true," observed the governor, **that Mr. Easy 
 was of service to you when you were appointed ; but allow me 
 to observe, that for your ship, your prize-money, and for your 
 windfall, you have been wholly indebted to your own gallantry 
 in both senses of the word ; still Mr. Easy is a fine generous fel- 
 low, and so is his son, I can tell you. By-the-bye, I had a long 
 conversation with him the other day," 
 
 '< About himself?'' 
 
 * ' Yes, all about himself. He appears to me to have come into 
 the service without any particular motive, and will be just as 
 likely to leave it in the same way. He appears to be very much 
 in love with that Sicilian nobleman's daughter* I find that he 
 has written to her, and to her brother, since he has been here." 
 
 * * That he came into the service in search of what he never 
 will find in this world, I know very well ; and I presume that he 
 has found that out — and that he will follow up the service is also 
 very doubtful; but I do not wish that he should leave it yet, it is 
 doing him great good," replied Captain Wilson. 
 
 ** I agree with you there — I have great influence with him, 
 and he shall stay yet awhile. He is heir to a very large for- 
 tune, is he not?" 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. »71 
 
 '* A clear eight thousand pounds a year, if not more." 
 
 *' If his father dies he must, of course, leave : a midshipman 
 with eight thousand pounds a year would indeed be an anomaly." 
 
 ** That the service could not permit. It would be as inju- 
 rious to himself at it would to others about him. At present, 
 he has almost, indeed I may say, quite an unlimited command of 
 money." 
 
 ** That's bad, very bad. I wonder he behaves SQ well as 
 he does." 
 
 <* And so do I : but he really is a very superior lad, with all 
 his peculiarities, and a general favourite with those whose opi- 
 nions and friendship are worth having." 
 
 ** Well, don't curb him up too tight— for really he does not 
 require it. He goes very well in a snaffle.'' 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX, 
 
 Philosophy made easy" upon Agrarian principles, the subject of some uneasi- 
 ness to our hero— The first appearaace, but not the last, of au important per- 
 sonage. 
 
 The conversation was here interrupted by a mail from England 
 which they had been expecting. Captain Wilson retired with 
 his letters ; the governor remained equally occupied ; and our 
 hero received the first letter ever written to him by his father. 
 It ran as follows : — 
 
 " My dear Son, 
 " I have many times taken up my pen with the intention of 
 letting you know how things went on in this country. But as I 
 
212 MR. MIDSfflPMAN EASY. 
 
 can perceive around but one dark horizon of evil, I have as 
 often laid it down again without venturing to make you unhappy 
 with such bad intelligence. 
 
 ** The account of your death, and also of your unexpectedly 
 being yet spared to us, were duly received, and I trust I mourn- 
 ed and rejoiced on each occasion with all the moderation cha- 
 racteristic of a philosopher. In the first instance I consoled 
 myself with the reflection, that the world you had left was in a 
 state of slavery and pressed down by the iron arm of despotism, 
 and that to die was gain, not only in all the parson tells us, but 
 also in our liberty ; and, at the second intelligence, I moderated 
 my joy for nearly about the same reasons, resolving, notwith- 
 standing what Dr. Middleton may say, to die as I have lived, a 
 true philosopher. 
 
 *' The more I reflect the more am I convinced that there is 
 nothing required to make this world happy but equality, and 
 the rights of man being duly observed — in short, that every 
 thing and every body should be reduced to one level. Do we 
 not observe that it is the law of nature— do not brooks run into 
 rivers — rivers into seas— mountains crumble down upon the 
 plains ? — are not the seasons contented to equalize the parts of 
 the earth ? Why does the sun run round the ecliptic, instead 
 of the equator, but to give an equal share of his heat to both 
 sides of the world ? Are we not all equally born in misery ? 
 does not death level us all equopede, as the poet hath? are we 
 not all equally hungry, thirsty, and sleepy, and thus levelled by 
 our natural wants? And such being the case, ought we not to 
 have our equal share of good things in this world, to which we 
 have an undoubted equal right? Can any argument be more 
 solid or more level than this, whatever nonsense Dr. Middle ton 
 may talk ? 
 
 * * Yes, my son, if it were not that I still hope to see the sun of 
 Justice arise, and disperse the manifold dark clouds which obs- 
 cure the land — if I did not still hope, in my time, to see an 
 equal distribution of property — an Agrarian law passed by the 
 House of Commons, in which all should benefit alike — I would 
 not care how soon I left this vale of tears, created by tyranny 
 and injustice. At present, the game system is carried oji; the 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 273 
 
 nation is taxed for the benefit of the few, and it groans under 
 oppression and despotism ; but I still do think that there is, if I 
 may fortunately express my self,^a bright star in the west; and 
 signs of the times which comfort me. Already we have had a 
 good deal of incendiarism about the country, and some of the 
 highest aristocracy have pledged themselves to raise the people 
 above themselves, and have advised sedition and conspiracy ; 
 have shewn to the debased and unenlightened multitude that 
 their force is physically irresistible, and recommended them to 
 make use of it, promising that if they hold in power, they will 
 only use that power to the abolition of our farce of a constitu- 
 tion, of a church, and of a king; and that if the nation is to be 
 governed at all, it shall only be governed by the many. This is 
 cheering. Hail, patriot lords! all hail! I am in hopes yet that 
 the great work will be achieved, in spite of the laughs and 
 sneers and shakes of the head, which my arguments still meet 
 with from that obstinate fellow. Dr. Middleton. 
 
 ** Your mother is in a quiet way; she has given over reading 
 and working, and even her knitting, as useless ; and she now 
 sits all day long at the chimney corner twiddling her thumbs and 
 waiting, as she says, for the millennium. Poor thing! she is 
 very foolish with her ideas upon this matter, but as usual I let 
 her have her own way in every thing, copying the philosopher 
 of old who was tied to his Xantippe. 
 
 ** I trust, my dear son, that your principles have strengthe- 
 ned with your years and fortified with your growth, and that, if 
 necessary, you will sacrifice all to obtain what in my opinion 
 will prove to be the real millennium. Make all the converts 
 you can, and believe me to be, 
 
 *' Your affectionate father, 
 " And true guide, 
 
 ** NicoDEMus Easy." 
 
 Jack, who was alone, shook his head as he read this letter 
 and then laid it down with a pish ! He did it involuntarily, and 
 was surprised at himself when he found that he had so done. 
 **I should like to argue the point," thought Jack, in spite of 
 
 i8 
 
274 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 himself; arid then he threw the letter on the table, and went 
 into Gascoigne's room, displeased with his father and wilh him- 
 self. He asked Ned whether he had received any letters from 
 England, and it being near dinner-time, went back to dress. 
 On his coming down into the receiving-room wilh Gascoigne, 
 the governor said to them, 
 
 <* As you two both speak Itahan, you must take charge of a 
 Sicilian officer, who has come here with letters of introduction 
 to me, and who dines here to-day.^' 
 
 Before dinner they were introduced to the party in question, 
 a slight made, well-looking young man, but still there was an 
 expression in his countenance which was not agreeable. In 
 compliance with the wishes of the governor, Don Mathias, for 
 so he was called, was placed between our two midshipmen, who 
 immediately entered into conversation with him, being them- 
 selves anxious to make inquiries about their friends at Palermo. 
 In the course of conversation, Jack inquired of him whether he 
 was acquainted with Don Ilebiera, to which the Sicilian answe- 
 red in the affirmative, and they talked about the different mem- 
 bers of the family. Don Mathias, towards the close of the din- 
 ner, inquired of Jack by what means he had become acquainted 
 with Don Rebiera, and Jack, in reply, narrated how he and his 
 friend Gascoigne had saved him from being murdered by two 
 villains ; after this reply, the young officer appeared to be less 
 inclined for conversation, but before the party broke up, request- 
 ed to have the acquaintance of our two midshipmen. As soon 
 as he was gone Gascoigne observed in a reflective way, ** I have 
 seen that face before, but where I cannot exactly say ; but you 
 know. Jack, what a memory of people I have, and I have seen 
 him before, I am sure." 
 
 ** I can't recollect that ever I have," replied our hero, *' but 
 never knew any one who could recollect in that way as you do." 
 
 The conversation was then dropped between them, and Jack 
 was for some time listening to the governor and Captain Wilson, 
 or the whole party were gone away, when Gascoigne, who had 
 been in deep thought since he had made the observation to 
 ack, sprang up. 
 
 ** I have him at last !" cried he, 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMaI!^ teASW' 275 
 
 *' Have who ?" demanded Captain Wilson. 
 
 " That Sicilian officer — I CQuld have sworn that I had seen 
 him before," 
 
 ** That Don Mathias." 
 
 **]So, Sir Thomas! He his not Don Mathias! He is the 
 very Don Silvio who was murdering Don Rebiera, when we 
 came to his assistance and saved him." 
 
 *' I do believe you are right, Gascoigne." 
 
 **rm positive of it," replied Gascoigne; *' I never made a 
 mistake in my life." 
 
 ** Bring me those letters, Easy," said the governor ** and let 
 us see what they say of him. Here it is— Don Mathias de 
 Alayeres. You may be mistaken, Gascoigne; it's a heavy 
 charge you are making against this young man." 
 
 ** Well, Sir Thomas, if that is not Don Silvio, I'd forfeit my 
 commission if I had it here in my hand. Besides, I observed 
 the change in his countenance when we told him it was Easy 
 and I who had come to Don Rebiera's assistance : and did you 
 observe after that. Easy, that he hardly said a word?" 
 
 ** Very true," replied Jack. 
 
 ** Well, well, we must see to this," observed the governor; 
 ** if so, this this letter of introduction must be a forgery." 
 
 ** The party then retired to bed, and the next morning, while 
 Easy was ill Gascoigne's room talking over their suspicions, let- 
 ters from Palermo were brought up to him. They were in answer 
 to those written by Jack on his arrival at Malta : a few lines 
 from Don Rebiera, a small note from Agnes, and a voluminous 
 detail from his friend Don Philip, who informed him of the good 
 healih of all parties, and of their good will towards him ; of 
 Agues being as partial as ever; of his having spoke plainly, as 
 he had promised Jack, to his father and mother relative to the 
 mutual attachment; of their consent being given, and then 
 withheld because Father Thomas, their confessor, would not 
 listen to the union of Agnes with a heretic ; but, nevertheless, 
 telling Jack this would be got over through the medium of his 
 brother and himself, who were determined that their sister and 
 he should not be made unhappy about such a triHe. But the 
 latter part of the letter contained intelligeuce equally important, 
 
 i8. 
 
276 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 which was, that Don Silvio had again attempted the life of their 
 father, and would have succeeded, had not Father Thomas, who 
 happened to be there, thrown himself between them. That 
 Don Silvio in his rage had actually stabbed the confessor, al- 
 though the wound was not dangerous. That, in consequence of 
 this, all further lenity was denied to him, and that the autho- 
 rities were in search of him to award him the punishment due 
 to murder and sacrilege. That up to the present they could not 
 find him, and it was supposed that he had made his escape to 
 Malta, in one of the speronares. 
 
 Such were the contents of the letter, which were immediately 
 communicated to the governor and Captain Wilson, upon their 
 meeting at breakfast. 
 
 " Very well, we must see to this," observed the governor; 
 who then made inquiries as to the other intelligence contained 
 in the letters. 
 
 Jack and Gascoigne were uneasy till the breakfast was over, 
 when they made their escape ; a few moments afterwards Cap- 
 tain Wilson rose to go on board, and sent fort them, but they 
 were not to be found. 
 
 "1 understand it all, Wilson," said the governor: *' leave 
 them to me; go on board, and make yourself quite easy." 
 
 In the mean time our two midshipmen had taken their hats 
 and walked away to the parapet of the battery, where the^C 
 would not be interrupted. 
 
 **Now, Gascoigne," observed Jack, ''you guess what Pm 
 about — I must shoot that rascal this very morning, and that's 
 why I came out with you." 
 
 "But, Easy, the only difference is this, that I must shoot him 
 and not you ; he is my property, for I found him out." 
 
 '* We*il argue that point," replied Jack : ** he has attempted 
 the life of my is to be, please God, father-in-law and therefore I 
 have the best claim to him." 
 
 ** I beg your pardon, Jack, he is mine, for I discovered him. 
 Now let me put a case : suppose one man walking several yards 
 before another, picks up a purse, what claim has the other to it? 
 I found him, and not you." 
 
 ,, That's all very well, Gascoigne; but suppose the purse you 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 277 
 
 picked up to be mine, llieu I have a right to it, although you 
 found it ; he is my bird by right, and not yours." 
 
 ** But I have another observation to make, which is very im- 
 portant ; he is a blood relation of Agnes, and if his blood is on 
 your hands, however much he may deserve it, depend upon 
 it it will be raised as an obstacle to your union ; think of that." 
 
 Jack paused in thought. 
 
 ** And let me induce you by another remark— you will con- 
 fer on me a most particular favour." 
 
 **It will be the greatest I ever could,'' replied Jack '* and 
 you ought to be eternally indebted to me." 
 
 " I trust to make him \etemally indebted to me," replied 
 Gascoigne. 
 
 Sailors, if going into action, always begin to reckon what thei 
 share of the prize-money may be, before a shot is fired — ouv^ 
 two midshipmen appear in this instance to be doing the same. 
 
 The point having been conceded to Gascoigne, Jack went to 
 the inn where Don Silvio had mentioned that he had taken up 
 quarters, and sending up his card, followed the waiter up-siairs. 
 The waiter opened the door and presented the card. 
 
 ** Very well," replied Don Silvio, '*you can go down and 
 show him up." 
 
 Jack, hearing these words, did not wait but walked in, 
 where he found Don Silvio very busy removing a hone upon 
 which he had been whetting a sharp double-edged stiletto. 
 The Sicilian walked up to him, offering his hand with apparent 
 cordiality ; but Jack, with a look of defiance, said, ** Don Silvio, 
 we know you ; my object now is to demand, on the part of my 
 friend, the satisfaction which you do not deserve, but which our 
 indignation at your second attempt upon Don Rebiera induces us 
 to offer ; for if you escape from him you will have to do with 
 me. On the whole, Don Silvio, you may think yourself fortu- 
 nate, for it is better to die by the hand of a gentleman than by 
 the gibbet." 
 
 Don Silvio turned deadly pale — his hand sought his stiletto 
 in his bosom, but it was remaining on the table ; at last he re- 
 plied, ** Be it so — I will meet you when and where you please, 
 in an hour from this." 
 
278 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 Jack mentioned the place of meeting and then walked out of 
 the room. He and Gascoigne then hastened to the quarters of 
 an officer they were intimate with, and liaving provided them- 
 selves with the necessary fire-arms, were at the spot hefore the 
 time. They waited for him till the exact time, yet no Don 
 Silvio made his appearance. 
 
 ** He's off," observed Gascoigne ;" the villain has esca- 
 ped us. 0i>y^^f«f«i'^f 'I'Vfflrsf?': 'jd fia/ r>')tihm 
 
 Half-an-hotir over the time had passed, and still there was no 
 sign of Gascoigne's antagonist, but one of the governor's aids-de- 
 camps was seen walking up to them. 
 
 ** Here's Atkins," observed Jack ; ** that's unlucky, but he won't 
 interfere." 
 
 '* Gentlemen," said Atkins, taking off his hat with much so- 
 lemnity, *Hhe governor particularly wishes to speak to you both. 
 
 ** We can't come just now— we'll be there in half-an-hour." 
 
 '* You must be there in three minutes, both of you. Excuse 
 rue, my orders are positive— and to see them duly executed I 
 have a corporal and a file of men behind that wall — of course, 
 if you walk with me quietly there will be no occasion to send 
 for their assistance." 
 
 **This is confounded tyranny," cried Jack. **Well may 
 they call him King Tom." 
 
 " Yes," replied Atkins, *' and he governs here in rey ahso- 
 luto — so come along." 
 
 Jack and Gascoigne, having no choice, walked up to the go- 
 vernment-house, where they found Sir Thomas in the veranda, 
 which commanded a view of the harbour and offing. 
 
 ** Come here, young gentlemen," said the governor in a se- 
 vere tone; ** do you see that vessel about two miles clear of the 
 port ? Don Silvio is in it, going back to Sicily under a guard. 
 And now remember what I say as a maxim through life. Fight 
 with gentlemen, if you must fight, but not with villains and mur- 
 derers. By consenting to fight with a blackguard, you as much 
 disparage your cloth and compromise your own characters, as 
 by refusing to give satisfaction to a gentleman. There, go 
 away, for I'm angry with you, and don't let me see you till din- 
 ner-time.'^ 
 
CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 In wich our hero see a litUe more service, and is better emdloyed than in 
 fighting Don Silvio. 
 
 But before they met the governor at his table, a sloop of war 
 arrived from the fleet with dispatches from the commander-in- 
 chief. Those to Captain Wilson required him to make all possi- 
 ble haste in fitting, and then to proceed and cruise off Corsica, 
 to fall in with a Russian frigate which was on that coast; if not 
 there, to obtain intelligence, and to follow her wherever she 
 might be. 
 
 All was now bustle and activity on board of the Aurora, 
 Captain Wilson, with our hero and Gascoigne, quitted the go- 
 vernor's house and repaired on board, where they remained day 
 and night On the third day, the Aurora was complete and 
 ready for sea, and about noon sailed out of Valette harbour. 
 
 In a week the Aurora had gained the coast of Corsica, and 
 there was no need of sending look-out-men to the mast-head, 
 for one of the officers or midshipmen was there from daylight to 
 dark. She ran up the coast to the northward without seeing 
 the object of her pursuit or obtaining any intelhgence. 
 
 Calms and light airs detained them for a few days, when a 
 northerly breeze enabled them to rim down the eastern side of 
 the island. It was on the 1 8 ih day after they had quitted Malta, 
 that a large vessel was seen a-head about eighteen miles off. 
 The men were then at breakfast. 
 
 '' A frigate. Captain Wilson, I'm sure of it," said Mr. Has- 
 well the chaplain, whose anxiety induced him to go to the mast- 
 head. 
 
 * * How is she steering ?" 
 
^80 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 *' The same way as we are,'* 
 
 The Aurora was under all possible sail, and when the hands 
 were piped to dinner, it was thought that they had neared the 
 chase about two miles. 
 
 '* This will he a long chase, a stern chase always is," obser- 
 ved Martin to Gascoigne. 
 
 '* Yes, I'm afraid so — but I'm more afraid of her esca- 
 ping." 
 
 '* That's not unlikely either," replied the mate. 
 
 ** You are one of Job's comforters, Martin," replied Gas- 
 coigne. 
 
 **Then I'm not so often disappointed,'^ replied the mate. 
 ** There are two points to be ascertained; the first is, whether 
 we shall come up with the vessel or lose her— the next is, 
 if we do come up with her whether she is the vessel we are 
 looking for" 
 
 **You seem very indifferent about it." 
 
 ** Indeed I am not: I am the oldest passed midshipman in the 
 ship, and the taking of the frigate will, if I live, give me my 
 promotion, and if I'm killed, I sha'n't want it. But I've been 
 so often disappointed, that I now make sure of nothing until I 
 have it." 
 
 ** Well, for your sake, Martin, I will still hope that the 
 vessel is the one we seek, that we shall not be killed, and that 
 you will gain your promotion." 
 
 ** I thank you, Easy—I wish 1 was one that dared hope 
 as you do." 
 
 Poor Martini he had long felt how bitter it was to meet disap- 
 pointment upon disappohitment. How true it is, that hope de- 
 ferred maketh the heart sick! and his anticipations of early 
 days, the buoyant calculations of youth, had been one by one 
 crushed, and now, having served his time nearly three times 
 over, the re-action had become too painful, and, as he truly 
 said, he dared not hope : still his temper was not soured but 
 chastened. 
 
 *< She has hauled her wind, sir," hailed the second lieutenant 
 from the top-mast cross-trees. 
 
 ' * What think you of that, Martin ?" observed Jack. 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 281 
 
 << Either that she is an English frigate, or that she is a vessel 
 commanded by a very brave fellow, and well manned.^* 
 
 It was sun-set before the Aurora had arrived within two miles 
 of the vessel; the private signal had been thrown out, but had 
 not been answered, either because it was too dark to make out 
 the colours of the flags, or that these were unknown to an 
 enemy. The stranger had hoisted the English colours, but 
 that was no satisfactory proof of her being a friend; and just 
 before dark she had put her head towards the Aurora, who had 
 now come stem down to her. The ship's company of the Au- 
 rora were all at their quarters, as a few minutes wouldnow decide 
 whether they had to deal with a friend or foe. 
 
 There is no situation perhaps more difficult, and demanding 
 so much caution, as the occasional meeting with a doubtful ship. 
 On the one hand, it being necessary to be fully prepared and 
 not allow the enemy the advantage which may be derived from 
 your inaction ; and on the other, the necessity of prudence, that 
 you may not assault your friends and countrymen. Captain 
 Wilson had hoisted the private night-signal, but here again it 
 was difficult, from his sails intervening, for the other ship to 
 make it out. Before the two frigates were within three cables' 
 length of each other. Captain Wilson, determined that there 
 should be no mistake from any want of precaution on his part, 
 hauled up his courses and brailed up his driver that the night 
 signal might be clearly seen. 
 
 Lights were seen abaft on the quarter-deck of the other vessel 
 as if they were about to answer, but she continued to keep the 
 Aurora to leeward at about half a cable's length, and as the 
 foremost guns of each vessel were abreast of each other, hailed 
 in English. 
 
 " Ship ahoy I what ship's that?" 
 
 **His majesty's ship Aurora," replied Captain Wilson, who 
 stood on the hammocks. " What ship's that?" 
 
 By this time, the other frigate had passed half her length clear 
 of the beam of the Aurora, and at the same time that a pretended 
 reply of *'his Majesty's ship — " was heard, a broadside from 
 her guns, which had been trained aft on purpose, was poured 
 into the Aurora, and, at so short a distance, doing considerable 
 
282 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 execuiion. The crew of the Aurora, hearing the hailing in 
 English, and the vessel passing them apparently without firing, 
 had imagined that she had been one of their own cruisers. The 
 captains of the guns had dropped their lanyards in disappoint- 
 ment, and the silence which had been maintained as the two 
 vessels met, was just breaking up in various ways of lamentation 
 at their bad luck, when the broadside was poured in, thunder- 
 ing in their ears, and the ripping and tearing of the beams and 
 planks astonished their senses. Many were carried down below, 
 but it was difficult to say whether indignation at the enemy's 
 ruse, or satisfaction at discovering that they were not called to 
 quarters in vain, most predominated. At all events, it was 
 answered by three voluntary cheers, which drowned the cries 
 of those who were being assisted to the cockpit. 
 
 *' Man the larboard-guns and about ship!" cried Captain 
 Wilson, leaping off the hammocks. *' Look out, my lads, and 
 rake her in slays ! We'll pay him off for that foul play before 
 we've done with him. Look out, my lads, and take good aim as 
 she pays round." 
 
 The Aurora was put about, and her broadside poured into the 
 stern of the Russian frigate— for such she was. It was almost 
 dark, but the enemy, who appeared as anxious as the Aurora to 
 come to action, hauled up her courses to await her coming up. 
 In five minutes the two vessels were alongside exchanging mur- 
 derous broadsides at little more than pistol shot— running slowly 
 in for the land, then not more than five miles distant. The skin- 
 clad mountaineers of Corsica were aroused by the furious can- 
 nonading, watching the incessant flashes of the guns, and listen- 
 ing to their reverberating roar. 
 
 After half-an-hour's fierce combat, during which the fire of 
 both vessels was kept up with undiminished vigour. Captain 
 Wilson went down on the main deck, and himself separately 
 pointed each gun after it was loaded ; those amidships being 
 direct for the main-channels of the enemy's ship, while those 
 abaft the beam were gradually trained more and more forward, 
 and those before the beam more and more aft, so as to throw 
 all their shot nearly into one focus, giving directions that they 
 were ajll to be ,fired at once, at the word of command. Tlie 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 283 
 
 enemy, not aware of the cause of the delay, im«aghied that the 
 fire of the Aurora had slackened, and loudly cheered. At the 
 word given, the broadside was poured in, and, dark as it was, 
 the effects from it were evident. Two of the midship's ports of 
 the antagonist, were blown into one and her main-mast was 
 seen to totter, and then to fall over the side. The Aurora then 
 set her courses, which had been hauled up, and shooting ahead, 
 took up a raking position while the Russian was still hampered 
 with her wreck, and poured in grape and cannister from her 
 upper deck carronades to impede their labours on deck, while 
 she continued her destructive fire upon the hull of the enemy 
 from the main deck battery. 
 
 The moon now burst out from a low bank of clonds, and 
 enabled them to accomplish their work with more precision. 
 In a quarter of an hour the Russian was totally dismasted, and 
 Captain Wilson ordered half of his remaining ship's company 
 to repair the damages, which had been most severe, whilst the 
 larboard men at quarters continued the fire from the main deck. 
 The enemy continued to return the fire from four guns, two on 
 each of her decks, which she could still make bear upon the 
 Aurora ; but after some time even these ceased^ either from tlie 
 men having deserted them, or from their being dismounted. 
 Observing that the fire from her antagonist had ceased, the 
 Aurora also discontinued, and the jolly boat astern being still 
 uninjured, the second lieutenant was deputed to pull alongside 
 of the frigate to ascertain if she had struck. 
 
 The beams of the bright moon silvered the rippling water as 
 the boat shoved off, and Captain Wilson and his officers who 
 were still unhurt, leant over the shattered sides of the Aurora, 
 waiting for a reply : suddenly the silence of the night was broken 
 upon by a loud splash from the bows of the Russian frigate, then 
 about three cable's length distant. 
 
 " What could that be?" cried Captain Wilson. " Her 
 anchor's down. Mr. Jones, a lead over the side, and see what 
 water we have." 
 
 Mr. Jones had long been carried down below, severed in two 
 with a round shot — but a man leaped into the chains, and lower- 
 ing down the Jead, sounded in seven fathoms. 
 
284 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 '* Then I suspect he will give us more trouble yet," observed 
 Captain Wilson ; and so indeed it proved , for the Russian 
 captain, in reply to the second lieutenant, had told him in En- 
 glish, ** that he would answer that question with his broadside," 
 and before the boat was dropped astern, he had warped round 
 with the springs on his cable, and had recommenced his fire upon 
 the Aurora. 
 
 Captain Wilson made sail upon his ship, and sailed round and 
 round the anchored vessel, so as to give her two broadsides to 
 her one, and from the slowness with which she worked at her 
 springs upon her cables, it was evident that she must be now 
 very weak-handed. Still the pertenacity and decided courage 
 of the Russian captain convinced Captain Wilson, that, in all 
 probability, he would sink at his anchor before he would haul 
 down his colours; and not only would he lose more of the Au- 
 rora's men, but also the Russian vessel, without he took a more 
 decided step. Captain Wilson, therefore, resolved to try her by 
 the board. Having poured in a raking fire, he stood off for a 
 few moments, during which he called the officers and men on 
 deck, and stated his intention. He then went about, and himself 
 conning the Aurora, ran her on board the Russian, pouring in 
 his reserved broadside as the vessels came into collision, and 
 heading his men as they leaped on the enemy's decks. 
 
 Although, as Captain Wilson had imagined, the Russian fri- 
 gate had not many men to oppose to the Aurora's, the deck was 
 obstinately defended, the voice and the arm of the Russian 
 captain were to be heard and seen everywhere, and his men, 
 encouraged by him, were cut down by numbers where they stood. 
 
 Our hero, who had the good fortune to be still unhurt, was 
 for a little while close to Captain Wilson when he boarded, and 
 was about to oppose his unequal force against that of the Russian 
 captain, when he was pulled back by the collar by Mr. Hawkins, 
 the chaplain, who rushed in advance with a sabre in his hand. 
 The opponents were well matched, and it may be said that, with 
 little interruption, a hand-to-hand conflict ensued, for the moon 
 lighted up the scene of carnage, and they were well able to dis- 
 tinguish each other's faces. At last, the chaplain's sword 
 broke; he rushed in, drove the hilt into his antagonist's face, 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 285 
 
 closed wiih him, and they both fell down the hatchway together, 
 After this, the deck was gained, or rather cleared, by the crew 
 of the Aurora, for few could be said to have resisted, and in a 
 minute or two the frigate was in their possession. The chaplain 
 and the Russian captain were hoisted up, still clinging to each 
 other, both senseless from the fall, but neither of them dead, 
 although bleeding from several wounds. 
 
 As soon as the main-deck had been cleared, Captain Wilson 
 ordered the hatches to be put on, and left a party on board while 
 he hastened to attend to the condition of his own ship and ship's 
 company. 
 
 It was daylight before any thing like order had been restored 
 to the decks of the Aurora; the water was still smooth, and 
 instead of letting go her own anchor, she had hung on with a 
 hawser to the prize, but her sails had been furled, her decks 
 cleared, guns secured, and the buckets were dashing away the 
 blood from her planks and the carriages of the guns, when the 
 sun rose and shone upon them. The numerous wounded had, 
 by this time, been put into their hammocks, although there was 
 still one or two cases of amputation to be performed. 
 
 The carpenter had repaired all shot-holes under or too near 
 to the water-line, and then had proceeded to sound the well of 
 the prize ; but although her upper works had been dreadfully 
 shattered, there was no reason to suppose that she had received 
 any serious injury beloAv, and therefore the hatches still remained 
 on, although a few hands were put to the pumps to try if she 
 made any water. It was not until the Aurora presented a more 
 cheerful appearance that Captain Wilson went over to the other 
 ship, whose deck, now that the light of heaven enabled them to 
 witness all the horrors even to minuteness, presented a shocking 
 spectacle of blood and carnage. Body after body was thrown 
 over ; the wounded were supplied with water and such assistance 
 as could be rendered until the surgeons could attend them; the 
 hatches were then taken off, and the remainder of her crew 
 ordered on deck; about two hundred obeyed the summons, but 
 the lower deck was as crowded with killed and wounded as was 
 the upper. For the present the prisoners were handed over 
 down into the forehol^ of the Aurora, which had been prepared 
 
286 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 for their reception, and the work of separation of the dead from 
 the living then underwent. After this, such repairs as were 
 immediately necessary were made, and a portion of the Aurora^s 
 crew, under the orders of the second lieutenant, were sent on 
 board to take charge of her. It was not till the evening of the 
 day after this night-conflict, that the Aurora was in a situation 
 to make sail. All hands were then sent on board of the Trident, 
 for such was the name of the Russian frigate, to fit her out as 
 soon as possible. Before morning, — for there was no relaxation 
 from their fatigue, nor was there any wish for it, — all was com- 
 pleted, and the two frigates, although in a shattered condition, 
 were prepared to meet any common conflict with the elements. 
 The Aurora made sail with the Trident in tow ; the hammocks 
 were allowed to be taken down, and the watch below permitted 
 to repose. 
 
 In this murderous conflict the Trident had more than two 
 hundred men killed and wounded. The Aurora's loss had not 
 been so great, but still it was severe, having lost sixty-five men 
 and officers. Among the fallen there were Mr. Jones, the 
 master, the third lieutenant, Mr. Arkwright, and two midship- 
 men killed. Mr. Potty far, the first lieutenant, severely wounded 
 at the commencement of the action. Martin, the master's 
 mate, and Gascoigne, the first mortally, and the second badly, 
 wounded. Our hero had also received a shght cutlass wound, 
 Which obliged him to wear his arm, for a short time, in a 
 sling. 
 
 Among the ship's company who were wounded was Mesty ; 
 he had been hurt with a splinter before the Trident was taken 
 by the board, but had remained on deck, and had followed our 
 hero, watching over him and protecting him as a father. He 
 had done even more, for he had with Jack thrown himself before 
 Captain Wilson, at a time that he had received such a blow with 
 the flat of a sword as to stun him, and bring him down on his 
 knee. And Jack had taken good care that Captain Wilson 
 should not be ignorant, as he really would have been, of this' 
 timely service on the part of Mesty, who certainly, although 
 with a great deal oisang froidiw his composition when in reposC; 
 was a fieud incarnate when his blood was up. 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 287 
 
 " But you must have been with Mesty," observed Captain 
 Wilson, *' when he did me the' service." 
 
 *' I was with him, sir," replied Jack, with great modesty; 
 ** but was of very little service." 
 
 ** How is your friend Gascoigne this evening ?" 
 
 ** O, not very bad, sir — he wants a glass of grog." 
 
 '* And Mr. Martin?" 
 
 Jack shook his head. 
 
 ** Why, the surgeon thinks he will do well." 
 
 ** Yes, sir, and so I told Martin ; but he said that it was very 
 well to give him hope — but that he thought otherwise." 
 
 ** You must manage him, Mr. Easy ; tell him that he is sure 
 of his promotion." 
 
 ** I have, sir, but he wont believe it. He never will believe 
 it till he has his commission signed. I really think that an acting 
 order would do more than the Doctor can." 
 
 " Well, Mr. Easy, he shall have one to-morrow morning. 
 Have you seen Mr. Pottyfar? he, lam afraid, is very bad." 
 
 ** Very bad, sir ; and they say is worse every day, and yet his 
 wound is healthy, and ought lO be doing well." 
 
 Such was the conversation between Jack and his captain, as 
 they sat at breakfast on the third morning after the action. 
 
 The next day Easy took down an acting order for Martin, and 
 put it into his hands. The mate read it over as he lay ban- 
 daged in his hammock. 
 
 ''^It's only an acting order, Jack," said he; ** it may not be 
 confirmed." 
 
 Jack swore, by all the articles of war, that it would be ; but 
 Martin rephed that he was sure it never would. 
 
 **No, no," said the mate, <*Iknew very well that I never 
 should be made. If it is not confirmed^ I may live ; but if it is, 
 I am sure to die." 
 
 Every one that went to Martin's hammock wished him joy of 
 his promotion; but six days after the action, poor Martin's 
 remains were consigned to the deep. 
 
 The next person who followed him was Mr. Pottyfar, the first 
 lieutenant, who had contrived, wounded as he was, to reach a 
 packet of the Universal medicine, and had taken so many bottles 
 
288 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 before he was found out, that he was one morning found dead in 
 his bed, with more than two dozen empty phials under his 
 pillow, and by the side of his maltrass. He was not buried with 
 his hands in his pockets, but when sewed up in his hammock, 
 they were, at all events, laid in the right position. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 Modern philanthropy which, as usual, is the cause of much trouble and vexation. 
 
 In three weeks the Aurora, with her prize in tow, arrived at 
 Malta. The wounded were sent to the hospital, and the gallant 
 Russian captain recovered from his wounds about the same time 
 as Mr. Hawkins, the chaplain. 
 
 Jack, who constantly called to see the chaplain, had a great 
 deal to do to console him. He would shake his hands as he lay 
 in his bed, exclaiming against himself. ** Oh," would he say, 
 *' the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. That I, a man of 
 God, as they term me, who ought to have been down with the 
 surgeons, whispering comfort to the desponding, should have 
 gone on deck, (but I could not help it,) and have mixed in such 
 a scene of slaughter. What will become of me ? 
 
 Jack attempted to console him by pointing out, that, not only 
 chaplains, but bishops, have been known to fight in armour 
 from time immemorial. But Mr. Hawkins' recovery was long 
 doubtful, from the agitation of his mind. When he was able to 
 walk, Jack introduced to him the Russian captain, who was also 
 just out of his bed. 
 
 *' I am most happy to embrace so gallant an officer," said the 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 289 
 
 Russian, who recognised his antagonist, throwing his arms 
 round the chaplain, and giving him a kiss on both cheeks. 
 •*Whal is his rank?" continued he, addressing himself to 
 Jack, who replied, very quietly, ** that he was the ship's 
 padre. '^ 
 
 ** The padre!" replied the captain, with surprise, as Hawkins 
 turned away with confusion. '*The padre — par exemple! 
 Well, I always had a great respect for the church. Pray, sir," 
 said he, turning to Easy, * * do your padres always head your 
 boarders?" 
 
 '' Always, sir," replied Jack; **it'sa rule of the service— and 
 the duly of a padre to show the men the way to heaven. It's 
 our ninety-ninth article of war." 
 
 ** You are a %hting nation," replied the Russian, bowing to 
 Hawkins, and continuing his walk, not exactly pleased that he 
 had been floored by a parson. 
 
 Mr. Hawkins continued very disconsolate for some time; he 
 then invalided and applied himself to his dudes on shore, where 
 he would not be exposed to such temptations from his former 
 habits. 
 
 As the Aurora, when she was last at Malta, had nearly ex- 
 hausted the dockyard for her repairs, she was even longer fitting 
 out this time, during which Captain Wilson's dispatches had 
 been received by the admiral, and had been acknowledged by a 
 brig sent to Malta. The admiral, in reply, after complimenting 
 him upon his gallantry and success, desired that, as soon as he 
 was ready, he should proceed to Palermo with communications 
 of importance to the authorities, and having remained there for 
 an answer, was again to return to Malta to pick up such of his 
 men as might be fit to leave the hospital, and then join the 
 Toulon fleet. This intelligence was soon known to our hero, 
 who was in ecstasies at the idea of again seeing Agnes and her 
 brothers. Once more the Aurora sailed away from the high- 
 crowned rocks of Vallette, and with a fine breeze dashed through 
 the deep blue waves. 
 
 But towards the evening the breeze increased, and they were 
 under double reefed top-sails. On the second day they made 
 the coast of Sicily, uot far from where Easy and Gascoigae had 
 
 *9 
 
!IW MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 !been driven on shore ; the weather was then more moderate, 
 and the sea had, to a great degree, subsided. They therefore 
 stood in close to the coast, as they had not a leading wind to 
 Palermo. As they stood in, the glasses, as usual, were directed 
 to land ; observing the villas with which the hills and valleys 
 were studded, with their white fronts embowered in orange 
 groves. 
 
 ** What is that, Gascoigne," said Easy, <* under that preci- 
 pice? — it looks like a vessel." 
 
 Gascoigne turned his glass in the direction — '*Yes, it is a 
 vessel on the rocks : by her prow she looks like a galley." 
 
 ** It is a galley, sir — one of the row gallies— I can make out 
 her bank of oars,'' observed the signal man. 
 
 This was reported to Captain Wilson, who also examined her. 
 
 ** She is on the rocks, certainly," observed he; ** and 1 think 
 I see people on board. Keep her away a point, quarter- 
 master." 
 
 The Aurora was now steered right for the vessel, and in the 
 course of an hour was not more than a mile from her. Their 
 suppositions were correct — it was one of the Sicilian govern- 
 ment gallies bilged on the rocks, and they now perceived that 
 there were people on board of her, making signals with their 
 shirts and pieces of linen. 1 
 
 **They must be the galley-slaves; for I perceive that they do 
 not one of them change their positions : the galley must have 
 been abandoned by the ofticers and seamen, and the slaves left 
 to perish." 
 
 ** That's very hard," observed Jack to Gascoigne; "they 
 were condemned to the gaUies, but not to death." 
 
 ** They will not have much mercy from the waves," replied 
 Gascoigne; *'they will all be in kingdom come to-morrow 
 morning, if the breeze conies more on the land. We have al- 
 ready come up two points this forenoon." 
 
 Although Captain Wilson did not join in this conversation, 
 which he overheard as he stood on the forecastle ^un, with his 
 glass over the hammocks, it appears he was of the same opinion; 
 but h6 demurred : he had to choose between allowing so many 
 of his fellow- creatures to perish miserably, or to let loose upon 
 
JWR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 291 
 
 society a set of miscreants, who would again enter a course of 
 crime until they were re-captured, and, by so doing, probably 
 displease the Sicilian authorities. After some little reflection 
 he resolved that he would take his chance of the latter. The 
 Aurora was hove-to in stays, and the two cutters ordered to be 
 lowered down, and the boat's crew to be armed. 
 
 '* Mr. Easy, do you take one cutter, and the armourers ; pull 
 on board of the galley, release those people, and land them in 
 small divisions. Mr. Gascoigne, you will take the other to 
 assist Mr. Easy, and when he lands them in his boat, you will 
 pull by his side ready to act, in case of any hostile attempt on 
 the part of the scoundrels ; for we must not expect gratitude : 
 of course, land them at the nearest safe spot for debarkation." 
 
 In pursuance of these orders, our two midshipmen pulled 
 away to the vessel. They found her fixed hard upon the rocks, 
 which had pierced her slight timbers, and, as they had sup- 
 posed, the respectable part of her crew, with the commander, 
 had taken to the boats, leaving the galley-slaves to their fate. 
 She pulled fifiy oars, but had only thirty-six manned. These 
 oars were forty feet long, and ran in from the thole-pin with a 
 loom six feet long, each manned by four slaves, who were 
 chained to their seat before it, by a running chain made fast by 
 a padlock in amidships. A plank, of two feet wide, ran fore 
 and aft the vessel between the two banks of oars, for the boat- 
 swain to apply the lash to those who did not sufficiently exert 
 themselves. 
 
 ** Vivalos Inglesos," cried the galley-slaves, as Easy climbed 
 up over the quarter of the vessel. 
 
 ** I say, Ned, did you ever see such a precious set of villains ?'' 
 observed Easy, as he surveyed the faces of the men who were 
 chained. 
 
 '* No," replied Gascoigne; **and I think if the Captain had 
 seen them as we have, that he would have left them where they 
 were.'' 
 
 *' I don't know — but however, our orders are positive. Ar- 
 mourer, knock off all the padlocks, beginning aft; when we have 
 a cargo we will land them. How many are there?— twelve 
 dozen ; —twelve dozen villains to let loose upon society. I have 
 
 19- 
 
29^ »iR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY, 
 
 a great mind to go on board again and report my opinion to the 
 captain — one hundred and forty-four villains, who all deserve 
 hanging— for drowning is too good for them." 
 
 ** Our orders are to liberate ihem, Jack." 
 
 ** Yes ; but I should like to argue this point with Captain 
 Wilson." 
 
 <* They'll send after them fast enough, Jack, and they'll all 
 be in limbo again before long," replied Gascoigne. 
 
 ** Well, I suppose we must obey orders; but it goes against 
 my conscience to save such villanous looking rascals. Armourer, 
 hammer away." 
 
 The armourer, who, with the seamen, appeared very much 
 of Jack's opinion, and had not commenced his work, now struck 
 off the padlocks, one by one, with his sledge-hammer. As soon 
 as they were released the slaves were ordered inio the cutter, 
 and when it was sufficiently loaded Jack shoved off, followed by 
 Gascoigne as guard, and landed ihem at the point about a cable's 
 length distant. It required six trips before they were all landed : 
 the last cargo were on shore, and Easy was desiring ihe men to 
 shove off, when one of the gallerians turned round, and cried 
 out to Jack in a mocking tone, **Addio, signor, a rivederla." 
 Jack started, stared, and, in the squalid, naked wretch who ad- 
 dressed him, he recognized Don Silvio I 
 
 *<I will acquaint Don Rebiera of your arrival, signor," said 
 the miscreant, springing up the rocks, and mixing with the 
 rest, who now commenced hooting and laughing at their pre- 
 servers. 
 
 "Ned,'' observed Easy to Gascoigne, '*we have let that 
 rascal loose." 
 
 ** More's the pity," replied Gascoigne ; *'but we have only 
 obeyed orders." 
 
 *' It can't be helped, but I've a notion there will be some 
 mischief out of this," 
 
 '* We obeyed orders," replied Gascoigne. 
 
 it We've let the rascal loose not ten miles from Don Re- 
 biera's." 
 
 *' Obeyed orders. Jack." 
 
 ♦' With a whole gang to back him, if he goes there/* 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 293 
 
 ''Orders, Jack." 
 
 *' Agnes at his mercy." 
 
 *' Captain's orders, Jack." 
 
 *'I shall argue this point, when I go on board," replied 
 Jack. 
 
 *'Too late. Jack." 
 
 *' Yes," replied Easy, sinking down on the stern sheets with 
 a look of despair. 
 
 ** Give way, my lads, give way." 
 . Jack returned on board and reported what he had done; also 
 that Don Silvio was among those liberated: and he ventured to 
 mention his fears of what might take place from their contiguity 
 to the house of Don Rebiera. Captain Wilson bit his lips : he 
 felt that his philanthropy had induced him to act without his 
 usual prudence. 
 
 ** I have done a rash thing, Mr. Easy, I am afraid. I should 
 have taken them all on board and delivered them up to the 
 authorities. I wish I had thought of that before. We must 
 get to Palermo as fast as we can, and have the troops sent after 
 these miscreants. Hands bout ship, fill the main yard." 
 
 The wind had veered round, and the Aurora was now able to 
 lay up clear of the island of Maritime. The next morning she 
 anchored in Palermo Roads — gave immediate notice to the au- 
 thorities , who , wishing Captain Wilson's philanthropy at the 
 devil, immediately dispatched a large body of troops in quest of 
 the liberated malefactors. Captain Wilson , feeling for Jack's 
 anxiety about his friends, called him over to him on deck, and 
 gave him and Gascoigne permission to go on shore. 
 
 *' Will you allow me to take Mesty with me, sir, if you 
 please?" said Jack. 
 
 *^ Yes, Mr. Easy ; but recollect that even with Mesty, you are 
 no match for one hundred and fifty men, so be prudent. I 
 send you to relieve your anxiety, not to run into danger." 
 
 *' Of course, sir," replied Jack, touching his hat, and walking 
 away quietly till he came to the hatchway, when he darted 
 down like a shot, and was immediately occupied with his prepa- 
 rations. 
 
 In half an hour our two midshipmen, with Mesty, had landed. 
 
 
594 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 and proceeded to the inn where they had put up before : they 
 were armed up to the teeth. Their first inquiries were for Don 
 Philip and his brother. 
 
 " Both on leave of absence/* replied the landlord, " and 
 staying with Don Rebiera." 
 
 ** That's some comfort,'' thought Jack. ** Now we must get 
 horses as fast as we can. — Mesty, can you ride?" 
 
 ** By all de power, can I ride, Massa Easy : suppose you ride 
 Kentucky horse, you ride any ting." 
 
 In half an hour four horses and a guide were procured, and, 
 at eight o'clock in the morning , the party set off in the direction 
 of Don Rebiera's country seat. 
 
 They had not ridden more than six miles when they came up 
 with one of the detachments sent out in pursuit of the liberated 
 criminals. Our hero recognised the commanding officer as an 
 old acquaintance, and imparting to him the release of Don Sil- 
 vio, and his fears upon Don Rebiera's account, begged him to 
 direct his attention that way. 
 
 *' Corpo di Bacco — you are right, Signor Mid," replied the 
 officer. " But Don Philip is there, and his brother too, I be- 
 lieve. I will be there by ten o'clock to-morrow morning; we 
 will march almost the whole night." 
 
 '* They have no arms," observed Easy. 
 
 '*No, but they will soon get them: they will go to some 
 small town in a body, plunder it, and then seek the pro- 
 tection of the mountains. Your captain has given us a pretty 
 job." 
 
 Jack exchanged a few more words, and then excusing himself 
 on account of his haste, put the spurs to his horse and regained 
 his own party, who now proceeded at a rapid pace. 
 
 * < O Signor ! " said the guide, * * we shall kill the horses." 
 
 " I'll pay for them," said Jack. 
 
 ** Yes, but we shall kill them before we get there. Jack," re- 
 plied Gascoigne, " and have to walk the rest of the way." 
 
 ** Very true, Ned; let's pull up and give them their wind." 
 
 **By de holy poker, Massa Easy, but my shirt stick to my 
 ribs," cried Mesty, whose black face was hung with dewdrops 
 from their rapid course. 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 295 
 
 '* Never mind, Mesty." 
 
 It was about five o'clock in the afternoon when they arrived at 
 the seat of Don Rebiera. Jack threw himself off his jaded steed 
 and hastened into the house, followed by Gascoigne. They 
 found the whole family collected in the large sitting-room, quite 
 ignorant of any danger ihreat-eniiig them, and equally astonish- 
 ed and pleased at the arrival of their old friends. Jack flew 
 to Agnes, who screamed when she saw him, and felt so giddy 
 afterwards that he was obliged to support her. Having seated 
 her again, he was kindly greeted by the old people and the two 
 young officers. After a few minutes dedicated to mutual in- 
 quiries, our hero stated the cause of their expeditious arrival. 
 
 * * Don Silvio wilh one hundred and fifty Gallerians , let loose 
 on the coast yesterday afternoon?" exclaimed Don Rebiera ; 
 * * you are right , I only wonder that they were not here last night. 
 But I expect Pedro from the town ; he has gone down with a 
 load of wine : he will bring us intelligence." 
 
 ** At all events, we must be prepared," said Don Philip ; " the 
 troops, you say, will be here to-morrow morning." 
 
 ** Holy Virgin !" exclaimed the ladies in a breath. 
 
 ** How many can we muster?" said Gascoigne. 
 
 " We have five men here, or we shall have by the evening," 
 replied Don Philip — ** all, I think, good men — my father, my 
 brother, and myself." 
 
 ** We are three,— four with the guide, whom I know nothing 
 about." 
 
 ** Twelve in all— not one too many ; but I think that now we 
 are prepared, if they attack, we can hold out till the morning." 
 
 ** Had we not better send the ladies away ?" said Jack. 
 
 '* Who is to escort them ?" replied Don Philip; ** we shall 
 only weaken our force : besides, they may fall into the miscreant's 
 hands." 
 
 '* Shall we all leave the house together? they can but plunder 
 it," observed Don Rebiera. 
 
 *' Still we may be intercepted by them, and our whole force 
 will be nothing against so many," observed Don Philip, ** if 
 we are without defence, whereas in the house we shall have an 
 advantage." -'"^'i 
 
596 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 ** E vero ," replied Don Rebiera thoughtfully; << then let us 
 prepare, for depend upon it Don Silvio will not lose such an 
 oportunity to wreak his vengeance. He will be here to-night. 
 I only wonder he has not been here with his companions before. 
 However, Pedro will arrive in two hours." 
 
 ** We must now see what means we have of defence," said 
 Philip. '* Come, brother — will you come, sir?" 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 A regular set-to, in which the parties beaten are not knocked down, but rise 
 higher and higher at each discomfiture — Nothing but the troops could have 
 prevented them from going up to heaven. 
 
 Don Rebiera and his two sons quitted the room, Gascoigne en- 
 tered into conversation with the senora, while Easy took this 
 opportunity of addressing Agnes. He had been too much occu- 
 pied with the consaltation to pay her much attention before. 
 He had spoken, with his eyes fixed upon her, and had been sur- 
 prised at the improvement which had taken place in less than a 
 year. He now went to her and asked her in a low voice, 
 ''whether she had received his letter?" 
 
 ** Oh yes!" replied she, colouring. 
 
 '* And were you angry with what I said, Agnes ?" in a low 
 tone. 
 
 ' ' No," replied she, casting her eyes down on the floor. 
 
 '*I repeat now what I said, Agnes — I have never forgotten 
 you." 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 297 
 
 << But '' 
 
 ' 'But what?"— 
 
 '' Falhnr Thomaso." 
 
 ''What of him?" 
 
 " He never will " 
 
 "Will what?" 
 
 " You are a heretic, he says." 
 
 " Tell him to mind his own business." 
 
 " He has great influence with my father and mother.^* 
 
 ** Your brothers are on our side." 
 
 " I know that, but there will be great difficulty. Our religion 
 is not the same. He must talk to you — he will convert you." 
 
 " We'll argue that point, Agnes. I will convert him if he 
 has common sense ; if not, it*s no use arguing with him. Where 
 is he ?" 
 
 " He will soon be at home." 
 
 " Tell me, Agnes, if you had your own will, would you 
 marry me?" 
 
 " I don't know ; I have never seen any one I liked so well." 
 
 "Is that all?" 
 
 **■ Is it not enough for a maiden to say ?'' replied Agnes, rais- 
 ing her eyes, and looking reproachfully. " Signor, let me go, 
 here comes my father. " 
 
 Notwithstanding , Jack cast his eyes to the window where 
 Gascoigne and the senora were in converse, and perceiving that 
 the old lady's back was turned, he pressed Agnes to his bosom 
 before he released her. The gentlemen then returned with all 
 the fire-arms and destructive weapons they could collect. 
 
 " We have enough," observed Don Philip, ** to arm all the 
 people we have with us.'' 
 
 " And we are well armed ," replied Jack, who had left Agnes 
 standing alone. " What now are your plans ?" 
 
 *' Those we must now consult about. It appears"— but at 
 this moment the conversation was interrupted by the sudden 
 entrance of Pedro, who had been dispatched to the town with 
 the load of wine. He rushed in flurried and heated, with his red 
 cap in his hand. 
 
 " How now, Pedro, back so early I" 
 
298 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 " signor r* exclaimed the man — '' they have taken the cart 
 and the wine, and have drawn it away, up to the mountains.'* 
 
 *' Who ?" inquired Don Rebiera. 
 
 ** The galley-slaves who have been let loose— and by the 
 body of our blessed saint , they have done pretty mischief— 
 they have broken into the houses, robbed every thing — mur- 
 dered many — clothed themselves with the best — collected all 
 the arms, provisions, and wine they could lay their hands on, 
 and have marched away into the mountains. This took place 
 last night. As I was coming down within a mile of the town, 
 they met me with my loaded cart, and they turned the bullocks 
 round and drove them away along with the rest. By the 
 blessed Virgin! but they are stained with blood, but not alto- 
 gether of men, for they have cut up some of the oxen. I heard 
 this from one of the herdsmen, but he too fled and could not tell 
 me more. But, signer, I heard them mention your name." 
 
 *' I have no doubt of it,'* replied Don Rebiera. ** As for the 
 wine, I only hope they will drink too much of it to-night. But, 
 Pedro, they will be here, and we must defend ourselves — so call 
 the men together ; I must speak to them." 
 
 *' We shall never see the bullocks again," observed Pedro 
 mournfully. 
 
 ** No : but we shall never see one another again, if we do not 
 take care. I have information they come here to-night." 
 
 <* Holy Saint Francis! and they say there are a thousand of 
 them." 
 
 ** Not quite so many, to my knowledge," observed Jack. 
 
 '* They told me that a great many were killed in their attack 
 upon the town, before they mastered it." 
 
 '* So much the better. Go now, Pedro, drink a cup of wine, 
 and then call the other men." 
 
 The house was barricadoed as well as circumstances would 
 permit; the first story was also made a fortress by loading the 
 landing-place with armoires and chests of drawers. The upper 
 story, or attic, if it might be so called, was defended in the same 
 way, that they might retreat from one to the other if the doors 
 were forced. 
 
 It was eight o'clock in the evening before all was ready, and 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 299 
 
 tliey were still occupied with ihe last defence under the super- 
 intendence of Mesty, who showed himself an able engineer, 
 when they heard the sound of an approaching multiiude. They 
 looked out of one of the windows and perceived the house sur- 
 rounded hy the galley-slaves, in number, apparently, about a 
 hundred. They were all dressed in a most fantastic manner 
 with whatever they could pick up : some had fire-arms , but the 
 most of them were supplied with only swords or knives. With 
 them came also their cortege of plunder : carts of various de- 
 scriptions loaded with provisions of all sorts and wine; women 
 lashed down with ropes, sails from the vessels and boats to 
 supply them with covering in the mountains, hay and straw and 
 mattrasses. Their plunder appeared to be well chosen for 
 their exigencies. To the carts were tied a variety of cattle, 
 intended to accompany them to their retreat. They all appeared 
 to be under a leader who was issuing directions — that leader was 
 soon recognised by those in the house to be Don Silvio. 
 
 ** Massa Easy, you show me dat man?" said Mesty, when he 
 heard the conversation between Easy and the Rebieras; ** only 
 let me know him." 
 
 ** Do you see him there, Mesty, walking down in front of those 
 men ? he has a musket in his hand, a jacket with silver buttons, 
 and white trousers." 
 
 ** Yes, Massa Easy, me see him well — let me look little more 
 — dat enough." 
 
 The galley-slaves appeared to be very anxious to surround 
 the house that no one should escape, and Don Silvio was arrang- 
 ing the men. 
 
 ** Ned," said Jack, ** let us show him that we are here. He 
 said that he would acquaint Don Rebiera with our arrival— let 
 us prove to him that he is too late." 
 
 "It would not be a bad plan," replied Gascoigne ; " if it were 
 possible that these fellows had any gratitude among them, 
 some of them might relent at the idea of attacking those who 
 saved them." 
 
 " Not a bit ; but it will prove to them that there are more in 
 the house than they think for ; and we can frighten some of them 
 by telling them that the soldiers are near at hand." 
 
^00 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 Jack immediately threw up the casement and called out in a 
 loud voice, ** Don Silvio ! galley-slave ! Don Silvio !" 
 
 The parly hailed turned round and beheld Jack, Gascoigne, 
 and Mesty, standing at the window of the upper floor. 
 
 " We have saved you the trouble of announcing us," called 
 out Gascoigne. *' We are here to receive you." 
 
 '* And in three hours the troops will be here, so you must be 
 quick, Don Silvio," continued Jack. 
 
 *' A rivederlaj^* continued Gascoigne , letting fly his pistol at 
 Don Silvio. 
 
 The window was then immediately closed. The appearance 
 of our heroes, and their communication of the speedy arrival of 
 the troops, was not without effect. The criminals trembled at 
 the idea; Don Silvio was mad with rage — he pointed out to the 
 men the necessity of immediate attack — the improbability of 
 the troops arriving so soon, and the wealth which he expected 
 was locked up by Don Rebiera in his mansion. This rallied 
 them, and they advanced to the doors, which they attempted to 
 force without success, losing several men by the occasional fire 
 from those within the house. Finding their efforts, after half 
 an hour's repeated attempts, to be useless, they retreated, and 
 then bringing up a long piece of timber which required sixty 
 men to carry it, they ran with it against the door, and the weight 
 and impetus of the timber drove it off its hinges, and an entrance 
 was obtained : by this time it was dark ; the lower story had 
 been abandoned, but the barricade at the head of the stairs op- 
 posed their progress. Convenient loop holes had been prepared 
 by the defendants, who now opened a smart fire upon the as- 
 sailants, the latter having no means of returning it effectually, 
 had they had ammunition for their muskets, which fortunately 
 they had not been able to procure. The combat now became 
 fierce, and the galley-slaves were several times repulsed with 
 great loss during a contest of two hours; but encouraged by 
 Don Silvio, and refreshed by repeated draughts of wine, they 
 continued by degrees removing the barriers opposed to them. 
 
 "We shall have to retreat I" exclaimed Don Rebiera; ** very 
 soon they will have torn down all. What do you think, Signer 
 Easy?" 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 301 
 
 "Hold this as long as we can. How are we off for ammuni- 
 tion?" 
 
 ** Plenty as yet— plenty to last for six hours, I think." 
 
 ' ' What do you say, Mesty ?" 
 
 ** By holy St. Pa trig — I say hold out here— they got no fire- 
 arms — and we ab urn at arm-length." 
 
 This decision was the occasion of the first defence being held 
 for two liours more, an occasional relief being afforded by the 
 retreat of the convicts to the covered carts. 
 
 At last, it was evident that the barricade was no longer 
 tenable, for the heavy pieces of furniture they had heaped up to 
 oppose entrance were completely hammered to fragments by 
 poles brought up by the assailants, and used as battering-rams. 
 The retreat was sounded; they all hastened to the other story, 
 where the ladies were already placed, and the galley-slaves 
 were soon in possession of the first floor — exasperated by the 
 defence, mad with wine and victory, but finding nothing. 
 
 Again was the attack made upon the second lauding, but, as 
 the stairs were now narrower, and their defences stronger in 
 proportion, they, for a long while, gained no advantage. On 
 the contrary, many of their men were wounded and taken down 
 below. 
 
 The darkness of the night prevented both parties from seeing 
 distinctly, which was rather in favour of the assailants. Many 
 climbed over the fortress of piled-up furniture, and were killed 
 as soon as they appeared on the other side, and at last, the only 
 ammunition used was against those who made this rash attempt. 
 For four long hours did this assault and defence continue, until 
 daylight came, and then the plan of assault was altered : they 
 again brought up the poles, hammered the pieces of furniture 
 into fragments, and gained ground. The defendants were worn 
 out with fatigue, but flinched not ; they knew that their lives, 
 and the lives of those dearest to them, were at stake, and they 
 never relaxed their exertions; still the criminals, with Silvio at 
 their head, progressed, the distance between the parlies gra- 
 dually decreased, and there was but one massive chest of drawers 
 now defending the landing-place, and over which there was a 
 
302 MR. MIDSHIPIVIAN EASY. 
 
 constant succession of blows from long poles and cutlasses, re- 
 turned with the bullets from their pistols. j 
 
 ** We must now fight for our lives," exclaimed Gascoigne to 
 Easy, '* for what else can we do?" 
 
 << Do— get on the roof and fight there, then,*' replied Jack. 
 
 ''By-the-bye, that's well thought of, Jack," said Gascoigne. 
 '* Mesty, up and see if there is any place we can retreat to in 
 case of need." 
 
 Mesty hastened to obey, and soon returned with a report 
 that there was a trap-door leading into the loft under the roof> 
 and that they could draw the ladder up after them. 
 
 **Then we may laugh at them," cried Jack. ''Mesty, stay 
 here while I and Gascoigne assist the ladies up," explaining to 
 the Rebieras and to their domestics why they went. 
 
 Easy and Gascoigne hasted to the signora and Agnes, con- 
 ducted them up the ladder into the loft, and requested them to 
 have no fear; they then returned to the defences on the stairs, 
 and joined their companions. They found them hard pressed, 
 and that there was little chance of holding out much longer; but 
 the stairs were narrow and the assailants could not bring their 
 force against them. But now, as the defences were nearly 
 destroyed, although the convicts could not reach them with 
 their knives, they brought up a large supply of heavy stones, 
 which they threw with great force and execution. Two of Don 
 Rebiera's men and Don Martin were struck down, and this new 
 weapon proved most fatal. 
 
 ** We must retreat. Jack,'' said Gascoigne, "the stones can 
 do no harm, where we are going to. What think you, Don 
 Philip?" 
 
 '* I agree with you ; let those who are wounded be first car- 
 ried up, and then we will follow. " 
 
 This was effected, and as soon as the wounded men were 
 carried up the ladder, and the arms taken up to prevent their 
 falling into the hands of the assailants, for they were now of 
 little use to them, the ammunition being exhausted, the whole 
 body went into the large room which contained the trap-door of 
 the loft, and, as soon as they were up, they drew the ladder 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY, 808 
 
 after them. They had hardly effected this, when they were fol- 
 lowed with the yells and shouting of the galley-slaves, who had 
 passed the last harriers, and thought themselves sure of their 
 prey : but they were disappointed — they found them more secure 
 tlian ever. 
 
 Nothing could exceed the rage of Don Silvio at the protracted 
 resistance of the party, and the security of their retreat. To 
 get at them was impossible, so he determined to set fire to the 
 room, and suffocate them, if he could do no otherwise. He gave 
 his directions to his men, who rushed down for straw, but in so 
 doing, he carelessly passed under the trap-door, and Mesty, who 
 had carried up with him two or three of the slones, dashed one 
 down on the head of Don Silvio, who fell immediately. He was 
 carried away, but his orders were put in execution ; the room 
 was filled with straw and fodder, and lighted. The effects were 
 soon felt; the trap-door had been shut, but the heat and smoke 
 burst through ; after a time, the planks and rafters took fire, 
 and their situation was terrible. A small trap-window in the 
 roof, on the side of the house , was knocked open, and gave them 
 a temporary relief, but now the rafters burned and crackled, 
 and the smoke burst on them in thick columns. They could not 
 see, and with difficulty could breathe. Fortunately the room 
 below that which had been fired was but one out of four on the 
 attics, and, as the loft they were in spread over the whole of the 
 roof, they were able to remove far from it. The house was 
 slated with massive slates of some hundred weight each, and it 
 was not found possible to remove them so as to give air, although 
 frequent attempts were made. Donna Ribiera sunk exhausted 
 in the arms of her husband, and Agnes fell into those of our 
 hero, who, enveloped in the smoke, kissed her again and again ; 
 and she, poor girl, thinking that they must all inevitably perish, 
 made no scruple, in what she supposed her last moment, of re- 
 turning these proofs of her ardent attachment. 
 
 '* Massa Easy, help me here, — Massa Gascoigne, come here. 
 Now heab wid all your might : when we get one off we get 
 plenty." 
 
 Summoned by Mesty, Jack and Gascoigne put their shoulders 
 to one of the lower slates ; it yielded —was disengaged, and slid 
 
304 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 down with a loud rattling below. The ladies were brought to 
 it, and their heads put outside; they soon recovered; and now 
 that they had removed one, they found no difficulty in removing 
 others. In a few minutes they were all with their heads in the 
 open air, but still the house was on fire below, and they had no 
 chance of escape. It was while ihey were debating upon this 
 point, and consulting as to their chance of safety, that a breeze 
 of wind wafted the smoke that issued from the roof away from 
 them, and they beheld the detachment of troops making up to 
 the house ; a loud cheer was given, and attracted the notice of 
 the soldiers. They perceived Easy and his companions; the 
 house was surrounded and entered m an instant. 
 
 The galley-slaves, who were in the house searching for the 
 treasure, reported by Don Silvio to be concealed, were captured 
 or killed, and, in five minutes, the troops had possession. But 
 how to assist those above was the difficulty. The room below 
 was in flames, and burning fiercely. There were no ladders 
 that could reach so high, and there were no means of getting to 
 them. The commandant made signs from below, as if to ask 
 what he was to do. 
 
 ** I see no chance," observed Don Philip, mournfully. 
 ** Easy, my dear fellow, and you, Gascoigne, I am sorry that the 
 feuds of our family should have brought you to such a dreadful 
 death; but what can be done?'' 
 
 ** I don't know," replied Jack, ** unless we could get ropes." 
 
 *'You quite sure, Massa Easy, that all galley-rascals below 
 gone?" asked Mesty. 
 
 ** Yes," replied Easy, '* you may see that; look at some of 
 them bound there, under charge of the soldiers." 
 
 ** Den, sar, I tink it high lime we go too." 
 
 *< So do I, Mesty; but how?" 
 
 «'How?slopahttle." 
 
 **Come, help me, Massa Easy; dis board (for the loft was 
 floored) is loose, come help, all of you." 
 
 They all went, and with united strength, pulled up the board. 
 
 **]Now strike hke hell!— and drive down de plaster," said 
 Mesty, commencing the operation. 
 
 In a few minutes they had beaten an opening into one of the 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 305 
 
 rooms below not on fire, pulled up another board, and Mesly, 
 having fetched the ladder, they all descended in safety, and, to 
 the astonishment of the commandant of the troops, walked out 
 of the door of the house, those who had been stunned with the 
 stones having so far recovered as to require little assistance. 
 
 The soldiers shouted as they saw them appear supporting the 
 females. The commanding officer, who was an intimate friend 
 of Don Philip, flew to his arms. The prisoners were carefully 
 examined by Mesty, and Don Silvio was not among them. He 
 might, however, be among the dead who were left in the house, 
 which now began to burn furiously. The galley-slaves who were 
 captured amounted in number to forty-seven. Their dead they 
 could not count. The major part of the plunder, and the carts, 
 were still where they had been drawn up. 
 
 As soon as the culprits had been secured, the attention of the 
 troops was directed to putting out the flames, but their attempts 
 were ineffectual ; ihe'm^sion was burned to the bare walls, and 
 but little of the furniture saved ; indeed, the major part of it 
 had been destroyed in the attack made by Don Silvio and his 
 adherents. 
 
 Leaving directions with Pedro and his people, that the pro- 
 perty collected by the miscreants should be restored to the own- 
 ers , Don Rebiera ordered the horses , and with the whole party 
 put himself under the protection of the troops, who, as soon as 
 they had been refreshed and taken some repose, bent their way 
 back to Palermo with the galley-slaves, bound and linked toge- 
 ther in a long double row. 
 
 They halted when they had gone half-way, and remained for 
 the night. The next day, at noon, Don Rebiera and his family 
 were once more in their palazzo, and our two midshipmen and 
 Mesty took their leave, and repaired on board to make themselves 
 a liitle less like chimney-sweepers. 
 
 Captain Wilson was not out of the ship. Jack made his re- 
 port, and then went down below, very much pleased at what 
 had passed, especially as he would have another long yarn for 
 the governor on his return to Malta. 
 
 ao 
 
CHAPTER XXXIir. 
 
 In which our hero and Gascoigne ought to be ashamed of themselves, and did 
 feel, what might be called midshipmite compunction. 
 
 The Aurora conlinued three weeks at Palermo, during which 
 the most active search had been made for the remainder of the 
 galley-slaves, and some few had been captured, but still Don 
 Silvio, and a considerable mimber, were at large ; and it was 
 said that they had retired to the fastnesses in the mountains. 
 Our hero was constantly on shore at Don Rebiera's house, and, 
 after what had passed, he was now looked upon as soon to become 
 a member of the family. The difference of religion was over- 
 looked by Don Rebiera and the relations — by all but the con- 
 fessor, Father Thom^aso, who now began to agitate and fulminate 
 into the ears of the Donna Rebiera all the pains and penalties 
 attending heretical connexion, such as excommunication and 
 utter damnation. The effects of his remonstrances were soon 
 visible, and Jack found that there was constraint on the part of 
 the old lady, tears on the part of Agnes, and all father confessors 
 heartily wished at the devil ten times a-day, on the part of Don 
 Philip and his brother. At last he wormed the truth out of 
 Agnes, who told her tale, and wept bitterly. 
 
 *♦ Ned, I don't much like the appearance of things," observed 
 Jack; *' I must get rid of that Father Thomaso." 
 
 ** You'll find that rather difficult," observed Gascoigne; 
 '* besides, if you were rid of him you would have his place filled 
 up with another." 
 
 '* He has frightened that poor old woman into the dismals, 
 and she has the pains of purgatory on her already. I shall go 
 and talk to Mesty." 
 
 " How can Mesty help you?" 
 
 *' I don't know, but you can't ; so, for want of better advice, 
 I'll try the Ashantee." 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 307 
 
 Our hero went to Mesty, and laid the difficult affair open 
 to him. 
 
 ** I see," said Mesty, showing his filed teeth, " you want him 
 skull.'^ 
 
 '*No, I don't Mesty; hut I want him out of the way." 
 
 "How that possible, Massa Easy? — ship sail day after to- 
 morrow. Now 'pose I ah time, I soon manage all dat. Stop a 
 Uttle." 
 
 ** Confound it! hut there's no stopping," replied Jack. 
 
 " Suppose, Massa Easy, you get leave go on shore — not come 
 off again." 
 
 ** That will be deserting, Mesty." 
 
 ** By holy poker, I ab it— you go ashore and hreak your leg." 
 
 ** Break my leg! —break my leave you mean ?" 
 
 *'No, Massa Easy— you break your leg — den captain leave 
 you shore, and leave me take care of you." 
 
 ** But why should I break my leg, and how am I to break my 
 leg?" 
 
 ** Only pretend break leg, Massa Easy. Go talk Massa Don 
 Philip, he manage all dat. — Suppose man break his leg in seven 
 pieces, it is not possible to take him board." 
 
 ** Seven pieces, Mesty 1 that's rather too many. However, 
 I'll think of this." 
 
 Jack then went back and consulted Gascoigne, who approved 
 of Mesty's advice, and thought the scheme feasible. 
 
 *' If we could only pretend that we were thrown out of a cari- 
 cola, you break your leg, a compound fracture of course— I 
 hreak my arm — both left on shore at sick quarters, with Mesty, 
 to take care of us." 
 
 ** Capital indeed," replied Jack; <* I really would not mind it 
 if it really took place ; at alle vents we'll overturn the caricola." 
 
 '* But shall we get leave the last day ?" 
 
 ** Yes, it's two days since I have been on shore, for I have 
 not liked to go to Don Rebiera's since what Agnes told me. 
 Besides, my clothes are all on shore, and that will be an excuse 
 for a few hours." 
 
 Our two midshipmen applied for leave the next morning to 
 he off in the afternoon. The first lieutenant gave them per- 
 
 20. 
 
308 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 mission. They hastened to the hotel, sent for Don Philip, and 
 made him a party lo their plan. He readily promised his 
 assistance, for he had resolved that our hero should marry his 
 sister, and was fearful of the effect of his absence, coupled with 
 Friar Thomaso's influence over his mother. He went to the 
 surgeon of his regiment, who immediately entered into the 
 scheme. 
 
 Our two midshipmen got into a caricola, rattled up and down 
 the streets, and perceiving Captain Wilson at his window, 
 flogged the horse into a gallop : when abreast of the barracks Jack 
 ran the wheel against a bank, and threw himself and Gascoigne 
 out. Midshipmen are never hurt by these accidents, but fortu- 
 nately lor the success of the enterprise their faces were cut and 
 bruised. Don Philip was standing by : he called the men to 
 pick up our two scamps, carried them into the barracks, and sent 
 for the surgeons, who undressed them, put Jack's left leg into a 
 multitude of splints, and did the same to Gascoigne*s arm. They 
 were then put to bed. Their contused faces, with the blood 
 left in statu quo, while Don Philip sent an orderly, as from the 
 commandant, to Captain Wilson, to acquaint him that two of his 
 officers had been thrown out of a caricola, and were lying dan- 
 gerously hurt at the barracks. 
 
 ** Good heavens, it must be Mr. Easy and Mr. Gascoigne V* 
 said Captain Wilson when the intelligence was communicated ; 
 ** I saw them galloping down the street like two madmen just 
 now. Coxswain, take the gig on board and tell the surgeon to 
 come on shore immediately, and bring him up to me at the 
 barracks. ' 
 
 Captain Wilson then put on his hat, buckled on his sword, and 
 hastened to ascertain the extent of the injury. Don Philip kept 
 out of the way, but the captain was ushered into the room by 
 one of the officers , where he found, in two beds, our two mid- 
 shipmen stretched out, the surgeon of the forces and the regi- 
 mental surgeon in consultation between them, while attendants 
 were standing by each bed with restoratives. The medical 
 gentlemen saluted Captain Wilson, and looked very grave, 
 talked about fractures, contusions, injuries, in the most inter- 
 minable manner — hoped that Mr. Easy would recover— but had 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 309 
 
 doubts. The other gentleman might do well with care ; that is, 
 as far as his arm was concerned, hut there appeared to be a 
 concussion of the brain. Captain "Wilson looked at the cut and 
 blood-smeared faces of the two young men, and wailed with 
 anxiety the arrival of his own surgeon, who came at last, puffing 
 with the haste he had made, and received the report of the bro- 
 thers of the faculty. 
 
 The leg of Mr. Easy fractured in two places — had been set — 
 bone protruding — impossible to move him. Gascoigne, arm 
 compound fracture — contusion of the brain not certain. Now 
 that all this would have been discovered to be false if the surgeon 
 had been able to examine, is true; but how could he not credit 
 the surgeon of the forces and the regimental surgeon, and how 
 could he put the young men to fresh tortures by removing splints 
 and unsetting limbs ? Politeness, if nothing else, prevented his 
 so doing, for it would have been as much as to say that either 
 he did not credit their report or that he doubted their skill. 
 He looked at our hero and his companion, who kept their eyes 
 closed and breathed heavily with their mouths open , put on a 
 grave face as well as his brothers in the art, and reported to 
 Captain Wilson. 
 
 **But when can they be moved, Mr. Daly?'' inquired the 
 latter; " I cannot wait, we must sail to-morrow, or the next day 
 at the farthest.'^ 
 
 The surgeon, as in duty bound, put the question to the others, 
 who replied that there would be great risk in moving before the 
 fever, which might be expected the next day, and which might 
 last ten days; but that Captain Wilson had better not think of 
 removing them, as they should have every care and attention 
 where they were and could rejoin the ship at Malta. Mr. Daly, 
 the surgeon, agreed that this would be the most prudent step, and 
 Captain Wilson then gave his consent. 
 
 That being settled, he walked up to the bed of Gascoigne and 
 spoke to him ; but Gascoigne knew that he was to have a con- 
 cussion of the brain, and he made no reply, nor gave any signs 
 of knowing that Captain Wilson was near him. He then went 
 to our hero, who, at the sound of Captain Wilson's voice, slowly 
 
310 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 opened his eyes without moving his head, and appeared to recog- 
 nise him. 
 
 *■* Are you in much pain, Easy ?" said the captain kindly. 
 
 Easy closed his eyes again and murmured, <* Mesty, Mesly !" 
 
 *' He wants his servant, the ship's corporal, sir," said the 
 surgeon. 
 
 ** Well," replied Captain Wilson, '' he had helter have him ; 
 he is a faithful fellow and will nurse him well. When you go 
 on board, Mr. Daly, desire the first lieutenant to send Mesty on 
 shore with Mr. Gascoigne's and Mr. Easy's chests, and his own 
 hag and hammock. Good heavens I I would not for a thousand 
 pounds that this accident had occurred. Poor foolish boys-'- 
 they run in couples, and if one's in a scrape the other is sure to 
 share it. Gentlemen, I return you many thanks for your kind- 
 ness, and I must accept of your promised care for my unfortunate 
 officers. I sail to-morrow at daylight. You will oblige me by 
 informing their friends, the Rebieras, of their mischance, as I 
 am sure they will contribute all they can to their comfort." So 
 saying. Captain Wilson bowed and quitted the room, followed 
 by the surgeon. 
 
 As soon as the door was closed the two midshipmen turned 
 their heads round and looked at each other, but they were afraid 
 to speak at first, in case of the return of the surgeon. As soon 
 as it was announced to them that Captain Wilson and Mr. Daly 
 were outside the barrack gates our hero commenced — ** Do you 
 know, Ned, that my conscience smites me, and if it had not been 
 that I should have betrayed those who wish to oblige us, when 
 poor Captain Wilson appeared so much hurt and annoyed at our 
 accident, I was very near getting up and telling him of the impo- 
 sition, to relieve his mind." 
 
 *' I agree with you. Jack, and I felt much the same — but 
 what's done cannot be undone. We must now keep up the 
 imposition for the sake of those who, to help us, have deceived 
 him." 
 
 *' I don't think that you would find an English surgeon who 
 would have consented to such an imposition." 
 
 '*No, that is certain; but after all, it is an imposition that 
 has hurt nobody." 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 311 
 
 *^ Oh, I do not wish tb moralize — but I repent of my share in 
 tlie deceit ; and had it to be done over again I would not con- 
 sent to it." 
 
 *'Not even for ? bat I won't mention her name in 
 
 barracks." 
 
 ** I don't know," replied Jack; " but let's say no more about 
 it, and thank these gentlemen for their kindness." 
 
 '* Yes, but we must keep it up until we see the Aurora under 
 all sail." 
 
 *' And longer too," replied Jack ; '* we must not let the affair 
 get wind even on shore. We must not recover quickly, but 
 still appear to recover. Don Piebiera and his wife must be de- 
 ceived. I have a plot in my head, but I cannot work it out clear 
 until I see Mesty." 
 
 Don Philip now came in. He had seen Captain Wilson, 
 who had requested him to look after the two invalids, and stated 
 his intention to sail the next morning. They consulted with 
 him, and it was agreed that no one should be acquainted with 
 the real fact but his brother Marl in, and that all Palermo should 
 be as much deceived as Captain Wilson, for if not, it would put 
 Father Thomaso on the qui vive^ and make him fulminate more 
 than ever. Our midshipmen ate an excellent dinner, and then 
 remained in bed conversing till it was time to go to sleep ; but 
 long before that, Mesty had made his appearance with their 
 clothes. The eyes of the Ashantee said all that was necessary — 
 he never spoke a word, but unlashed his hammock and lay down 
 in a corner, and they were soon all three asleep. 
 
 The next morning Captain Wilson called to ascertain how 
 our hero and his companion were, but the room had been 
 darkened and he could not see their faces plainly. Easy thanked 
 him for his kindness in allowing Mesty to attend them, and 
 having received his orders as to their joining the ship as soon 
 as they were recovered, and having promised to be very cau- 
 tious in their behaviour and keep out of all scrapes, he wished 
 them a speedy recovery and departed. 
 
 In little more than half an hour afterwards, Mesty, who had 
 been peeping out of the shutters, suddenly threw them open with 
 a loud laugh. 
 
312 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 The Aurora was under weigh with studding sails below and 
 aloft, standing out of the roads. Jack and Gascoigne got up, 
 threw off the spHnts and danced about in iheir shirts. As soon 
 as they were quiet again, Mesty said in a grave tone, ** Den why 
 you stay at sea, Massa Easy ?'^ 
 
 ** Very true, Mesty, I've asked myself that question often 
 enough lately; because Fm a fool, I suppose." 
 
 ** And I, because I can't help it,'' replied Gascoigne; '* never 
 mind, we are on shore now, and I look for a famous cruise." 
 
 *' But first we must see what the ground is we are to cruise 
 on," replied Jack; *' so, Mesty, let us have a palaver, as they say 
 in your country." 
 
 The two midshipmen got into their beds, and Mesty sat on 
 the chest between them, looking as grave as a judge. The 
 question was, how to get rid of the padre Thomaso. Was he to 
 heihv own over the molehead to the fishes— or his skull broke — 
 was Mesty's knife to be resorted to — was he to be kidnapped or 
 poisoned — or were fair means to be employed — persuasion, 
 bribery? Every one knows how difficult it is to get rid of a priest. 
 
 As our hero and Gascoigne were not Italians, they thought 
 that bribery would be the more English-like way of doing the 
 thing ; so they composed a letter, to be delivered by Mesty to 
 the friar, in which Jack offered to Father Thomaso the moderate 
 sum of one thousand dollars, provided he would allow the mar- 
 riage to proceed and not frighten the old lady with ecclesiastical 
 squibs and crackers. 
 
 As IMesty was often on shore with Jack, and knew the friar 
 very well by sight, it was agreed that the letter should be con- 
 fided to his charge; but, as it was not consistent that a person in 
 such a state as our hero was represented to be, should sit up and 
 write letters, the delivery was deferred for a few days, when, 
 after waiting that time, Mesty delivered the letter to the friar, 
 and made signs that he was to lake back the answer. The friar 
 beckoned him that he was to accompany him to his room, 
 where he read the letter, and then again made signs to him to 
 follow him. The friar led the way to his monastery, and as 
 soon as Mesty was in his cell, he summoned another who could 
 speak English to act as interpreter. 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 313 
 
 '' Is your master recovering?" 
 
 ** Yes," replied Mesty, " he is at present doing well." 
 
 ** Have you served him long?" 
 
 <* No," replied Mesty. 
 
 ** Are you very fond of him? does he treat you well, give you 
 plenty of money ?" 
 
 At these questions, the artful black conceived that there was 
 something in the wind, and he therefore very quietly replied, 
 ** I do not care much for him." 
 
 The friar fixed his keen eye upon Mesty, and perceived there 
 was a savage look about the black, from which he augured that 
 he was a man who would suit his purpose. 
 
 *' Your master here offers me a thousand dollars; would you 
 wish to gain this money for yourself?" 
 
 Mesty grinned and showed his sharp filed teeth. 
 
 ** It would make me rich man in my own country." 
 
 '' it would," replied the friar ; *' now you shall have it, if you 
 will only give your master a small powder." 
 
 **I understand," replied Mesly ; *^ hab those things in my 
 country." 
 
 ** Well — do you consent?— if so I will write the letter to get 
 the money." 
 
 ''^ Sui)pose they find me out ?" replied Mesty. 
 
 " You will be safe, and you shall be sent away as soon as 
 possible — say, will you consent?" 
 
 ** The whole thousand dollars ?" 
 
 ** Every one of them." 
 
 ** Den give me the powder?" 
 
 " Stay a little," replied the friar, who went out of the cell, 
 and, in about ten minutes, returned with an answer to our 
 hero's letter, and a paper containing a greyish powder. 
 
 " Give him this in his soup or any thing — spread it on his 
 meat, or mix it up with his sugar if he eats an orange." 
 
 ** I see," replied Mesty. 
 
 '* The dollars shall be yours. I swear it on the holy cross." 
 
 Mesty grinned horribly, took his credentials, and then asked, 
 ** When I come again?" 
 
 ** As soon as you have received the money bring it to me at 
 
IH MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY^ 
 
 Don Rebiera's — then give the powder : as soon as it is given 
 you must let me know, for you must not remain in Pajermo. I 
 will myself conduct you to a place of safety." 
 
 Mesiy then quitted the cell and was shown out of the mo- 
 nastery. 
 
 '* By de holy poker he one d — n rascal!" muttered Mesty, as 
 he was once more in the open air. '* But stop a little. '' 
 
 The Ashantee soon arrived at the barracks, and repeated the 
 whole of the conference between him and tlie Friar Thomaso. 
 
 '* It must be poison, of course, ^'observed Gascoigne ; ** sup- 
 pose we try it upon some animal ?" 
 
 ** No, Massa Gascoigne,'' replied Mesty, **I try it myself, 
 by-and-bye. Now what we do ?'' 
 
 ** I must give you the order for the thousand dollars, Mesty," 
 replied Jack. * * The rascal here writes to me, that, for that sum, 
 he will consent not only not to oppose me, but agrees to assist my 
 cause ; but the great question is, whether he will keep his word 
 with you, Mesty; if not, I shall lose my money. So therefore 
 we must now have another palaver and argue the point." 
 
 The point was argued between Jack and Gascoigne. A thou- 
 sand dollars was a large sum, but Jack's father was a philoso- 
 pher. After many pros and cons, it was at last decided that 
 the money should be given to Mesty ; but that Mesty should 
 state, when he took the money to the friar, that he had admi- 
 nistered the powder, and claim it when he presented it. 
 
 The next day, the order for the money was given to Mesty, 
 and he went to the Friar Thomaso with it. The friar hastened 
 with Mesty to the monastery and sent for the interpreter. 
 
 * * You have given it ?" inquired the friar. 
 
 " Yes — not one hour ago. Here de order for de money." 
 
 *' You must run for the money before he is dead, for the 
 powder is very rapid." 
 
 ** And me," replied Mesty, apparently much alarmed, *' where 
 am I to go ?" 
 
 *' As soon as you bring the money here, you must go back to 
 the barracks. Remain there till he is dead, and then return 
 here. I will have all ready, and take you, as soon as it is dusk, 
 to a monastery of our order in the mountains, where no one will 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 31S 
 
 think of looking for you till the affair has blown over; and then 
 I will find you a passage in some vessel out of the island." 
 
 Mesly hastened for the money, and taking it in a large bag to 
 the monastery, delivered it to the friar's charge, and then 
 returned to the barracks to Easy and Gascoigne. It was agreed 
 that he should go with the friar, who would probably remain 
 away some lime ; indeed, Mesty insisted upon so doing. Mesty 
 staid two hours, and then returned about dusk to the monastery, 
 and reported the death of our hero. He remained there until it 
 was dark, and then the friar ordered him to tie the bag of dol- 
 lars to his saddle-bow. They mounted two mules, which stood 
 all ready caparisoned, and quitted Palermo. 
 
 In the morning, Don Philip, as usual, made his appearance, 
 and told our hero that the friar had been summoned away by the 
 abbot, and would not return for some time. 
 
 *' I came to tell you this news," said Don Philip, *'as I 
 thought it would please you ; the sooner you are now well, the 
 better. I mean to propose your being both removed to my 
 father's palazzo, and then you can recover your lost ground dur- 
 ing the confessor's absence." 
 
 ** And I have the means,'' replied Jack, showing the friar's 
 letter. Don Philip read it with astonishment , but was still 
 more surprised when he heard ihe whole story from Jack. He 
 was for a time silent : at last he said, 
 
 " I am sorry for your poor black." 
 
 *' Why so?" replied Jack. 
 
 ** You will never see him again, depend upon it. A thousand 
 dollars would sign the death-warrant of a thousand blacks; but 
 there is another reason— they will put him out of the way that 
 he may not give evidence. Where is the powder?" 
 
 ** Mesty has it, he would not part with it." 
 
 '* He is a shrewd fellow, that black ; he may be too much for 
 the friar," replied Don Philip. 
 
 ** He means mischief, I'm sure," replied Gascoigne. 
 
 '* Still I feel a great deal of alarm about him," replied Easy ; 
 '* I wish now that I had not let him go." 
 
 *' Are you sure that he went?" 
 
316 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 '^No, I am not; but the friar told him that he should take 
 him to the mountains as soon as it was dark." 
 
 ** And probably he will," replied Don Philip, '* as the best 
 place to get rid of him. However, the whole of this story must 
 be told both to my father and my mother ; to the former that he 
 may take the right measures, and to my mother that it may 
 open her eyes. Give me the copy of the letter you wrote to the 
 friar, and then I shall have it all." 
 
 The report of the accident which had occurred to Easy and 
 Gascoigne had been spread and fully believed throughout Pa- 
 lermo. Indeed, as usual^ it had been magnified, and asserted 
 that they could not recover. To Agnes only had the case been 
 imparted in confidence by Don Philip, for her distress at the 
 first intelligence had been so great that her brother could not 
 conceal it. 
 
 Two days after Don Philip had made his parents acquainted 
 with the villany of the friar, the midshipmen were transported 
 to the palazzo, much to the surprise of every body, and much to 
 the renown of the surgeons, who were indemnified for their 
 duplicity and falsehood by an amazing extension of their credit 
 as skilful men. 
 
 After their arrival at the palazzo, Don Rebiera was also 
 entrusted with the secret, but it went no farther. As now 
 there was no particular hurry for our hero to get well, he was 
 contented and happy in the society of Agnes and her parents ; 
 the old lady, after she had been informed of the conduct of Friar 
 Thomaso, having turned round in our hero's favour, and made 
 a vow never to have a confessor in the house again. Jack and 
 Gascoigne were now as happy as could be; all their alarm was 
 about Mesty, for whose return they were most anxious. 
 
 To Don Rebiera Jack made known formally his intentions 
 with regard to Agnes. He fully satisfied him as to his qualifi- 
 cations and his property, and Don Rebiera was fully aware of his 
 debt of gratitude to our hero. Rut all he required was the con- 
 sent of Jack's father, and until this was obtained, he would not 
 consent to the marriage taking place. Jack attempted to argue 
 the point ; his father, he said, had married without consulting 
 him, and therefore he had a right to marry without consulting 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 317 
 
 his father. But Don Rebiera, not having any acquaintance wiih 
 the rights of man and equality, did not feel the full force of Jack's 
 argument, and made it a sine quel non that his parents should 
 write and consent to the alliance before it took place. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 In which Mesty should be called throughout Mephistopheles, for it abounds in 
 black cloaks, disguises, daggers, and dark deeds. 
 
 On the fourlh evening after the removal of our two midshipmen 
 to the palazzo of Don Rebiera, as they were sitting in company 
 with Agnes and Don Philip in their own room, a friar made his 
 appearance at the door. They all started, for by his height they 
 imagined him to be the friar Thomaso, but no one addressed 
 him. The friar shut the door without saying a word, and then 
 lifting up his cowl, which had been drawn over it, discovered the 
 black face of Mesty. Agnes screamed, and all sprang from their 
 seals at this unusual and unexpected apparition. Mesiy grinned, 
 and there was that in his countenance, which said that he had 
 much to communicate. 
 
 "■ Where is the friar, Mesty ?" inquired Easy, 
 
 *' Stop a little, Massa — suppose we lock door first, and den I 
 tell all.'' 
 
 Taking this precaution, Mesty threw off the friar's gown, and 
 appeared in his own dress, with the bag of dollars slung round 
 his body. 
 
 ** Now, Massa Easy, I hab a long tory to tell— so I tink I better 
 begin at the beginning." 
 
 " It is the most approved method," replied Jack ; ** but stop 
 when I hold up my finger, that we may translate what you say to 
 the lady and Don Philip." 
 
318 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 '* Dat all right, sar. Friar and I get on two mule as soon as 
 it quite dark. He make me carry all tousand dollars — and we 
 ride out of town. We go up mountain and mountain, but the 
 moon get up shine and we go on cheek by jowl — he nebber say 
 one word and I nebber say one word, 'cause I no speak his 
 lingo, and he no understand my English. About two o'clock in 
 de morning, we slop at a house and stay dere till eight o'clock, 
 and den we go on again all next day, up all mountain, only stop 
 once, eat a bit bread, and drink lilly wine. Second night come 
 on, and den we slop again, aUd people bow very low to him, and 
 woman bring in rabbit for make supper. I go in the kitchen, 
 woman make stew smell very nice, so I nod my head, and I say 
 very good, and she make a face, and throw on table black loaf 
 of bread and garlic, and make sign dat for my supper ; good 
 enough for black fellow, and dat rabbit stew for friar. Den I say 
 to myself, stop a little; suppose friar hab all de rabbit, I link I 
 give him a lilly powder. " 
 
 <' The powder, Mesty ?" exclaimed Jack. 
 
 ** What does he say ?" inquired Don Philip. 
 
 Gascoigne translated all that Mesty had communicated. The 
 interest of the narrative now became exciting. Mesty con- 
 tinued ; — 
 
 ** Well, Massa Easy, den woman she go for dish to put stew 
 in, and I take de powder and drop it in de pot, and den I sit down 
 again and eat black bread, she say good enough for black man. 
 She tir up de stew once more, and den she pour it out into dish, 
 and take it to friar. He lick um chops, by all de powers, and 
 he like um so well he pick all de bones, and wipe up gravy with 
 him bread. You tink it very nice, Massa Friar, link 1; but slop 
 a little. After he drink a whole bottle of wine, he tell em bring 
 mules to de door, and he put him hands on de woman head, and 
 dat de way he pay for him supper. 
 
 *' The moon shone bright and we go up all mountain, always 
 go up, and 'bout two hour, he get off him mule and he put him 
 hand so, and set down on de rock. He twist, and he turn and 
 he groan, for half an hour, and den he look at me, as much as to 
 say, you black villain, you do this? for he not able to speak, and 
 den I pull out de paper of de powder, and I show him, and make 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 319 
 
 him sign he swallow it, he look again, and I laugh at him— and 
 he die." 
 
 **0h, Mesty, Mesty," exclaimed our hero; *'yoii should not 
 have done that, there will mischief come from it/' 
 
 ** Now he dead, Massa Easy, so much less mischief." 
 
 Gascoigne then interpreted to Don Philip and Agnes, the 
 former of whom looked very grave and the latter terrified. 
 
 *' Let him go on," said Don Philip; ** I am most anxious ta 
 hear what he did with the hody." 
 
 Mesly, at the request of our hero, proceeded, '* Den I thought 
 what I should do, and I said I would hide him, and I link I take 
 his coat for myself—so I pull off him coat and I pull off all his 
 oder clothes — he not wear many— and I take de body in my arm 
 and carry him where I find a great split in de rock above all road. 
 I throw him in, and den I throw plenty large pieces rock on him 
 till I no see him any more ; den I take de two mules and get on 
 mine wid de dollars, and lead the other three four mile, till I 
 come to a large wood — take off hint saddle and bridle, tuTii him 
 adrift. Den I tear up all clothes all in lilly bits, hide one piece 
 here, noder piece dere, and de saddle and bridle in de bush. 
 All right, now, I say; so I put on friar cloak, hide my face, get 
 on my mule, and den I look [where I shall go — so I say, I not be 
 in dis road any hoW;, I pass through wood till I find nother. 1 
 go 'bout two mile — moon go down, all dark, and five six men 
 catch hold my bridle, and they all got a^ms, so I do noting — - 
 they speak to me, but I no answer, and neber show my face. 
 They find all dollars (d— n um) fast enough, and they lead me 
 away through the wood. Last we Conine to large fire in de 
 wood, plenty of men lye 'bout, some eat and some drink. They 
 pull me off, and I hold down my head and fold my arms, just 
 like friar do. They bring me along to one mans awd pour out 
 all my dollar before him. He give some order, and they take 
 me away, and I peep through the cloak, and 1 say to myself, he 
 that d — n galley slave rascal Don Silvio." 
 
 ' ' Don Silvio 1" cried Jack. 
 
 " What does he say of Don Silvio?" demanded Don Philip. 
 
 Mesty 's narrative was again translated, and he continued. 
 
 *< Dey lead me away 'bout fifty yards, tie me to tree, and den 
 
320 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 they leave me, and dey all drink and make merry, nebber offer 
 me any ting, so as I hab noting den to eat, I eat de ropes and 
 gnaw them through, and den I stay there two hour until all go 
 asleep, and all quiet ; for I say to myself, stop a little. Den 
 when dey all fast asleep, I take out my knife and I crawl 'long 
 de ground, as we do in our country sometime — and den I stop 
 and look 'bout me; no man watch but two, and dey look out for 
 squarl, not look in board where I was. I crawl 'gain till I lay 
 down longside that d — n galley slave Don Silvio. He lie fast 
 asleep with my bag thousand dollars under him head. So I 
 link, * you not hab dem long, you rascal/ I look round all 
 right, and I drive my knife good aim into him heart, and press 
 toder hand on him mouth, but he make no noise, he struggle 
 little and look up, and den I throw off de head of de gown and 
 show him my black face, and he look and he try to speak, but I 
 stop dat, for down go my knife again, and de d— n galley slave 
 dead as herring.^' 
 
 "Stop, Mesty, we must tell this to Don Philip,'' said Gas- 
 coigne. 
 
 < * Dead, Don Silvio dead I well , Mesty, we are eternally obliged 
 to you, for there was no safety for my father while he was living. 
 Let him go on." 
 
 ** So when 1 put de knife through his body, I lie down by him, 
 as if noting had happened, for ten minute, and den I take de bag 
 of dollars from under him head, and den I feel him all over, and 
 I find him pistols and him purse, which I hab here, all gold. So 
 I take them and I look — all asleep, and I crawl back to de tree. 
 Den I stay to tink a little, de man on watch come up and look at 
 me, but he tink all right and he go away again, tucky ting, 
 by de power, dat I go back to tree. I wait again and den I crawl 
 and crawl till I clear of all, and den I take to my heel and run 
 for um life, till daylight come, and den I so tired 1 lie down in 
 bush : I stay in bush all day, and den I set off again back here, 
 for I find road and know my way. I not eat den for one day and 
 one night, and come to house where I put my head in and find 
 woman there. 1 not able to speak, so I help myself, and not 
 show my face. She not like dat and make a bobbery, but I lift 
 up my cloak and show my black face and white teeth, and den 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 321 
 
 she link me de debil. She run out of de house and I help 
 myself very quick, and den set off and come close here yesterday 
 morning. I hide myself all day and come in at night, and now, 
 Massa Easy, you ab all de whole truth — and you ab your tousand 
 dollars — and you ab got rid of de rascal friar and de d — n galley 
 slave Don Silvio." 
 
 *' Tell ihem all this, Ned," said Jack, who, whilst Gascoigne 
 was so employed, talked with Mesty. 
 
 **I was very much frightened for you, Mesty," said Jack; 
 ** but still I thought you quite as cunning as the friar, and so it 
 has turned out ; but the thousand dollars ought to be yours." 
 
 ** No, sar," replied Mesty, ** the dollars not mine ; but I hab 
 plenty of gold in Don Silvio's purse— plenty, plenty of gold. 
 Ikeef) my property, Massa Easy, and you keep yours." 
 
 **rm afraid that this affair may be found out, Mesty; the 
 woman will spread the report of having been attacked by a black 
 friar, and that will lead to suspicion, as the oilier friars of the 
 convent knew that you left with Friar Thomaso." 
 
 *' So I tink dat, but when a man starve, he quite forget his 
 thought." 
 
 ** I don't blame you ; but now I must talk to Don Philip." 
 
 ^* Suppose you no objection, while you talk I eat something 
 from the table then, Massa Easy, for I hungry enough to eatde 
 friar, mule and all." 
 
 *' Eat, my good fellow, and drink as much as you please." 
 
 The consultation between our two midshipmen and Don 
 Philip was not long : they perceived the immediate necessity for 
 the departure of Mesty, and the suspicion which would attach 
 to themselves. Don Philip and Agnes left them, to go to Don 
 Rebiera, and make him acquainted with what had passed, and 
 to ask his advice. 
 
 When they went into the room, Don Rebiera immediately- 
 accosted bis son. 
 
 '* Have you heard, Philip, that Friar Thomaso has returned 
 at last ? — so the servants tell me." 
 
 " The report may be fortunate,'' replied Don Philip; **butl 
 have another story to tell you." 
 
 He then sat down and imparted to Don Rebiera all the adveu- 
 
 21 
 
322 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 tures of Mesty. Don Rebiera was for some time in deep 
 thought, at last he replied, 
 
 **That Don Silvio is no more is fortmiate, and the negro 
 would be entitled to reward for his destruction— but for the 
 friar, that is a bad business. The negro might remain and tell 
 the whole story, and the facts might be proved by the evidence 
 of Signor Easy, and the letters ; but what then ? we should 
 raise the whole host of the clergy against our house, and we 
 have suffered too much from them already ; the best plan would 
 be the immediate departure, not only of the negro, but of our 
 two young friends. The supposition of Friar Thomaso being 
 here, and their departure with the negro servant to rejoin their 
 ship, will remove much suspicion and destroy all inquiry. They 
 must be off immediately. Go to them, Philip, and point out to 
 them the absolute necessity of this measure, and tell our young 
 friend that I rigidly adhere to my promise, and as soon as he 
 has his father's sanction I will bestow upon him my daughter. 
 In the mean time I will send down and see if a vessel can be 
 chartered for Malta." 
 
 Our hero and Gascoigne fully admitted the wisdom of this 
 measure, and prepared for their departure; indeed, now that 
 Don Rebiera's resolution had been made known to our hero, he 
 cared more for obtaining his father's consent than he did for re- 
 maining to enjoy himself at Palermo, and before noon of the 
 next day all was ready, the vessel had been procured, Jack 
 took his leave of Agnes and her mother, and, accompanied by 
 Don Rebiera and Don Philip, (for Don Martin was on duty a few 
 miles from Palermo, ) went down to the beach, and having bid 
 them farewell embarked with Gascoigne and Mesty on board of 
 the two-masted lateen, which had been engaged, and, before 
 sun-set, not a steeple of Palermo was to be seen. 
 
 ** What are you thinking of. Jack?'' said Gascoigne, after 
 our hero had been silent half an hour. 
 
 *' J have been thinking, Ned, that we are well out of it." 
 
 **So do I," replied Gascoigne; and here the conversation 
 dropped for a time. 
 
 * * What are you thinking of now, Jack ?^' said Gascoigne, 
 after a long pause. 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 323 
 
 '* Fve been thinking that I've a good story for the old governor ." 
 
 ** Very true," replied Gascoigne ; and both were again silent 
 for some time. 
 
 * * What are you thinking of now, Jack?" said Gascoigne, after 
 another long interval. 
 
 '* I've been thinking that I shall leave the service," replied 
 Jack. 
 
 "I wish you would take me with you," replied Gascoigne 
 with a sigh; and again they were both in deep contemplation. 
 
 " Whatareyouthinkingofnow, Jack?" said Gascoigne again* 
 
 *' Of Agnes," replied our hero. 
 
 '* Well, if that's the case I'll call you when supper is ready. 
 In the mean time I'll go and talk with Mesty." 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV, 
 
 Jack leaves the service, in which he had no business, and goes home to mind 
 his own business. 
 
 On the fourth day they arrived at Malta, and our two mid- 
 shipmen, as soon as they had settled with the padrone of the 
 vessel, went up to the government-house. They found the 
 governor in the veranda, who held out both his hands, one to 
 each. 
 
 ** Glad to see you, my lads. Well, Jack, how's the leg, all 
 right? don't limp. And your arm, Gascoigne ?" 
 
 '* All right, sir, and as soundasever it was," replied they both. 
 
 '* Then you're in luck, and have made more haste than you 
 deserve after your mad pranks ; but now sit down, and I suppose, 
 my friend Jack, you have a story to tell me." 
 
 21. 
 
324 MR. MIDSHIMAN EASY. 
 
 <' O yes, Sir Thomas, and a very long one." 
 ** Then I won't have it now, for I expect people on business ; 
 we'll have it after dinner. Get your things up and take posses- 
 sion of your rooms. The Aurora sailed four days ago. You've 
 had a wonderful recovery." 
 
 ** Wonderful, sir!" replied our hero; *'all Palermo rings 
 with it." 
 
 ** Well, you may go now— I shall see you at dinner. Wilson 
 will be delighted when he hears that you have got round again, 
 for he was low spirited about it, I can tell you, which is more 
 than you deserve." 
 
 ** lie's right there," said our hero to Gascoigne as they 
 walked away. 
 
 When dinner was over. Jack narrated to the governor the 
 adventuresofMesly, with which he was much interested; but 
 when ihey were quite alone in the evening, the governor called 
 our two midshipmen into the veranda tind said, 
 
 " Now, my lads, I'm not going to preach, as the saying is, 
 but I've been long enough in the world to know that a compound 
 fracture of the leg is not cured in fourteen or sixteen days. I 
 ask you to tell me the truth. Did not you deceive Captain 
 Wilson on this point?" 
 
 *' I am ashamed to say that we did, sir," replied Easy. 
 " How did you manage that, and why?" 
 Jack then went into further details relative to himself and his 
 amour, stating his wish to be left behind, and all that had 
 passed. 
 
 ** Well, there's some excuse for you, but none for the sur- 
 geons. If any surgeon here had played such a trick, I would 
 have hung him, as sure as I'm governor. This affair of yours 
 has become serious. Mr. Easy, we must have some conversa- 
 tion on the matter to-morrow morning." 
 
 The next morning the packet from England was re orted off 
 the harbour's mouth. After breakfast the letters were brought 
 on shore, and the governor sent for our hero. 
 
 ** Mr. Easy, here are two letters for you, I am sorry to say 
 with black seals. I trust that they do not bring the intelligence 
 of the death of any very near relative,". 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 325 
 
 Jack bowed without speaking, took the letters, and went to 
 his room. The first he opened was from his father. 
 
 ** My dear John, 
 '* You will be much grieved to hear that your poor mother, 
 after sitting in the corner for nearly two years waiting for the 
 millennium, appeared to pine away; whether from disappoint- 
 ment or not, I do not know; but at last, in spite of all Dr. Mid- 
 dleton could do, she departed this life ; and, as the millennium 
 would not come to her as she expected, it is to be hoped she 
 has gone to the millennium. She was a good wife, and I always 
 let her have her own way. Dr. Middleton does not appear to 
 be satisfied as to the cause of her death, and has wished to ex- 
 amine : but I said no, for I am a philosopher, and it is no use 
 looking for causes after effects; but I have done since her death 
 what she never would permit me to do during her life. I have 
 had her head shaved, and examined it very carefully as a phre- 
 nologist, and most curiously has she proved the truth of the 
 sublime science. I will give you the result. Determination, 
 very prominent; Benevolence, small; Caution, extreme; Vene- 
 ration not very great; Philo-progenitiveness, strange to say, is 
 very large, considering she has but one child ; Imagination very 
 strong ; you know, my dear boy, she was always imagining some 
 nonsense or another. Her other organs were all moderate. 
 Poor dear creature, she is gone, and we may well wail, for a 
 better mother or a better wife never existed. And now, 
 my dear boy, I must request that you call for your dis- 
 charge, and come home as soon as possible. I cannot exist 
 without you, and I require your assistance in the grand work I 
 have in contemplation. The lime is at hand, the cause of 
 equality will soon triumph ; the abject slaves now hold up their 
 heads ; I have electrified them with my speeches, but I am get- 
 ting old and feeble; 1 require my son to leave my mantle to, as 
 one prophet did to another, and then I will, like him, ascend in 
 glory. 
 
 '* Your affectionate Father, 
 
 *' NicoDEMus Easy." 
 
526 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 From this it would appear, thought Jack , that my mother is 
 dead and that my father is mad. For some time our hero re- 
 mained in a melancholy mood ; he dropped many tears to the 
 memory of his mother, whom, if he had never respected, he had 
 much loved; and it was not till half an hour had elapsed that he 
 thought of opening the other letter. It was from Dr. Middleton, 
 
 ** My dear Boy, 
 
 ** Although not a correspondent of yours, I take the right of 
 having watched you through all your childhood, and from a know- 
 ledge of your disposition, to write you a few lines. That you 
 have, by this time, discarded your father's foolish, nonsensical 
 philosophy, I am very sure. It was I who advised your going 
 away for that purpose, and I am sure, that, as a young man of 
 sense, and the heir to a large property, you will before this have 
 seen the fallacy of your father's doctrines. Your father tells 
 me that he has requested you to come home, and allow me 
 to add any weight I may have with you, in persuading you to do 
 the same. It is fortunate for you that the estate is entailed, or 
 you might soon be a beggar, for there is no saying what debts 
 he might, in his madness, be guilty of. He has already been dis- 
 missed from the magistracy by the lord-lieutenant, in conse- 
 quence of his haranguing the discontented peasantry, and, I may 
 say, exciting them to acts of violence and insubordination. He has 
 been seen dancing and hurrahing round a stack fired by an in- 
 cendiary. He has turned away hiskeepers, and allowed all poach- 
 ers to go over the manor. In short, he is not in his senses ; 
 and, although I am far from advising coercive measures, I do 
 consider that it is absolutely necessary that you wshould immedi- 
 ately return home and look after what will one day be your pro- 
 perty. You have no occasion to follow the profession with eight 
 thousand pounds per annum. You have distinguished yourself, 
 now make room for those who require it for their, subsistence, 
 God bless you. I shall soon hope to shake hands with you. 
 
 *' Yours most truly, 
 
 **G. Middleton." 
 
 Hiere was matter for deep reflection in these two letters, and 
 
IMR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 327 
 
 Jack never felt before how much his father had been in the wrong. 
 That he had gradually been weaned from his ideas was true, but 
 still he had, to a certain degree, clung to them, as we do to a 
 habit; but now he felt that his eyes were opened; the silly, almost 
 unfeeling letter of his father upon the occasion of his mother's 
 death, opened his eyes. For a long while Jack was in a melan- 
 choly meditation, and then casting his eyes upon his watch, he 
 perceived that it was almost dinner-time. That he could eat his 
 dinner was certain, and he scorned to pretend to feel what he did 
 not. He therefore dressed himself and went down, grave, it is 
 true, but not in tears. He spoke little at dinner, and retired as 
 soon as it was over, presenting his two letters to the governor, 
 and asking his advice for the next morning. Gascoigne followed 
 him, and to him he confided his trouble, and Ned, finding that 
 Jack was very low-spirited, consoled him to the best of his power, 
 and brought a bottle of wine which he procured from the butler. 
 Before they retired to bed. Jack had given his ideas to his friend, 
 which were approved of, and wishing him a good night, he threw 
 himself into bed and was soon fast asleep. 
 
 ** One thing is certain, my good fellow," observed the gover- 
 nor to our hero, as he gave hiui back his letters at the break- 
 fast-table the next morning; ** that your father is as mad as a 
 March hare. I agree with that doctor, who appears a sensible 
 man, that you had better go home immediately." 
 
 <* And leave the service altogether, sir ?" replied Jack. 
 
 " Why, I must say, that I do not think you exactly fitted for 
 it. I shall be sorry to lose you, as you have a wonderful talent 
 for adventure, and I shall have no more yarns to hear when you 
 return : but, if 1 understand right from Captain Wilson, you were 
 brought into the profession because he thought that the service 
 might be of use in eradicating false notions, rather than from any 
 intention or necessity of your following it up as a profession." 
 
 <* 1 suspect that was the case, sir," replied Jack ; * * as for my 
 own part, I hardly know why I entered it." 
 
 " To find a mare's nest, my lad; I've heard all about it ; but 
 never mind that, the question is now about your] leaving it, 
 to look after your own property, and I think I may venture to say, 
 that I can arrange all llia:t matter at once, without referring to 
 
328 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 admiral or captain. I will be responsible for you, and you may 
 go home in the packet, which sails on Wednesday for England." 
 
 ** Thank you, Sir Thomas, I am much obliged to you," replied 
 Jack. 
 
 ** You, Mr. Gascoigne, I shall, of course, send out by the first 
 opportunity to rejoin your ship." 
 
 ** Thank you, Sir Thomas, 1 am much obliged to you," replied 
 Gascoigne, making a bow. 
 
 ** You'll break no more arms, if you please, sir," continued 
 the governor ; " a man in love may have some excuse for break- 
 ing his leg, but you had none." 
 
 ** I beg your pardon, sir ; if Mr. Easy was warranted in break- 
 ing his leg out of love, I submit that I could do no less than break 
 my arm out of friendship." miti^^ 
 
 *^ Hold your tongue, sir, or I'll break your head from the 
 very opposite feeling," replied the governor, good-humouredly. 
 ** But observe, young man, I shall keep this affair secret, as in 
 honour bound, but let me advise you, as you have only your pro- 
 fession to look to, to follow it up steadily. It is high time that 
 you and Mr. Easy were separated. He is independent of the 
 service, and you are not. A young man possessing such ample 
 means will never be fitted for the duties of a junior officer. He 
 can do no good for himself, and is certain to do much harm 
 to others : a continuance of his friendship would probably end in 
 your ruin, Mr. Gascoigne. You must be aware, that if the 
 greatest indulgence had not been shown to Mr. Easy by his cap- 
 tain and first lieutenant^ he never could have remained in the 
 service so long as he has done." ,0] 
 
 As the governor made the last remark in rather a severe tone, 
 our two midshipmen were silent for a minute. At last Jack 
 observed very quietly, .,j 
 
 *' And yet, sir, I think, considering all, I have behaved pretty 
 well.'' 
 
 ** You have behaved very well, my good lad, on all occasions 
 in which your courage and conduct, as an officer, have been 
 called forth. I admit it, and had you been sent to sea with a mind 
 properly regulated, and without such an unlimited command of 
 money, I have no doubt but that you would have proved an or- 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 329 
 
 tiament to the service. Even now I think you would, if 
 you were to remain in the service under proper guidance and 
 necessary restrictions, for you have, at least, learnt to obey, 
 which is absolutely necessary before you are fit to command. 
 But recollect, what would your conduct have brought upon you, 
 if you had not been under the parental care of Captain Wilson? 
 But let us say no more about that : a midshipman with the pros- 
 pect of eight thousand pounds a year is an anomaly which the 
 service cannot admit, especially when that midshipman is re- 
 solved to take to himself a wife." 
 
 ** I hope that you approve of that step, sir.*' 
 
 ** Tiiat entirely depends upon the merit of the parly, which 
 I know nothing of, except that she has a pretty face, and is of one 
 of the best Sicilian families. I think the difference of religion 
 a ground of objection." 
 
 ** We will argue that point, sir,^' replied Jack. 
 
 ''Perhaps it will be the cause of more argument than you 
 think for, Mr. Easy ; but every man makes his own bed, and as he 
 makes it, so must he lie down in it." 
 
 '' What am I to do about Mesty, sir ? I cannot bear the idea 
 of parting with him." 
 
 ** I am afraid that you must; I cannot well interfere there." 
 
 ** He is of little use to the service, sir ; he has been sent to sick 
 quarters as my servant : if he may be permitted to go home with 
 me, I will procure his discharge as soon as 1 arrive, and send 
 him on board the guard-ship till I obtain it." 
 
 ** I think that, on the whole, he is as well out of the service as 
 in it, and therefore I will, on consideration, take upon myself 
 the responsibility, provided you do as you say." 
 
 The conversation was here ended, as the governor had busi- 
 ness to attend to, and Jack and Gascoigne went to their rooms to 
 make their arrangements. 
 
 '* The governor is right," observed Gascoigne ; ** it is better 
 that we part. Jack. You have half unfitted nie for the service 
 already; I have a disgust of the midshipmen's berth, the very 
 smell of pitch and tar has become odious to me. This is all 
 wrong; I must forget you and all our pleasant cruises on shore, 
 and once more swelter in my greasy jacket. When I think that 
 
S30 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 if our pretended accidents were discovered, that I should be dis- 
 missed the service, and the misery which that would cause to 
 my poor father, I tremble at my escape. The governor is rights 
 Jack ; we must part, but I hope you never will forget me.'' 
 
 ** My hand upon it, Ned. Command my interest, if ever 
 I have any— my money— what I have, and the house, whether it 
 belongs to me or my father — as far as you are concerned at least, 
 I adhere to my notions of perfect equality.'' 
 
 ** And abjure them, I trust, Jack, as a universal principle.", 
 
 ** I admit, as the governor asserts , that my father is as mad 
 as a March hare." 
 
 ** That is sufficient ; you don't know how glad it makes me to 
 hear you say that." 
 
 The two friends were inseparable during the short lime that 
 they remained together. They talked over their future pros- 
 pects, iheir hopes and anticipations, and when the conversation 
 flagged, Gascoigne brought up the name of Agnes. 
 
 Mesty's delight at leaving the service, and going home with his 
 patron, was indescribable. He laid out a portion of his gold in a 
 suit of plain clothes, white linen shirts, and in every respect the 
 wardrobe of a man of fashion ; in fact, he was now a complete 
 gentleman's gentleman; was very particular in frizzing his 
 woolly hair — wore a white neckcloth, gloves, and cane. Every 
 one felt inclined to laugh when he made his appearance ; but 
 there was something in Mesty's look which, at all events, 
 prevented their doing so before his face. The day for sailing 
 arrived. Jack took leave of the governor, thanking him for his 
 great kindness, and stating his intention of taking Malta in his 
 way out to Palermo in a month or two. Gascoigne went on 
 board with him, and did not go down the vessel's side till it was 
 more than a mile clear of the harbour. 
 
 .? ■ •>'■* <i--V 
 
iW 
 
 CHAPTER XXXYI. 
 
 Mr. Easy's wonderful invention fully explained by Himself— much to the satis- 
 faction of our hero, and it is to be presumed to that also of our reader. 
 
 At last the packet anchored in Falmouth Roads. Jack, accompa- 
 nied by Mesty, was soon on shore with his luggage, threw him- 
 self into the mail, arrived in London, and waiting there two or 
 three days to obtain what he considered necessary from a fa- 
 shionable tailor, ordered a chaise to Forest Hill. He had not 
 written to his father to announce his arrival, and it was late in 
 the morning when the chaise drew up at his father's door. 
 
 Jack stepped out and rang the bell. The servants who 
 opened the door did not know him ; they were not the same as 
 those he left. 
 
 ** Where is Mr. Easy?" demanded Jack. 
 
 ** Who are you ?" replied one of the men, in a gruff tone. 
 
 * ' By de powers, you very soon find out who he is,*' observed 
 Mesty. , .: , -, , > . 
 
 ** Stay here, and I'll see if he is at home." 
 
 ** Stay here ! stay in the hall like a footman? What do you 
 mean , you rascal?" cried Jack, attempting to push by the man. 
 
 ** Oh, that won't do here, master; this is Equality Hall — one 
 man's as good as another." 
 
 '*Not always," replied Jack, knocking him down. **Take 
 that for your insolence, pack up your traps, and walk out of the 
 house to-morrow morning." 
 
 Mesty, in the meantime, had seized the other by the throat. 
 
 « What I do with this fellow, Massa Easy?" 
 
 << Leave him now, Mesty; we'll settle their account to- 
 morrow morning. I presume I shall find my father in the 
 library." 
 
 ** His father!" said one of the men to the other; " he's not 
 exactly a chip of the old block." 
 
332 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 * < We shall have a change, I expect," replied the other, as they 
 walked away. 
 
 ** Mesty," cried Jack, in an authoritative tone, '* bring 
 those two rascals hack to take the luggage out of the chaise ; pay 
 the postillion, and tell the housekeeper to show you my room 
 and yours. Come to me for orders as soon as you have done 
 this." 
 
 ** Yes, sir,'' replied Mesty. **Now come here you d— n 
 blackguard, and take tings out of chaise, or by de holy poker I 
 choak your luff, both of you." 
 
 The filed teeth, the savage look, and determination of Mesty, 
 had the due effect. The men sullenly returned and unloaded 
 the chaise. In the meantime, Jack walked into his father's 
 study ; his father was there — the study was lighted up with ar- 
 gand lamps, and Jack looked with astonishment. Mr. Easy was 
 busy with a plaster cast of a human head, which he pored over, 
 EO that he did not perceive the entrance of his son. The cast of 
 the scull was divided into many compartments, with writing on 
 each ; but what most astonished our hero was the alteration in 
 the apartment. The book-cases and books had all been re- 
 moved, and in the centre, suspended from the ceiling, was 
 an apparatus which would have puzzled any one, composed of 
 rods in every direction, with screws at the end of them, 
 and also tubes in equal number, one of which communicated 
 with a large air-pump, which stood on a table. Jack took a 
 short survey, and then walked up to his father and accosted him. 
 
 ** What!" exclaimed Mr. Easy, ** is it possible? — yes, it is 
 my son John! Tm glad to see you, John, — very glad indeed," 
 continued the old gentleman, shakin<? him by both hands — 
 * ' very glad that you have comehome: I wanted you — wanted your 
 assistance in my great and glorious project, which, I thank hea- 
 ven, is now advancing rapidly. Very soon shall equality and 
 rights of man be proclaimed everywhere. The pressure from 
 without is enormous, and the bulwarks of our ridiculous and 
 tyrannical constitution must give way. Kings, lords, and aris- 
 tocrats; landholders, tithe -collectors, church and state, thank 
 God, will soon be overthrown, and the golden age revived— the 
 millennium, the true millennium-- not what your poor mother 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 333 
 
 talked about. I am at the head of twenty-nine societies, and if 
 my health lasts, you will see what I will accomplish now that 
 I have your assistance, Jack ;" and Mr. Easy's eyes sparkled and 
 flashed in all the brilliancy of incipient insaniiy. 
 
 Jack sighed, and to turn the conversation he observed, 
 "" You have made a great change in this room, sir. What may all 
 this be for ^ Is it a machine to improve equality and the rights 
 of man." 
 
 ** My dear son," replied Mr. Easy, sitting down, and crossing 
 his legs complacently, with his two hands under his right thigh, 
 according to his usual custom, when much pleased with himself. 
 **Why, my dear son ^ that is not exactly the case, and yet you have 
 shown some degree of perception even in your guess ; for if my 
 invention succeeds, and I have no doubt of it, I shall have dis- 
 covered the great art of rectifying the mistakes of nature, and 
 giving an equality of organization to the whole species, of intro- 
 ducing all the finer organs of humanity, and of destroying the 
 baser. It is a splendid invention. Jack, very splendid. They 
 may talk of Gall and Spurzheim, and all those ; but what have 
 they done? nothing but divided the brain into sections, classed 
 the organs, and discovered where they reside; but what good re- 
 sult has been gained from that ? the murderer by nature remained 
 a murderer — the benevolent man, a benevolent man — he could 
 not alter his organization. I have found out how to change all 
 that." 
 
 ** Surely, sir, you would not interfere with the organ of bene- 
 Tolence ?" 
 
 ** But indeed I must, Jack. I, myself, am suffering from my 
 organ of benevolence being too large ; I must reduce it, and th^n 
 I shall be capable of greater things, shall not be so terrified by 
 difficulties, shall overlook trifles and only carry on great 
 schemes for universal equality and the supreme rights of man. 
 I have put myself into that machine every morning for two 
 hours, for these last three months, and I feel now that I am daily 
 losing a great portion." 
 
 ** Will you do me the favour to explain an invention so extra- 
 ordinary, sir?" said our hero. 
 
 ** Most willingly, my boy. You observe that in the centre 
 
334 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 there is a frame to confine the human head, somewhat larger than 
 the head itself, and that the head rests upon the iron collar 
 beneath. When the head is thus firmly fixed, suppose I want 
 to reduce the size of any particular organ, I take the boss corres- 
 ponding to where that organ is situated in the cranium, and fix 
 it on it. For you will observe that all the bosses inside of 
 the top of the frame correspond to the organs as described in this 
 plaster-cast on the table. I then screw down pretty light, and 
 increase the pressure daily, until the organ disappears altoge- 
 ther, or is reduced to the size required." 
 
 ** I comprehend that part perfectly, sir," replied Jack; ** but 
 now explain to me by what method you contrive to raise an organ 
 which does not previously exist." 
 
 " That,'^ replied Mr. Easy, *' is the greatest perfection of the 
 whole invention, for without I could do that, I could have done 
 little. I feel convinced that this invention of mine will immorta- 
 lize me. Observe all these little bell-glasses which communicate 
 with the air-pump. I shave my patient's head, grease it a little, 
 and fix on the bell-glass, which is exactly shaped to fit the organ 
 in length and breadth. I work the air-pump, and raise the organ 
 by an exhausted receiver. It cannot fail. There is my butler, 
 now; a man who escaped hanging last spring assizes on an 
 undoubted charge of murder. I selected him on purpose ; I have 
 flattened down murder to nothing, and I have raised benevolence 
 till it's like a wen." 
 
 '* I am afraid my poor father's head is an exhausted receiver/' 
 thought Jack, who then replied, *<Well, sir, if it succeeds it will 
 be a good invention." 
 
 '* If it succeeds ! — why, it has succeeded— it cannot fail. It 
 has cost me near two thousand pounds. By-the-bye, Jack, you 
 have drawn very liberally lately, and I had some trouble, with 
 my own expenses, to meet your bills; not that I complain — but 
 what with societies, and my machine, and tenants refusing to 
 pay their rents, on the principle that the farms are no more 
 mine than theirs, which I admit to be true, I have had some 
 difficulty in meeting all demands." 
 
 ** The governor was right," thought Jack, who now inquired 
 after Dr. Middleton. 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. ^^5 
 
 ** Ah, poor silly man, he's alive yet — I believe doing well. He 
 is one who will interfere with the business of others, complains 
 of my servants— very silly man indeed — but I let him have his 
 own way. So I did your poor mother. Silly woman Mrs. Easy 
 —but never mind that." 
 
 ** If you please, sir, I have also a complaint to make of the 
 servants for their insolence to me : but we will adjourn, if you 
 please, as I wish to have some refreshment." 
 
 '* Certainly, Jack, if you are hungry; I will go with 
 you. Complain of my servants, say you ? — there must be some 
 mistake— they are all shaved, and wear wigs, and I put them in 
 the machine every other morning ; but I mean to make an alte- 
 ration in one respect. You observe, Jack, it requires more 
 dignity : we must raise the whole machinery some feet, ascend 
 it with state as a throne, for it is the throne of reason, the 
 victory of mind over nature." 
 
 ** As you please, sir ; but I am really hungry just now." 
 
 Jack and his father went into the dra win-groom and rang the 
 bell; not being answered. Jack rose and rang again. 
 
 ** My dear sir," observed Mr. Easy, *' you must not be in a 
 hurry ; every man naturally provides for his own wants first, 
 and afterwards for those of others. Now my servants — '' 
 
 '* Are a set of insolent scoundrels, sir, and insolence I never 
 permit. I knocked one down as I entered your house, and, 
 with your permission, I will discharge two, at least, to-morrow." 
 
 ** My dear son," exclaimed Mr. Easy, ** you knocked my ser- 
 vant down I —are you not aware by the laws of equality — " 
 
 ** I am aware of this, my dear father," replied Jack; " that 
 by all the laws of society we have a right to expect civility and 
 obedience from those we pay and feed." 
 
 ** Pay and feed I Why, my dear son,— my dear Jack,— you 
 must recollect—" 
 
 **I recollect, sir, very well ; but if your servants do not come 
 to their recollection in a very short time, either I or they must 
 quit the house." 
 
 " But, my dear boy, have you forgotten the principles I in- 
 stilled into you ? Did you not go to sea to obtain that equality 
 
336 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 foiled by tyranny and despotism here on shore ? Do you not 
 acknowledge and support my philosophy ?'* 
 
 ** We'll argue that point to-morrow, sir — at present I want 
 to obtain my supper;" and Jack rang the bell furiously. 
 
 The butler made his appearance at this last summons, and he 
 was followed by Mesty, who looked like a demon with anger. 
 
 *' Mercy on me, who have we here ?" 
 
 ** My servant, father," exclaimed Jack, starling up; ** one 
 that I can trust to, and who will obey me. Mesty, I wish some 
 supper and wine to be brought immediately — see that scoundrel 
 gets it ready in a moment. If he does not, throw him out of 
 the door , and lock him out. You understand me." 
 
 " Yes, massa," grinned Mesty; *'now you hab supper very 
 quick, or Mesty know the reason why. Follow me, sar," cried 
 Mesty, in an imperative tone to the butler ; " quick, sar, or by 
 de holy poker, I show you what Mesty can do ;" and Mesty grin- 
 ned in his wrath. 
 
 *' Bring supper and wine immediately," said Mr. Easy, giv- 
 ing an order such as the butler had never heard since he had 
 been in the house. 
 
 The butler quitted the room followed by the Ashantee. 
 
 ** My dear boy — my Jack — I can make every allowance for 
 hunger, it is often the cause of theft and crime in the present 
 unnatural state of society — but really you are too violent. The 
 principles-;" 
 
 " Your principles are all confounded nonsense, father," cried 
 Jack in a rage. 
 
 ** What, Jack — my son — what do I hear? This from you — 
 nonsense I Why, Jack, what has Captain Wilson been doing 
 with you?" 
 
 ** Bringing me to my senses, sir." 
 
 *' Oh dear, oh dear! my dear Jack, you will certainly make 
 me lose mine." 
 
 Gone already, thought Jack. 
 
 " That you, my child, so carefully brought up in the great 
 and glorious school of philosophy, should behave this way — 
 should be so violent— forget your sublime philosophy, and 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 337 
 
 all— just like Esau selling your birth-right for a mess of pot- 
 tage. Oh Jack, you'll kill me I and yet I love you, Jack— who 
 else have 1 to love in this world ? Never mind, we'll argue the 
 point, my boy, I'll convince you — in a week all will be right 
 again." 
 
 '* It shall, sir, if I can manage it," replied Jack. 
 
 <* That's right, I love tohear you sayso — that's consoling, very 
 consoling— but I think now, I was wrong to let you go to sea, Jack. '^ 
 
 ** Indeed you were not, father." 
 
 **Well, I'm glad to hear you say so; I thought they had 
 ruined you, destroyed all your philosophy— but it will be alH 
 right again— you shall come to ^our societies. Jack — I am pre- 
 sident—you shall hear me speak, Jack — you shall hear me 
 thunder like Demosthenes — but here comes the tray.'' 
 
 The butler, followed by Mesty, who attended him as if he 
 was his prisoner, now made his appearance with the tray — laid 
 it down in a sulky manner and retired. Jack desired Mesty to 
 remain. 
 
 ** Well, Mesty, how are they getting on in the servants' hall?" 
 
 *' Regular mutiny, sar— ab swear dat dey no stand our non- 
 sense, and dat we both leave the house to-morrow." 
 
 * ' Do you hear, sir, your servants declare that I shall leave 
 your house to-morrow." 
 
 *' You leave my house. Jack, after four years* absence?— no, 
 no. I'll reason with them— I'll make them a speech. You 
 don't know how I can speak. Jack." 
 
 * * Look you, father, I cannot stand this ; either give me a carte 
 blanche to arrange this household or I please, or I shall quit it 
 myself to-morrow morning." 
 
 " Quit my house. Jack? no, no — shake hands and make 
 friends with them ; be civil, and they will serve you— but you 
 know upon the principles"^ 
 
 ** Principles of the devil !" cried Jack in a rage. 
 
 *' Of the devil, Jack! dear me, I wish you had never gone to 
 sea." 
 
 * * In one word, sir, do you consent, or am I to leave the 
 house?" 
 
 * * Leave the house I oh no ; not leave the house. Jack. I have 
 
 22 
 
338 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 no son but you. Then do as you please— but you must not send 
 away my murderer, for I must have him cured, and shown as a 
 proof of my wonderful invention. 
 
 " Mesty, get my pistols ready for to-morrow morning, and 
 your own too — do ye hear ?" 
 
 '• All ready, massa," replied Mesty ; " I tink dat right." 
 
 ** Right— pistols, Jack! What do you mean?" 
 
 '* It is possible, father, that you may not have yet quite cured 
 your murderer, and therefore it is as well to be prepared, I 
 will now wish you good night; but before I go, you will be 
 pleased to summon one of the servants, that he may inform the 
 others that the household is under my control for the future." 
 
 The bell was again rung, and was this time answered with 
 more expedition. Jack told the servant, in presence of his fa- 
 ther, that with the consent of the latter, he should hereafter 
 take the whole control of the establishment, and that Mesty 
 would be the major domo from whom they would receive their 
 orders. The man stared and cast an appealing look to Mr. Easy,, 
 who hesitated, and at last said , ; 
 
 ** Yes, William; you'll apologize to all, and say that 1 have 
 made the arrangement." 
 
 " You apologize to none, sir,'' cried Jack; " but tell them 
 that I will arrange the whole business to-morrow morning. 
 Tell the woman to come here and show me my bed-room. 
 Mesty, get your supper and then come up to me ; if they dare to 
 refuse you, recollect who does, and point them out to-morrow 
 morning. Tiiat will do, sir; away with you, and bring flat 
 cawdleslicks." 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII. 
 
 In which Jack takes up ih© other side of the argument, and proves that he can 
 argue as well on one side as the other. 
 
 Tius scene may give some idea of the slate of Mr. Easy's house- 
 
MR. IMIDSHIPMAN EASY. 419 
 
 hold upon our hero's arrival. The poor lunatic, for such we 
 must call him, was at the mercy of his servants, who robhed, 
 laughed at, and neglected him. The waste and expense was 
 enormous. Our hero, who found how matters stood, went to 
 bed, and lay the best part of the night resolving what to do. He 
 determined to send for Doctor Middleton, and consult him. 
 
 The next morning, Jack rose early ; Mesty was in the room^ 
 with warm water, as soon as he rang. 
 
 ** By de power, Massa Easy, your fader very silly old man." 
 
 * ' I'm afraid so," replied Jack. 
 
 ** He not right here," observed Mesty, putting his lingers to 
 his head. . ■ ijt I » 
 
 Jack sighed, and desired Mesty to send one of the grooms up 
 to the door. When the man knocked , he desired him to mount 
 a horse and ride over to Dr. Middleton, and request his imme- 
 diate attendance. 
 
 The man, who was really a good servant, replied, ** Yes, sir," 
 very respectfully, and hastened away. 
 
 Jack went down to breakfast, and found it all ready, but his 
 father was not in the room : he went to his study, and found him 
 occupied with a carpenter, who was making a sort of frame as a 
 model of the raised platform or dais, to be raised under the 
 wonderful invention. Mr. Easy was so busy that he could not 
 come to breakfast, so Jack took his alone. An hour after this. 
 Doctor Middleton's carriage drove up to the door. The Doctor 
 heartily greeted our hero. 
 
 ** My dear sir— for so I suppose I must now call you— I am 
 heartily glad that you have returned. I can assure you, that it 
 is not a moment too soon ?'* 
 
 *' I have found out that already, Doctor," replied Jack; *' sit 
 down. Have you breakfasted ?" 
 
 '*No, I have not; for I was so anxious to see you, that I 
 ordered my carriage at once." 
 
 '* Then sit down. Doctor, and we will talk over matters 
 quietly." 
 
 ** You, of course, perceive the state of your father. He has 
 been some time quite unfit to manage his own affairs.'' 
 
 <* So I am afraid." 
 
340 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 ** What do you intend to do then— put them in the hands of 
 trustees." 
 
 ** I will be trustee for myself, Doctor Middleton. I could not 
 do the other without submitting my poor father to a process, and 
 confinement, which I cannot think of." 
 
 ** I can assure you, that there are not many in Bedlam worse 
 than he is; but I perfectly agree with you; that is, if he will con- 
 sent to your taking charge of the properly.'* 
 
 ''A power of attorney will be all that is requisite," replied 
 Jack; **that is, as soon as I ha've rid the house of the set of 
 miscreants who are in it ; and who are now in open mutiny. '* 
 
 ** I think," replied the Doctor, ''that you will have some 
 trouble. You know the character of the butler." 
 in<« Yes, I have it from my father's own mouth. I really should 
 take it as a great favour. Doctor Middleton, if you could stay 
 here a day or two. I know that you have retired from practice." 
 
 *' I would have made the same offer, my young friend. I 
 will come here with two of my servants ; for you must discharge 
 these." 
 
 a '*l have one of my own who is worth his weight in gold — 
 that will be sufficient. I will dismiss every man you think I 
 ought, and as for the women, we can give them warning, and 
 replace them at leisure." 
 
 '* That is exactly what I should propose," replied the Doctor. 
 '' I will now go, if you please, procure the assistance of a couple 
 of constables, and also of your father's former legal adviser, who 
 shall prepare a power of attorney." 
 
 " Yes," replied Jack, *' and we must then find out the tenants 
 who refuse to pay, upon the principles of equality, and he shall 
 serve them with notice immediately." 
 
 ** I am rejoiced, my dear young friend, to perceive that your 
 father's absurd notions have not taken root.^' 
 
 *' They lasted some time nevertheless, Doctor," repUed Jack 
 laughing. im ^iQi^oU ^fiwai> .:jisi ri 
 
 ** Well then, I will only quit you for an hour Or two, and 
 then, as you wish it, will take up my quarters here as long as 
 you find me useful." 
 
 In the forenoon. Dr. Middleton again made his appearance, 
 
fVjc^ Ot Ti>.:« 
 
 
 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. ''"^^r^ 
 
 accompanied by Mr. Hanson, the solicitor, bringing with him 
 his portmanteau and his servants. Mr. Easy had come into the 
 parlour, and was at breakfast, when they entered. He recieved 
 them very coolly; but a little judicious praise of the wonderful 
 invention had its due effect; and after Jack had reminded him of 
 his promise that in future he was to control the household, he 
 was easily persuaded to sign the order for his so doing — that is, 
 the power of attorney." 
 
 Mr. Easy also gave up to Jack the key of his secretary, and 
 Mr. Hanson possessed himself of the books, papers, and receipts 
 necessary to ascertain the state of his affairs, and the rents which 
 had not yet been paid up. In ihe mean time the constables 
 arrived. The servants were all summoned ; Mr. Hanson showed 
 them the power of attorney, empowering Jack to act for his 
 father, and, in less than half an hour afterwards, all the men- 
 servants, but two grooms, were dismissed : the presence of the 
 constables and Mesty prevented any resistance^ but not without 
 various threats on the part of the butler, whose name was 
 O'Rourke. Thus, in twenty-four hours. Jack had made a re- 
 formation in the household. 
 
 Mr. Easy took no notice of anything ; he returned to his study 
 and his wonderful invention. Mesty had received the keys of 
 the cellar, and had now complete control over those who re- 
 mained. Dr. Middleton, Mr. Hanson, Mr. Easy, and Jack, sat 
 down to dinner, and every thing wore the appearance of order 
 and comfort. Mr. Easy ate very heartily, but said nothing till 
 after dinner, when, as was his usual custom, he commenced 
 arguing upon the truth and soundness of his philosophy. 
 
 * * By-the-bye, my dear son, if I recollect right, you told me last 
 night that you were no longer of my opinion. Now, if you please, 
 we will argue this point." 
 
 *^ I'll argue the point with all my heart, sir," replied Jack; 
 ** will you begin?" 
 
 *' Let's fill our glasses," cried Mr. Easy, triumphantly; *' lei's 
 fill our glasses, and then I will bring Jack back to the proper way 
 of thinking. Now then, my son, I trust you will not deny that 
 we are all born equal." 
 
 ** I do deny it, sir," replied Jack; *' I deny it in toto^-i deny 
 
342 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 it from the evidence of our own senses, and from the authority 
 of Scripture. To suppose all men were horn equal, is to suppose 
 that they are equally endowed with the same strength, and with 
 the same capacity of mind, which we know is not the case. I 
 deny it from Scripture, from which I could quote many passages ; 
 but I will restrict myself to one— the parable of the Talents : 
 * To one he gave five talents, to another but one,' holding them 
 responsible for the trust reposed in them. We are all intended 
 to fill various situations in society, and are provided by Heaven 
 accordingly." 
 
 •* That may be," replied Mr. Easy ; ** but that does not prove 
 that the earth was not intended to be equally distributed among 
 all ahke." 
 
 " I beg your pardon ; the proof that that was not the intention 
 of Providence is, that that equality, allowing it to be put in 
 practice, could never be maintained." 
 
 ** Not maintained I —no, because the strong oppress the weak, 
 tyrants rise up and conquer— men combine to do wrong." 
 
 '* Not so, my dear father ; I say it could not be maintained 
 without the organization of each individual had been equalized , 
 and several other points established. For instance, allowing 
 that every man had, ah orlgine, a certain portion of ground. 
 He who was the strongest or the cleverest, would soon cause his 
 to yield more than others would, and thus the equality be 
 destroyed. Again, if one couple had ten children, and another 
 had none, then again would equality be broken in upon, as the 
 land that supports two in the one instance, would have to feed 
 twelve in the other. You perceive, therefore, that without ra- 
 pine or injustice, your equality could not be preserved." 
 
 *' But, Jack, allowing that there might be some diversity from 
 such causes, that would be a very different thing from the pre- 
 sent monstrous state of society, in which we have kings, and 
 lords , and people rolling in wealth , while others are in a state 
 of pauperism and obliged to steal for their daily bread." 
 
 ** My dear father, I consider that it is to this inequality that 
 society owes its firmest cementation, that we are enabled to live 
 in peace and happiness , protected by just laws , each doing his 
 duty in that state of life to which he is called, rising above or 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 343 
 
 sinking in the scale of society according as he has heen entrusted 
 with the five talents or the one. EquaUty can and does exist 
 nowhere. We are told that it does not exist in heaven itself— 
 how can it exist upon earth ?" 
 
 ** But that is only asserted, Jack , and it is not proof that it 
 ought not to exist." 
 
 '* Let us argue the point, father , coolly. Let us examine 
 a httle what would be the effect if all was equality. AVere all 
 equal in beauty, there would be no beauty, for beauty is only by 
 comparison— were all equal in strength, conflicts would be 
 interminable — were all equal in rank, and power, and pos- 
 sessions, the greatest charms of existence would be destroyed — 
 generosity , gratitude , and half the finer virtues would be un- 
 known . The first principle of our religion, charily, could not be 
 practised — pity would never be called forth — benevolence, your 
 great organ, would be useless, and self-denial a blank letter. 
 Were all equal in ability, there would be no instruction, no 
 talent , no genius — nothing to admire , nothing to copy, to re- 
 spect — nothing to rouse emulation, or stimulate to praiseworthy 
 ambition. Why, my dear father, what an idle , unprofitable, 
 weary world would this be, if it were based on equality I" 
 
 ** But, allowing all that. Jack," replied Mr. Easy, *' and I will 
 say you argue well in a bad cause ; why should the inequality be 
 carried so far ? king and lords, for instance." 
 
 '^ The most lasting and imperishable form of building is that 
 of the pyramid, which defies ages, and to that may the most per- 
 fect form of society be compared. It is based upon the many, 
 and rising by degrees, it becomes less as wealth, talent, and rank 
 increase in the individual, until it ends at the apex, or monarch, 
 above all. Yet each several stone from the apex to the base 
 is necessary for the preservation of the structure, and fulfils its 
 duty in its allotted place. Could you prove that those at the 
 summit possess the greatest share of happiness in this world, 
 then, indeed, you have a position to argue on; but it is well 
 known , that such is not the case ; and provided he is of a 
 contented mind, the peasant is more happy than the king, sur- 
 rounded as the latter is by cares and anxiety." 
 
m MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 " Very well argued, indeed, my dear sir/' observed Dr. Mid- 
 dleton. 
 
 ** But, my dear boy, there are other states of society than 
 monarchy ; we have republics and despotisms." 
 
 ** We have, but how long do they last, compared to the first? 
 There is a cycle in the changes which never varies. A monarchy 
 may be overthrown by a revolution, and republicanism succeed, 
 but that is shortly followed by despotism, till, after a time, 
 monarchy succeeds again by unanimous consent, as the most 
 legitimate and equitable form of government ; but in none 
 of these do you find a single advance to equality. In a republic, 
 those who govern are more powerful than the rulers in a re- 
 stricted monarchy — a president is greater than a king , and next 
 to a despot, whose will is law. Even in small societies you 
 find, that some will naturally take the lead and assume domina- 
 tion. We commence the system at school, when we are taught 
 systems of petty tyranny. There are some few points in which 
 we can obtain equality in this world , and that equality can only 
 be obtained under a well-regulated form of society, and consists 
 in an equal administration of justice and of laws to which 
 we have agreed to submit for the benefit of the whole, the 
 equal right to live and not be permitted to starve, which has been 
 obtained in this country. And when we are all called to account, 
 we shall have equal justice. Now , my dear father, you have 
 my opinion." 
 
 * * Yes, my dear, this is all very well in the abstract ; but how 
 does it work?" 
 
 , ** It works well. The luxury, the pampered state, the idle- 
 ness —if you please, the wickedness of the rich, all contribute to 
 the support, the comfort, and employment of the poor. You 
 may behold extravagance, it is a vice ; but that very extra- 
 vagance circulates money, and the vice of one contributes 
 to the happiness of many. The only vice which is not redeemed 
 by producing commensurate good, is avarice. If all were equal, 
 there would be no arts, no manufactures, no industry, no employ- 
 ment. As it is, the inequality of the distribution of wealth may 
 be compared to the heart, pouring forth the blood like a steam- 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 345 
 
 engine through the human frame the same blood returning from 
 the extremities by the veins, to be again propelled, and keep up 
 a healthy and vigorous circulation.'^ 
 
 " Bravo, Jackl" said Dr. Middleton. *' Have you any thing 
 to reply, sir?" continued he, addressing Mr. Easy. 
 
 '* To reply, sir?" replied Mr. Easy with scorn, ** why he has 
 not given me half an argument yet —why that black servant even 
 laughs at him — look at him there, showing his teeth. Can 
 he forget the horrors of slavery ? can he forget the base , un- 
 feeling lash? — no, sir, he has suffered, and he can estimate 
 the divine right of equality. Ask him now, ask him if you 
 dare. Jack, whether he will admit the truth of your argu- 
 ment. '' 
 
 '* Well, rU ask him," replied Jack, '* and I tell you candidly 
 that he was once one of your disciples. Mesty, what's your 
 opinion of equality?" 
 
 '* Equality, Massa Easy?" repHed Mesty, pulling up his 
 ** cravat ; I say d — n equality, now I major domo." 
 
 ' * The rascal deserves to be a slave all his life." 
 
 ** True, I ab been slave— but I a prince in my own country — 
 Massa Easy tell how many sculls I have." 
 
 '* Sculls— sculls — do you know any thing of the sublime 
 science? are you a phrenologist?" 
 
 " I know man's scull very well in Ashantee country, any 
 how." 
 
 '* Then if you know that, you must be one. I had no idea 
 that the science had extended so far —may be it was brought from 
 thence. I will have some talk with you to-morrow. This is 
 very curious. Doctor Middleton, is it not?" 
 
 '* Very, indeed, Mr. Easy." 
 
 ** I shall feel his head to-morrow after breakfast^ and if there 
 is any thing wrong I shall correct it with my machine. By- 
 the-bye, I have quite forgot, gentlemen, you will excuse me, but 
 I wish to see what the carpenter has done for me, and after that 
 I shall attend the meeting of the society. Jack, my boy, won't 
 you come and hear my speech ? " 
 
 *' Thank you, sir, but I cannot well leave your friends." ^ 
 Mr. Easy quitted the room. 
 
S46 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 ** Are you aware, my dear sir, that you father has opened his 
 preserves to all the poachers?'' said Mr. Hanson. 
 
 '* The devil he has !" 
 
 <* Yes, and has allowed several gangs of gipsies to locate them- 
 selves in his woods, much to the annoyance of the neighbour- 
 hood, who suffer from their depredations," continued Dr. Mid- 
 dleton. 
 
 ** I find, by the receipts and books, that there is nearly two 
 years' rental of the estate due ; some tenants have paid up in full, 
 others not for four years. I reckon fourteen thousand pounds 
 still in arrear." ^^^ ' 
 
 ** You will oblige me by tdkifig immediate steps, Mr. Hanson, 
 for the recovery of the sums due." 
 
 ** Most certainly, Mr. John. I trust your father will not 
 commit himself to-night as he has done lately." 
 
 When they rose to retire Dr. Middleton took our hero by the 
 hand. ** You do not know, my dear fellow, what pleasure 
 it gives me to find you, in spite of the doting of your mother and 
 the madness of your father, have turned out so well. It is very 
 fortunate that you have come home ; I trust you will now give up 
 the profession." 
 
 ** I hav« given it up, sir, which, by^he-bye, reminds me that 
 I have not applied for either my discharge or that of my 
 servant ; but I cannot spare time yet, so I shall not reporj; 
 myself." ,r, . , .. ,„::"" 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
 
 Iq which our hero finds himself an orphan, and resolves to go to sea again, 
 without the smallest idea of equality. 
 
 The next morning, when they met at breakfast, Mr. Easy did 
 not make his appearance, and Jack inquired of Mesty where 
 he was ? 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 347 
 
 ** They say down below that the old gentleman not come 
 home last night." 
 
 **Did not come home 1" said Dr. Middleton, ** this must he 
 looked to." 
 
 ** He great rascal dat butler man," said Mesty to Jack ; " but 
 de old gentleman not sleep in his bed, dat for sure." 
 
 *' Make inquiries when he went out," said Jack. 
 
 ** I hope no accident has happened," observed Mr. Hanson ; 
 ** but his company has lately been very strange." 
 
 <* Nobody see him go out, sar, last night, " reported Mesty. 
 
 << Very likely he is in his study," observed Dr. Middleton; 
 '* he may have remained all night, fast asleep, by his wonderful 
 invention." 
 
 *' rU go and see," replied Jack. 
 
 Dr. Middleton accompanied him, and Mesty followed. They 
 opened the door, and beheld a spectacle which made them recoil 
 with horror. There was Mr. Easy, with his head in the ma- 
 chine, the platform below fallen from under him, hanging, with 
 his toes just touching the ground. Dr. Middleton hastened to 
 him, and, assisted by Mesty and our hero, took him out of the 
 steel collar which was round his neck, but life had been extinct 
 for many hours, and, on examination, it was found that the poor 
 old gentleman's neck was dislocated. 
 
 It was surmised that the accident must have taken place the 
 evening before, and it was easy to account for it. Mr. Easy, 
 who had had the machine raised four feet higher, for the plat- 
 form and steps to be placed underneath, must have mounted 
 on the frame modelled by the carpenter for his work, and have 
 fixed his head in, for the knob was pressed on his bump of be- 
 nevolence. The frame-work, hastily put together with a few 
 short nails, had given way with his weight, and the sudden fall 
 had dislocated his neck. 
 
 Mr. Hanson led away our hero, who was much shocked at 
 this unfortunate and tragical end of his poor father, while Dr. 
 Middleton ordered the body to be taken up into a bedroom, and 
 immediately despatched a messenger to the coroner of the 
 county. Poor Mr. Easy had told his son but the day before, 
 that he felt convinced that this wonderful invention would im- 
 
348 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 mortalize him, and so it had, although not exactly in the sense 
 that he anticipated. 
 
 We must pass over the few days of sorrow, and closed shut- 
 ters, which always are given to these scenes. The coroner's 
 inquest and the funeral over, daylight was again admitted, our 
 hero's spirits revived, and he found himself in possession of a 
 splendid property and his own master. 
 
 He was not of age, it is true, for he wanted nine months ; but 
 on opening the will of his father, he found that Dr. Middleton 
 was his sole guardian. Mr. Hanson, on examining and collect- 
 ing the papers , which were in the greatest confusion , disco- 
 vered bank-notes in different corners, and huddled up with bills 
 and receipts, to the amount of two thousand pounds, and farther, 
 ^ ^ a cheque signed by Captain Wilson on his banker, for the thou- 
 sand pounds advanced by Mr. Easy, dated more than fifteen 
 months back. 
 
 Dr. Middleton wrote to the Admiralty, informing them that 
 family affairs necessitated Mr. John Easy, who had been left at 
 sick quarters, to leave his majesty's service, requesting his dis- 
 charge from it forthwith. The Admiralty was graciously pleased 
 to grant the request, and lose the services of a midshipman. 
 The Admiralty were also pleased to grant the discharge of 
 Mesty, on the sum required for a substitute being paid in. 
 
 The gipsies were routed out of their abodes , and sent once 
 more to wander. The gamekeepers were restored , the pre- 
 serves cleared of all poachers, and the gentry of the county were 
 not a little pleased at Jack's succession, for they had wished 
 that Mr. Easy's neck had been broken long ago. The societies 
 were dissolved, since, now that Mr. Easy no longer paid for the 
 beer, there was nothing to meet for. Cards and compliments 
 were sent from all parts of the county, and every one was 
 anxious that our hero should come of age, as then he would be 
 able to marry, to give dinners, subscribe to the fox-hounds, and 
 live as a gentleman ought to do. 
 
 But during all these speculations, Jack had made Dr. Middle- 
 ton acquainted with the history of his amour with Agnes de 
 Rebiera, and all particulars connected therewith, also with his 
 determination to go out to bring her home as his wife. Dr. 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 349 
 
 Middleton saw no objection to the match, and he perceived that 
 our hero was sincere. And Jack had made inquiries when the 
 packet would sail for Malta, when Mesty, who stood behind his 
 chair, observed — 
 
 ** Packet bad vessel, Massa Easy. Why not go out in man- 
 of-war?'' 
 
 '* Very true," replied Jack ; '* but you know, Mesty, that is 
 not so easy." 
 
 " And den how come home, sar. Suppose you and Missy 
 Agnes taken prisoner— put in prison?" 
 
 *' Very true," replied Jack ; '* and as for a passage home in 
 a man-of-war, that will be more difficult still." 
 
 ** Den I tink, sar, suppose you buy one fine vessel — plenty 
 of guns — take out letter of marque, plenty of men, and bring 
 Missy Agnes home like a lady. You captain of your own ship." 
 
 ** That deserves consideration, Mesty," replied Jack, who 
 thought of it during that night; and the next day resolved to 
 follow Mesty's advice. The Portsmouth paper lay on the break- 
 fast-table. Jack took it up, and his eye was caught by an ad- 
 vertisement for the sale of the Joan d'Arc, prize toH. M. ship 
 Thetis, brigantine of 278 tons, copper bottomed, armed 6w7?m^^, 
 with all her stores, spars, sails, running and standing rigging, 
 then lying in the harbour of Portsmouth, to take place on the 
 following Wednesday. 
 
 Jack rang the bell, and ordered post horses. 
 
 ** Where are you going, my dear boy?" inquired Dr. 
 Middleton. 
 
 ** To Portsmouth, doctor." 
 
 * * And pray what for, if not an impertinent question ?" 
 
 Jack then gave Dr. Middleton an insight into his plan, and 
 requested that he would allow him to do so, as there was plenty 
 of ready- money. 
 
 ''But the expense will be enormous." 
 
 *' It will be heavy, sir, I grant ; but 1 have calculated it pretty 
 nearly, and 1 shall not spend at the rate of more than my income. 
 Besides, as letter of marque, I shall have the right of capture ; 
 in fact, I mean to take out a privateer's regular licence." 
 
 " But not to remain there and cruise?" ;. ij 
 
350 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 ** No, upon my honour ; I am too anxious to get home again. 
 You must not refuse me, my dear guardian." 
 
 ** As a lady is in the case I will not, my dear boy; but be 
 careful what you are about." 
 
 ** Never fear, sir ; I will be back in four months, at the farthest; 
 but I must now set off and ascertain if the vessel answers the 
 description given in the advertisement.'' 
 
 Jack threw himself into the chariot. Mesty mounted into 
 the rumble, and in two hours they were at Portsmouth; went to 
 the agent, viewed the vessel, which proved to be a very fine fast 
 sailing craft, well found, with six brass carronades on each side. 
 The cabins were handsome, fitted up with bird's-eye maple, and 
 gilt mouldings. 
 
 This will do, thought Jack; a couple of long brass nines, forty 
 men and six boys, and she will be just the thing we require. So 
 Mesly and Jack went on shore again, and returned to Forest 
 Hill to dinner, when he desired Mr. Hanson to set off fort Ports- 
 mouth, and bid at the sale for the vessel, as he wished to pur- 
 chase her. This was Monday, and on Wednesday Mr. Hanson 
 purchased her, as she stood, for 1750/., which was considered 
 about half her value. 
 
 Dr. Middleton had, in the meantime, been thinking very 
 seriously of Jack's prospect. He could see no objection to it 
 provided that he was steady and prudent, but in both these qua- 
 lities, Jack had not exactly been tried. He therefore determined 
 to look out for some steady naval lieutenant, and make it a sine 
 qua no7i that our hero should be accompanied by him, and that 
 he should go out as sailing master. Now that the vessel was 
 purchased , he informed Jack of his wish ; indeed, as Dr. Mid- 
 dleton observed, his duty as guardian demanded this precaution, 
 and our hero, who felt very grateful to Dr. Middleton, imme- 
 diately acquiesced. 
 
 '* And, by-the-bye, doctor, see that he is a good navigator ; for 
 although I can fudge a day's work pretty well, latterly I have 
 been out of practice." 
 
 Every one was now busy. Jack and Mesty at Portsmouth, 
 fitting out the vessel, and offering three guineas ahead to the 
 crimps for every good able seaman— Mr. Hanson, obtaining the 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 351 
 
 English register^ and the letters of licence, and Dr. Middleton in 
 search of a good naval dry-nurse. Jack found time to write to 
 Don Philip and Agnes, apprising them of the death of his father, 
 and his intentions. 
 
 In ahout six weeks all was ready, and the brigantine, which 
 had taken out her British register and licence under the name 
 of the Rebiera, went out of harbour, and anchored at Spithead. 
 Dr. Middleton had procured, as he thought, a very fit person to 
 sail with Jack, and our hero and Mesty embarked, wishing the 
 Doctor and solicitor a good-bye, and leaving them nothing to do 
 but to pay the bills. 
 
 The person selected by Dr. Middleton, by the advice of an old 
 friend of his, a purser in the navy, who Uved at South sea, was 
 a lieutenant Oxbelly, who, with the ship's company, which had 
 been collected, received our hero as their captain and owner 
 upon his arrival on board. There certainly was no small contrast 
 between our hero's active slight figure and handsome person, 
 set off with a blue coat, something like the present yacht-^club 
 uniform, and that of his second in command, who waddled to the 
 side to receive him. He was a very short man, with an uncom- 
 mon protuberance of stomach, with shoulders and arms too short 
 for his body, and hands much too large, more like the paws of a 
 Polar bear than anything else. He wore trousers, shoes, and 
 buckles. Oil his head was a foraging cap, which, when he took 
 it off, showed that he was quite bald. His age might be about 
 fifty-five or sixty ; his complexion florid, no whiskers, and little 
 beard, nose straight, lips thin, teeth black with chewing, and 
 always a little brown dribble from the left corner of his mouth, 
 (there was a leak there, he said.) Altogether his countenance 
 was prepossessing, for it was honest an^ ?na,njy, but his waist 
 was preposterous. i .. v;j 
 
 Steady enough, thought Jack, as he returned Mr. Oxbelly's 
 salute. 
 
 ** How do you do, sir?" said Jack, '* I trust we shall be good 
 shipmates," for Jack had not seen him before. 
 
 **Mr. Easy," replied the lieutenant, '* I never quarrel with 
 any one, except (I won't tell a story) with my wife." 
 
352 r MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 "I ani sorry that you have ever domestic dissensibiis, Mr. 
 Oxbelly." 
 
 *' And I only quarrel with her at night, sir. She will take up 
 more than her share of the bed, and won't allow me to sleep 
 single; but never mind that, sir; now will you please to muster 
 the men?" 
 
 '* If you please, Mr. Oxbelly." 
 
 The men were mustered, and Jack made them a long speech 
 upon subordination, discipline, activity, duly, and so forth. 
 
 <* A very good speech, Mr. Easy," said Mr. Oxbelly as the men 
 went forward ; **I wish my wife had heard it. But, sir, if you 
 please, we'll now get under weigh as fast as we can, for there is 
 a channel cruiser working up at St. Helen's, and we may give 
 him the go-by by running through the Needles." 
 
 ** But what need we care for the channel cruiser." 
 
 ** You forget, sir, that as soon as she drops her ancher she will 
 come on board and take a fancy to at least ten of our men." 
 < <*But they are protected." 
 
 ^'f^* Yes, sir, but that's no protection, now-a-days. I have sailed 
 in a privateer at least three years, and I know that they have no 
 respect for letters of marque or for privateers." 
 
 *' I believe you are right, Mr. Oxbelly; so if you please, we 
 will up with the anchor at once." 
 
 The crew of the Rebiera had been well chosen, they were 
 prime men-of-war's men, most of whom had deserted from the 
 various ships on the station, and, of course, were most anxious 
 to be off. In a few minutes the Rebiera was under weigh with 
 all sail set below and aloft. She was in excellent trim and flew 
 through the water; the wind was fair, and by night they had 
 passed Portland Lights, and the next morning were steering a 
 course for the Bay of Biscay without having encountered what 
 they feared more than an enemy, a British cruiser to overhaul 
 them. 
 
 ** I think we shall do now, sir," observed Mr. Oxbelly to our 
 hero; ** we have made a famous run. It's twelve o'clock, and 
 if you please I'll work the latitude and let you know what it is. 
 We must shape our course so as not to run in with the Brest 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 353 
 
 squadron. A little more westing, sir. Til be up in one minute. 
 My wife — but TU tell you about that when I come up." 
 
 '* Latitude 41°. 12', sir. I was about to say that my wife, 
 when she was on board of the privateer that I commanded—" 
 
 ''Board of the privateer, Mr. Oxbelly?" 
 
 ** Yes, sir, would go; told her it was impossible, but she 
 wouldn't listen to reason — came on board, flopped herself into 
 the standing bedplace, and said that there she was for the cruise, 
 —little Billy with her — " 
 
 *' What, your child too?" 
 
 * ' Yes, two years old— fine boy — always laughed when the 
 guns were fired, while his mother stood on the ladder and held 
 him on the top of the booby-hatch." 
 
 <* I wonder that Mrs. Oxbelly let you come here now ?" 
 
 *' So you would, sir, but I'll explain that — she thinks I'm in 
 London about my half-pay. She knows all by this time, and 
 frets I don't doubt, but that will make her thin, and then 
 there will be more room in the bed. Mrs. Oxbelly is a very 
 stout woman." 
 
 *' Why you are not a little man 1" 
 
 *' No, not little — tending to be lusty, as the saying is — that is, 
 in good condition. It's very strange that Mrs. Oxbelly has an 
 idea that she is not large. I cannot persuade her to it. That's 
 the reason we always spar in bed. She says it is I, and I know 
 that it is she, who takes the largest share of it." 
 
 *' Perhaps you may both be right." 
 
 *' No, no, it is she who creates all the disturbance. If I get 
 nearer to the wall she jams me up till I am as thin as a thread- 
 paper. If I put her inside and stay outside, she cuts me out as 
 you do a cask, by the chine, till I tumble out of bed." 
 
 *' Why don't you make your bed larger, Mr. Oxbelly?" 
 
 * * Sir, I have proposed, but my wife will have it that the bed 
 is large enough if I would not toss in my sleep. I can't convince 
 her. However, she'll have it all to herself now. I slept well last 
 night, for the first time since I left the Boadicea." 
 
 '' TheBoadicea?" 
 
 ** Yes, sir, I was second lieutenant of the Boadicea for three 
 years.". 
 
 23 
 
354 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 ' '* She*s a fine frigate, Tm told." 
 
 **0n the contrary, such a pinched-up little craft below 
 I never saw. Why, Mr. Easy, I could hardly get into the door 
 of my cabin—and yet, as you must see, I'm not a large man." 
 
 <* Good heavens! is it possible," thought Jack, '* that this 
 man does not really know that he is monstrous ?" 
 
 Yet such was the case. Mr. Oxbelly had no idea that he was 
 otherwise than in good condition, although he had probably not 
 seen his knees for years. It was his obesity that was the great 
 objection to him, for in every other point, there was nothing 
 against him. He had, upon one pretence and another, been 
 shifted, by the manoeuvres of the captains, out of different ships, 
 until he went up to the Admiralty to know if there was any' 
 charge against him. The first lord at once perceived the charge 
 to be preferred, and made a mark against his name as not 
 fit for any thing but harbour duty. Out of employment, he had 
 taken the command of a privateer cutler, when his wife, who 
 was excessively fond, would, as he said, follow him with little 
 Billy. He was sober, steady, knew his duty well ; but he 
 weighed twenty-six stone, and his weight had swamped him in 
 the service. 
 
 His wish, long indulged, had become, as Shakspeare says, the 
 father of his thought, and he had really at last brought himself to 
 think that he was not by any means what could be considered a 
 fat man. His wife , as he said, was also a very stout woman, 
 and this exuberance of flesh on both sides, was the only, but con- 
 tinual, ground of dispute. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX. 
 
 In which our hero, as usual, gels Inlo the very middle of it. 
 
 On the eleVeiith day the Rebiera entered the straits, and the rock 
 of Gibraltar was in sight as the sun went down j after whicft 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. §55 
 
 the wind fell light, and ahout midnight it became calm, and ihey 
 drifted up. At sun-rise they were roused by the report of heavy 
 guns, and perceived an English frigate about eight miles further 
 up the straits and more in the mid-channel, engaging nine 
 or ten Spanish gun-boats, which had come out from Algesiras to 
 attack her. It still continued a dead calm, and the boats of 
 the frigate were all a-head towing her, so as to bring her 
 broadside to bear upon the Spanish flotilla. The reverberating 
 of the heavy cannon on both sides over the placid surface of the 
 water— the while smoke ascending as the sun rose in brilliancy 
 in a clear blue sky — the distant echoes repeated from the high 
 hills— had a very beautiful effect for those who are partial 
 to the picturesque. But Jack thought it advisable to prepare for 
 action instead of watching for tints — and, in a short time, all was 
 ready. 
 
 ** They'll not come to us, Mr. Easy, as long as they have the 
 frigate to hammer at ; but still we had better be prepared, for 
 we cannot well pass them without having a few shot. When I 
 came up the straits in the privateer we were attacked by 
 two, and fought them for three hours; their shot dashed the 
 water over our decks till they were wet fore and aft, but some 
 how or another they never hit us — ^we were low as they were. 
 rU be bound but they'll hull the frigate though. Mrs. Oxbelly 
 and Billy were on deck the whole time — and Billy was quite 
 delighted, and cried when they took him down to breakfast." 
 " Why, Mrs. Oxbelly must be very courageous." 
 '< Cares neither for shot or shell, sir — laughs when they whiz 
 over her head, and tells Billy to hark. But, sir, it's not surpris- 
 ing ; her father is a major, and her two brothers are lieutenants 
 in the bombardiers." 
 
 ** That, indeed,'^ replied Jack — << but see, there is a breeze 
 springing up from the westward." 
 
 ** Very true, Mr. Easy, and a steady one it will be, for it comes 
 up dark and slow ; so much the better for the frigate, for she'll 
 get little honour and plenty of mauling at this work." 
 
 ** I hope we shall take it up with us," observed Jack ; ** how 
 far do you reckon the gun-boats from the shore ?" 
 <* 1 should think about five miles, or rather less." 
 
 23. 
 
356 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY, 
 
 <' Trim sails, Mr. Oxbelly— perhaps we may cut one or two of 
 these off — steer in shore of them." 
 
 '< Exactly. Up there, my lads, set top-gallants studding sails, 
 top-mast studdings to hand— rig out the booms — keep as you go 
 now, my lad — we shall he well in shore of them, and out of the 
 range of the batteries." 
 
 The breeze came down fresh, and all sail was set upon the Re- 
 biera. She took the wind down with her, and it passed her but 
 little — half a mile a head of them all was still and smooth as 
 a glass mirror, and they neared and gained in shore at the 
 same time. The gun-boats were still engaging the frigate, and 
 did not appear to pay any attention to the Rebiera coming down. 
 At last the breeze reached them and the frigate, light at first and 
 then gradually increasing, while the Rebiera foamed through 
 the waters and had now every chance of cutting off some of 
 the gun-boats. The frigate trimmed her sails and steered 
 towards the flotilla, which now thought proper to haul off 
 and put their heads in shore, followed by the frigate firing her 
 bow-chasers. Bat the Rebiera was now within half gun-shot in 
 shore, and steering so as to intercept them. As she rapidly 
 closed, the flotilla scarcely knew how to act; to attack her would 
 be to lose time, and allow the frigate to come up and occasion 
 their own capture; so they satisfied themselves with firing 
 at her as she continued to run down between them and the 
 land. As they neared. Jack opened his fire with his eighteen- 
 pound carronades and long nines. The gun-boats returned his 
 fire, and they were within a quarter of a mile, when Jack 
 shortened sail to his top-sails, and a warm engagement took 
 place, which ended in one of the gun-boats being, in a few 
 minutes, dismasted. The frigate, under all canvass, came ra- 
 pidly up, and her shot now fell thick. The flotilla then ceased 
 firing, passing about two cables' lengths ahead of the Rebiera, 
 and making all possible sail for the land. Jack now fired at the 
 flotilla as they passed, with his larboard broadside, while with 
 his starboard he poured in grape and canister upon the unfor- 
 tunate gun-boat which was dismasted, and which soon hauled 
 down her colours. In a few minutes more the remainder were 
 too far distant for the carronades, and^ as they did not fire, Jack 
 
MR. ]\IIDSHIPMAN EASY. 357 
 
 turned his allenlion to take possession of his prize, sending 
 a boat wilh ten men on hoard and heaving to close to her to lake 
 her in tow. Ten minutes more and the frigate was also hove to 
 a cable's lenglh from the Rehiera, and our hero lowered down his 
 other quarter boat to go on board. 
 
 '* Have we any men hurt, Mr. Oxbelly ?" inquired Jack, 
 
 '*Only two; Spearling has lost his thumb wilh a piece of 
 langrage, and James has a bad wound in the thigh." 
 
 ** Very well ; I will ask for the surgeon to come on board." 
 
 Jack pulled to the frigate and went up the side, touched his 
 hat in due form, and was introduced by the midshipmen to the 
 other side, where the captain stood. 
 
 '* Mr. Easy !" exclaimed the captain. 
 ^ '* Captain Sawbridge!" replied our hero with surprise. 
 
 ' * Good heavens ! what brought you here ?" said the captain ; 
 *^ and what vessel is that ?" 
 
 •'The Rebiera, letter of marque, commanded and owned by 
 Mr. Easy," replied Jack, laughing. 
 
 Captain Sawbridge gave him his hand. *^ Come down with 
 me in the cabin, Mr. Easy ; I am very glad to see you. Give 
 you great credit for your conduct, and am still more anxious to 
 know what had induced you to come out again. I knew that 
 you had left the service." 
 
 Jack, in very few words, told his object in fitting out the Re- 
 biera; <*but," continued Jack, *' allow me lo congratulate you 
 upon your promotion, which I was not aware of. May I ask 
 where you left the Harpy, and what is the name of your fri- 
 gate?" 
 
 '* The Latona; I have only been appointed to her one month, 
 after an action in which the Harpy took a large corvette, and 
 am ordered home with despatches to England. We sailed yes- 
 terday evening from Gibraltar, were becalmed the whole night, 
 and attacked this morning by the gun-boats." 
 
 *'How is Captain Wilson, sir?" 
 
 '* I believe he is very well, but I have not seen him." 
 
 *' How did you know, then, that I had left the service, Captain 
 Sawbridge?" 
 
 **From Mr. Gascoigne, who is now on board." 
 
358 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 ^^Gascoigne!" exclaimed our hero. 
 
 *' Yes, he was sent up to join the Aurora by the governor, 
 but she had left the fleet, and having served his time, and a 
 passing day being ordered, he passed, and thought he might as 
 well go home with me and see if he could make any interest for 
 his promotion/' 
 
 ''Pray, Captain Sawbridge, is the gun-boat our prize or 
 yours ?" 
 
 ** It ought to be wholly yours ; but the fact is, by the regula- 
 tions, we share." 
 
 '^ With all my heart, sir. Will you send an assistant-surgeon 
 on board to look after two of my men who are hurt ?" 
 
 '* Yes, directly ; now send your boat away. Easy, with direc- 
 tions to your officer in command. We must go back to Gibral- 
 tar, for we have received some injury, and, I am sorry to say, 
 lost some men. You are going then, I presume, to stay on 
 board and dine with me ; we shall be at anchor before night." 
 
 ''I will, with pleasure, sir. But now I will send my boat 
 away and shake hands with Gascoigne." 
 
 Gascoigne was under the half-deck waiting to receive his 
 friend, for he had seen him come up the side from his station 
 on the forecastle. A hurried conversation took place, after our 
 hero had dismissed his boat with the assistant surgeon in it to 
 dress the two wounded men. Jack then went on deck, talked 
 with the officers, looked with pleasure at the Rebiera with the 
 gun-boat in tow, keeping company with the frigate, although 
 only under the same canvas — promised Gascoigne to spend the 
 next day with him either on shore or on board of the Rebiera, 
 and then returned to the cabin, where he had a long conference 
 with Captain Sawbridge. 
 
 ** When you first entered the service. Easy," said Captain 
 Sawbridge, *' I thought that the sooner the service was rid of 
 you the better ; now that you have left it, I feel that it has lost 
 one, who, in all probability, would have proved a credit 
 
 to it." 4i3V/ ^{TJ7.8CjS«i : 
 
 *^Many thanks, sir," repUed Jack; "but how can I be a 
 midshipman with eight thousand pounds a year?" 
 
 '* I agree with you, that it is impossible:— but dinner is 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 359 
 
 serving, go into the after-caJjin, and the steward will give you 
 all you require." 
 
 Our hero, whose face and hands were not a little grimed with 
 the gunpowder, washed himself, comhed out his curly black 
 hair, ^nd found all the party in the fore-cabin. Gascoigne, 
 who had not been asked in the forenoon, was, by the consi- 
 deration of Captain Sawbridge, added to the number. Before 
 dinner was long off the table, the first lieutenant reported that 
 it was necessary to turn the hands up, as they were close to the 
 anchorage. The party, therefore, broke up sooner than other- 
 wise would have been the case. And as soon as the Latona's 
 sails were furled, Captain Sawbridge went on shore to acquaint 
 the governor with the results of the action. He asked Jack 
 to accompany him, but our hero, wishing to be with Gascoigne, 
 excused himself until the next day. 
 
 *'And now. Easy," said Gascoigne, as soon as the captain 
 had gone over the side, "I will ask permission to go on board 
 with you— or will you ask?" 
 
 *^I will ask," replied Jack; *' a gentleman of fortune has 
 more weight with a first lieutenant than a midshipman." 
 
 So Jack went up to the first lieutenant, and with one of his 
 polite bows hoped, if duty would permit, he would honour him 
 by coming on board that evening with some of his officers, to 
 see the Rebiera and to drink a bottle or two of champagne." 
 
 The first lieutenant, as the Rebiera was anchored not two 
 cables' lengths from him, replied, *Uhat as soon as he had shifted 
 the prisoners and secured the gun-boat, he would be very glad," 
 so did three or four more of the officers, and then Jack begged 
 as a favour, that his old friend, Mr. Gascoigne, might be per- 
 mitted to go with him now, as he had important packages to 
 entrust to his care to England. The first lieutenant was very 
 willing, and Gascoigne and our hero jumped into the boat, and 
 were once more in all the confidence of tried and deserved 
 friendship. 
 
 *^ Jack, I've been thinking of it, and Fve made up my mind," 
 said Gascoigne. ** I shall gain little or nothing by going home 
 for my promotion : I may as well slay here, and as J have served 
 
360 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 my lime and passed, my pay is now of little consequence. Will 
 you take me with you ?" 
 
 *'It is exactly what I was thinking of, Ned. Do you think 
 that Captain Sawbridge will consent?" 
 
 ''I do; he knows how I am circumstanced, and that my 
 going home was merely because I was tired of looking after the 
 Aurora." 
 
 *' We'll go together and ask him to-morrow," replied Jack. 
 
 " At all events, you'll have a more gentlemanly companion 
 than Mr. Oxbelly.'' 
 
 <* But not so steady, Ned." 
 
 The first lieutenant and officers came on board and passed a 
 merry evening. There's nothing passes time more agreeably 
 away than champagne, and if you do not affront this regal wine 
 by mixing him with any other, he never punishes you next 
 morning. 
 
 CHAPTER XL. 
 
 A council of war, in which Jack decides that he will have one more cruise. 
 
 As Captain Sawbridge did not return on board that evening. 
 Easy went on shore and called upon him at the governor's, 
 to whom he was introduced, and received an invitation to dine 
 with him. As Gascoigne could not come on shore, our hero 
 took this opportunity of making his request to Captain Saw- 
 bridge, stating that the person he had with him was not such 
 as he wished and could confide every thing to ; that is, not one 
 to whom he could talk to about Agnes. Jack, as he found that 
 Captain Sawbridge did not immediately assent, pressed the 
 matter hard ; at last Captaiii Sawbridge, who reflected that Gas- 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 361 
 
 coigne*s interest hereafter would be much grealer through his 
 friend Easy, than any other quarter, and that the more the 
 friendship was cemented the more advantageous it might prove 
 to Gascoigne, gave his consent to our hero's wish, who called 
 on board of the Latona to acquaint Gascoigne and the first lieu- 
 tenant of Captain Sawbridge's intentions, and then went on 
 board to the Rebiera and ordered Mesty to come with his port- 
 manteau on shore to the inn, that he might dress for dinner. 
 Gascoigne, now considered as not belonging to the Latona, was 
 permitted to accompany him ; and Jack found himself looking 
 out of the window at which he had hung out his trousers upon 
 the memorable occasion when the boatswain had to follow his 
 own precept, of duty before decency. 
 
 ** What scenes of adventures I have passed through since 
 that,'' thought Jack; **not much more than four years ago, 
 then not three weeks in the service." Whereupon Jack fell 
 into a deep reverie, and thought of the baboon and of Agnes. 
 
 The repairs of the Latona were all made good by the next 
 day, and Gascoigne having received his discharge-ticket, went 
 on board of the Rebiera. The gun-boat was put into the 
 hands of the agent, and shortly afterwards purchased by go- 
 vernment. The Rebiera's crew did not however obtain their 
 prize-money and share of the head-money, for she had seventy 
 men on board, until their return, but, as they said, they had 
 broken the ice, and that was everything. Moreover, it gave 
 them confidence in themselves, in their vessel, and in their 
 commander. Our hero weighed a short time after the Latona, 
 having first taken leave of Captain Sawbridge, and committed 
 to his care a letter to Dr. Middleton. 
 
 Once more behold the trio together, — the two midshipmen 
 hanging over the taffrail, and Mesty standing by them. They 
 had rounded Europa point, and with a fine breeze off the land, 
 were lying close hauled along the Spanish shore. Mr. Oxbelly 
 was also walking near them. 
 
 '* When I was cruising here it was very different," observed 
 Jack ; ** 1 had a vessel which I did not know how to manage, a 
 crew which I could not command, and had it not been for Mes- 
 ty, what would have become of me ?' 
 
862 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY, 
 
 ** Massa Easy, you know very well how to get out of scrapes, 
 any how.*' 
 
 '* Yes, and how to get into them,'' continued Gascoigne. 
 
 *' And how to get others out of them, too, Ned." 
 
 *' * No more of that, Hal, an thou lovest me,' " quoted Gas- 
 coigne. '* I have often wondered what has been the lot of poor 
 Azar." 
 
 **The lot of most women, Ned, in every country—prized 
 at first, neglected afterwards — the lot she might have had 
 with you." 
 
 *' Perhaps so," replied Ned, with a sigh. 
 
 *^ Massa Easy, you get ebery body out of scrape ; you get me 
 out of scrape." 
 
 '* I do not recollect how, Mesty." 
 
 * ' You get me out from boil kettle for young gentlemen — dat 
 devil of scrape." 
 
 *' And I'm sure I've got you out of a scrape, Mr. Oxbelly.'* 
 
 ''How so, Mr. Easy?" 
 
 '* How so ? — have I not prevented yoijr qu^^rf^UpS vift y9W^ 
 wife every night?" , j j^ ^,u .v, himd uo 
 
 *' Certainly, sir, you have been the means. But c|o you know 
 when we were engaging the other day, I could not help saying 
 to myself, * I wish my wife was here now, holding little Billy at 
 the hatchway.' " 
 
 '' But at night, Mr. Oxbelly." 
 
 '* At night!— why, then I'm afraid I should have wished her 
 home again —it's astonishing how comfortable I sleep now every 
 night. 5 Besides, in this climate it would be intolerable. Mrs. 
 Oxbelly is a very large woman— very large indeed." 
 
 ** Well, but now we must hold a council of war. Are we to 
 run up the coast, or to shape a course direct for Palermo ? 
 
 *' Course direct, and we shall take nothing, that is certain," 
 said Gascoigne. 
 
 ** If we take nothing we shall make no prize-money," continued 
 Oxbelly. 
 
 " If we make no prize-money the men will be discontented," 
 said Easy. 
 
 *'If no abnoting to do—it will bed— d'tupid," continued Mesty. 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 363 
 
 ''Now then, the other side of the question. If we steer for 
 Palermo , we shall be sooner there and sooner home.'' 
 
 '* To which I reply," said Gascoigne, *' that the shorter the 
 cruise is, the less I shall have of your company. '^ 
 
 ** And I shall have to sleep with Mrs. Oxbelly," continued 
 Oxbelly. 
 
 *' Hab fine ship, fine gun, fine men, and do noting," cried 
 Mesty. ''^ By de power, I no like dat, Massa Easy." 
 
 ** You want eight months of coming to age. Jack," observed 
 Gascoigne. 
 
 '* It won't make a difference of more than three or four 
 weeks," said Mr. Oxbelly; *' and the expenses have been very 
 great." 
 
 "But—" 
 
 ''But what. Jack?" 
 
 " Agnes." 
 
 " Agnes will be better defended going home by men who have 
 been accustomed to be in an action. And, as for her wailing a 
 little longer, it will only make her love you a little more.'^ 
 
 ** Sleep single a httle longer, Mr. Easy, it's very pleasant,'* 
 said Mr. Oxbelly. 
 
 '* That's not very bad advice of your's," observed Gas- 
 coigne. 
 
 " Stop a little, Massa Easy," said Mesly, " you know dat 
 very good advice." 
 
 " Well, then," repUed Jack, " I will, as I am quite in the 
 minority. We will work up the whole coast — up to Toulon. 
 After all, there's something very pleasant in commanding your 
 own ship, and I'm not in a hurry to resign it— so that point's 
 decided." 
 
 The Rebiera was steered in to the land, and at sunset they 
 were not four miles from the lofty blue mountains which over- 
 hang the town of Malaga. There were many vessels lying at 
 the bottom of the bay, close in with the town ; the wind now 
 fell light, and the Rebiera, as she could not fetch the town, 
 tacked as if she were a merchant vessel standing in, and showed 
 American colours, a hint which they took, from perceiving 
 
S64 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 three or four large vessels lying in the outer roads, with the 
 colours of that nation hoisted at the peak. 
 
 '* What is your intention, Jack ?'^ said Gascoigne., 
 
 " I'll he hanged if I know yet. I think of working up to the 
 outer roads, and anchoring at night — hoarding the American 
 vessels, and gaining intelligence.^' 
 
 '* Not a had idea ; we shall then learn if there is anything to 
 he done, and if not, we may he off at daylight." 
 
 ** The pratique boat will not come off after sunset." 
 
 ** And if they did, we could pass for Americans, bound to 
 Barcelona or anywhere else — the outer roads where the vessels 
 lie are hardly within gun-shot." 
 
 Mesty, who had resumed his sailor's clothes, now observed, 
 '* What we do, Massa Easy, we do quickly — time for all ting, 
 time for show face and fight — time for hide face, crawl, and 
 steal." 
 
 ** Very true, Mesty, we'll crawl this time, and steal if we 
 can. It's not the warfare I like best of the two." 
 
 *'Both good, Massa Easy ; suppose you no steal board of po- 
 lacca ship, you not see Missy Agnes." 
 
 '' Very true, Mesty. Bout ship, Mr. Oxbelly." 
 
 *^Mr. Oxbelly not good for boat sarvice,'^ observed Mesty, 
 showing his teeth. 
 
 It was dark before the Rebiera was anchored in the outer 
 roads, a cablets length astern of the outermost American vessel. 
 One of her quarter boats was lowered down, and Gascoigne and 
 our hero pulled alongside, and, laying on their oars, hailed, 
 and asked the name of the vessel. 
 
 *' So help me Gad, just now I forget her name," replied a 
 negro, looking over the gangway. 
 
 ** Who's the captain?" 
 
 *' So help me Gad, he gone on shore." 
 
 ** Is the mate on board?" 
 
 ** No, so help me Gad — he gone shore, too.*' 
 
 ** Who is aboard, then?" mU bu :t 
 
 *'So help me Gad, nobody on board but Pompey— and 
 dat me." 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 365 
 
 *' Good ship-keepers, at all events," said Jack. *' A ship in 
 the outer roads with only a hlack fellow on hoard. I say, Pom- 
 pey, do ihey always leave you in charge of the vessel ?" 
 
 * * No, sar ; but to-night great pleasure on shore. Ebery body 
 dance and sing, get drunk, kick up bobbery , and all dat." 
 
 *'What, is it a festival?" ^ 
 
 ** So help me Gad, 1 no know, sar." 
 
 *' Is there any one on board of the other vessels?" 
 
 * ' Ebery body gone shore. Suppose they have black man, he 
 slay on board." 
 
 *' Good night, Pompey." 
 
 '* Goodnight, sar. Who I say call when captain come on 
 board ?" 
 
 *< Captain Easy." 
 
 '' Captain He-see, very well, sar." 
 
 Our hero pulled to another ship, and found it equally deserted ; 
 but at the third he found the second mate, with his arm in a sling, 
 and from him they gained the information that it was a great 
 festival, being the last day of the carnival ; and that every one 
 was thinking of nothing but amusement. 
 
 ** Fve a notion,'' said the mate, in reply, ** that you're Amei- 
 rican." 
 
 " You've guessed right," replied Jack. 
 
 ** What ship, and from what port?" 
 
 * ' Rhode Island, the Susan and Mary," replied Gascoigne. 
 
 '* I thought you were north. We're of New York. What 
 news do you bring ?" 
 
 ' < Nothing," replied he, * * we are from Liverpool last." 
 
 A succession of questions was now put by the American mate, 
 and answered very skilfully by Gascoigne, who then inquired 
 how the market was ? 
 
 It was necessary to make and reply to all these inquiries before 
 they could ask apparently indifferent questions to American 
 traders; at last, Gascoigne inquired, 
 
 ** Do you think they would allow us to go on shore? the pra- 
 tique boat has not been on board." 
 
 ** They'll never find you out if you are off before daylight; I 
 doubt if they know that you are anchored. Besides, from 
 
366 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 Liverpool you would have a clean bill of health, and if they found 
 it out, they would not say much, they're not over-particular, 
 Fve a notion." 
 
 *' What are those vessels lying in shore?" 
 
 ** I guess, they have olive oil on board, the chief on ^em. But 
 there are two double la teens come in from Valparaiso the day 
 before yesterday, with hides and copper. How they 'scaped the 
 British I can't tell, but they did, that's sure enough." 
 
 '' Good night, then." 
 
 * * You won't take a glass of sling this fine night, with a coun- 
 tryman T* 
 
 *' To-morrow, my good fellow, to-morrow; we must go on 
 shore now." 
 
 Our hero and Gascoigne returned on board the Rebiera, con- 
 sulted with Oxbelly and Mesty, and then manned and armed the 
 two quarter and stern-boats. They thought it advisable not to 
 hoist out their long boat; no fife-arms were permitted to be taken, 
 lest, going off by accident or otherwise, an alarm should be given. 
 Our hero and JMesty proceeded in the first boat, and pulled in for 
 the town ; Gascoigne shortly after, in the second, and the boat- 
 swain in the jolly boat followed at some distance. 
 
 There was no notice taken of them; they pulled gently dowii 
 to the landing-place, which was deserted. There was a blaze of 
 light, and the sounds of revelry in every quarter on shore ; but 
 the vessels appeared equally deserted as the American ones in 
 the offing. 
 
 Finding themselves unobserved, for they had taken the pre- 
 caution to pull only two oars in each boat, they dropped gently 
 alongside of one of the double-masted lateen vessels, and Mesty 
 stepped on board. He peeped down in the cabin, and perceived 
 a man lying on the lockers ; he came up in his stealthy manner, 
 closed the hatch softly, and said, *< All right." Jack left Gas- 
 coigne to take out this vessel, which he did very successfully, for 
 it was very dark; and although there were sentries posted not 
 far off, their eyes and ears were turned towards the town listening 
 to the music. 
 
 A second vessel, her consort, was boarded in the same way, 
 but here they found a man on deck, whom they were obliged to 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 367 
 
 seize and gag. They put him down in the cabin, and Mesty, 
 with another boat's crew, cut her cables and swept her gently 
 out towards the American vessel^. One more vessel was 
 required, and Jack, pulling two oars as usual, saluted a galliot 
 heavily laden, but of what her cargo consisted was not known. 
 In this vessel they found two men in the cabin playing cards, 
 whom they seized and bound, and cutting her cables were obliged 
 to make sail upon her, as she was much too large to sweep out. 
 As they were making sail they, however, met with an inter- 
 ruption which they did not expect. The crew belonging to the 
 vessel having had enough amusement for the evening, and in- 
 tending to sail the next morning, had thought it right to come 
 off sooner than the others; it was then about midnight or a little 
 later, and while some of Jack's men were aloft, for he had six 
 with him. Jack, to his annoyance, heard a boat coming off from 
 the shore, the men in her singing a chorus. The galliot was at 
 that time just under steerage way, her topsails had been loosed 
 and her jib hoisted, but the former had not been sheeted home, 
 for the three men below could not, in the dark, find the ropes. 
 The other three men were on the foreyard loosing the foresail, 
 and Jack was undetermined whether to call them down imme- 
 diately or to allow them to loose the sail, and thus get good way 
 on the vessel, so as to prevent the boat, which was loaded with 
 men, from overtaking them. The boat was more than twenty 
 yards from the galliot, when not finding her where they left her, 
 they pulled to the right, and laid on their oars. This gave a 
 moment of lime, but they very soon spied her out. ** Ca- 
 rambo T' was the exclamation — and the head of the boat was 
 pulled round. 
 
 '* Down, my lads, in a moment by the swifters," cried Jack. 
 *< Here's a boat onboard of us." 
 
 The men were in a few seconds on deck, and the others, who 
 had now sheeted home the topsail, hastened aft. The vessel 
 soon gathered way, but before that her way was sufficient, the 
 boat had pulled under the counter, and the Spaniards, letting 
 their oars swing fore and aft, were climbing up, their knives in 
 their teeth. A scuffle ensued and they were thrown down again, 
 but they reiiewed their attempt. Our hero, perceiving a small 
 
368 MR. MIDSfflPMAN EASY. 
 
 water or wine-cask lashed to the gunnel, cut it loose with his 
 cutlass, and with one of the men, who was by his side, pushed 
 it over and dropped it into the boat. It struck the gunnel, 
 stove a plank, and the boat began to fill rapidly; in the mean 
 time the galliot had gained way— the boat could no longer be 
 held on, from its weight, and dropped a-stern with the men in 
 it. Those who were half in and half out were left clinging to 
 the gunnel of the vessel, and as they climbed up were secured, 
 and put down in the cabin. Fortunately, no fire-arms having 
 been used on either side, the alarm was not given generally, but 
 the sentry reported fighting on board one of the vessels, and the 
 people of the guard-boat were collected, and pulled out ; but 
 they only arrived in time to see that the galliot was under weigh, 
 and that the two other vessels from Valparaiso were not in their 
 berths. 
 
 They hastened on shore, gave the alarm : the gun-boats, of 
 which there were three at the mole, were ordered out, but half 
 the crew and all the officers were on shore, some at balls, others 
 drinking at taverns or posadas ; before they could be collected 
 all three vessels were alongside of the Rebiera, and not aware 
 that anything had been discovered. Our hero and his crew were 
 lulled in security. Jack had gone on board, leaving fourteen 
 of his men on board the galliot — Gascoigne had done the same 
 — Mesty still remained on board his vessel; and they were con- 
 gratulating themselves and ordering the men on board to the 
 windlass, when they heard the sound of oars. 
 
 " Silence! — what is that?" exclaimed Oxbelly. **The gun- 
 boats or row-boats, as sure as I'm alive j" 
 
 At this moment Mesty jumped up the side. 
 
 * * Massa Easy, I hear row-boat not far off.^' 
 
 ** So do we, Mesty. Gascoigne, jump into the boat — tell the 
 men in the prizes to make all sail right out, and leave us 
 to defend their retreat— stay on board of one and divide your 
 men." 
 
 '* Dat all right, Massa Easy — Mr. Gascoigne, be smart— and 
 now, sar, cut cable and make sail ; no time get up anchor." 
 
 This order was given, but although the men were aloft in 
 a moment, and very expeditious, as the Rebiera paid her head 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 369 
 
 round and the jib was hoisted, they could perceive the boom of 
 the three gun-boats pulling and sailing not five cables' length 
 from them. Although rather short handed, top-sails, courses 
 and top-gallant sails were soon set, the men down to their 
 quarters, and the guns cast loose, before the gun-boats were close 
 under their stern. Then Jack rounded to, braced up, and the 
 Rebiera stood across them to the westward. 
 
 * * Why the devil don't they fire ?" said Jack. 
 
 ** I tink because they no ab powder," said Mesty. 
 
 Mesty was right — the ammunition chests of the gun-boats were 
 always landed when they were at the mole, in case of accidents, 
 which might arise from the crew being continually with segars in 
 their mouths, and in the hurry they had quite forgotten to put 
 them on board. 
 
 ** At all events, we have powder," said Jack, '* and now we'll 
 prove it. Grape and canister, my lads, and take good aim." 
 
 The commanders of the gun-boats had hailed each other, and 
 agreed to board the Rebiera, but she now had good way on her, 
 and sailed faster than they pulled. A well directed broadside 
 astonished them — they had no idea of her force ; and the execu- 
 tion done was so great, that they first laid on their oars and 
 then pulled back to the mole with all speed, leaving the Rebiera 
 in quiet possession of her prizes, which had already gained two 
 miles in the offing. 
 
 The Rebiera, as soon as Jack perceived that the gun-boats 
 had retreated, was put before the wind, and soon closed with her 
 captures, when she was hove to till daylight with the three ves- 
 sels in company. Gascoigne returned on board, prize-masters 
 were selected, and Jack deternjined to keep them all with him, 
 and take ihejn to Palermo. 
 
 24 
 
■■♦■.*• 
 
 CHAPTEft XL\. 
 
 In which there is another slight difference of opinion between those who 
 should be friends. 
 
 The two lateen vessels proved of considerable value, being laden 
 with copper, hides, and cochineal. The galliot was laden with 
 sweet oil, and was also no despicable prize. At daylight they 
 were all ready, and, to the mortification of the good people of 
 Malaga, sailed away to the eastward without interruption. 
 
 '* Me tink we do dat job pretty well, Massa Easy," observed 
 Mesty as he laid the breakfast table. 
 
 *' Nothing like trying,^' replied Gascoigne; *' Vm sure when 
 we stood into the bay I would have sold all my prize-money for a 
 doubloon. How do I share, Jack?" 
 
 '* Only as one of the crew, Ned, for you are a supernumerary, 
 and our articles and agreement for prize-money were signed pre- 
 vious to our sailing." 
 
 " I ought to share with Mr. Oxbelly's class, by rights," replied 
 Gascoigne. 
 
 " That would be to take half my prize-money away. I shall 
 want it all, Mr. Gascoigne, to pacify my wife for giving her the 
 slip.'' 
 
 *' Ah, very well ; Til get all I can." 
 
 For ten days they ran down the coast, 'going much too fast for 
 the wishes of the crew, who were anxious to make more money. 
 They seized a fishing boat and put on board of her the four 
 prisoners, which they had found in the vessels, and arrived oflt' 
 Barcelona, without falling in with friend or foe. The next 
 morning, the wind being very lights they discovered a large 
 vessel at daylight astern of them to the westward, and soon made 
 her out to be a frigate. She made all sail in chase, but that 
 gave them very little uneasiness, as they felt assured that she was 
 a British cruiser. One iear, however, came over them, that 
 she would, if she came up with them, impress a portion of 
 their men. 
 
 ** As certain as Vm here, and Mrs* Oxbelly's at Southend/' 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 371 
 
 said Oxbelly, ''they'll take some of the men^-lhe more so 
 as, supposing us to be a Spanish convoy, they will be dis- 
 appointed." 
 
 **They will hardly take them out of the prizes," observed 
 Easy. 
 
 *' I don^t know that; men must be had for his majesty*s ser- 
 vice somehow. It's not their fault, Mr. Easy — the navy must be 
 manned, and as things are so, so things must be. It's the king's 
 prerogative, Mr. Easy, and we cannot fight the battles of the 
 country without it." 
 
 '* Yes," replied Gascoigne, '* and although as soon as the ser- 
 vices of seamen are no longer wanted, you find that there are de- 
 magogues on shore who exclaim against impressment, they are 
 quiet enough on the point when they know that their lives and pro- 
 perty depend upon sailors' exertions." 
 
 ** Very true, Mr. Gascoigne, but it's not our fault if we are 
 obliged to take men by force, it's the fault of those who do not 
 legislate so as to prevent the necessity. Mrs. Oxbelly used to 
 say that she would easily manage the matter if she were Chan- 
 cellor of the Exchequer." 
 
 ' * I dare say Mrs. Oxbelly would make a very good Chancellor 
 of the Exchequer," replied Gascoigne smiling : ** one thing is 
 certain, that if they gave the subject half the consideration they 
 have others of less magnitude, an arrangement might be made by 
 which his majesty's navy would never be short of men." 
 
 '* No doubt, no doubt, Mr. Gascoigne, but nevertheless the 
 king's prerogative must never be given up." 
 
 * * There I agree with you, Mr. Oxbelly ; it must be held in 
 case of sudden emergency and absolute need." 
 
 " "We'll argue that point by-and-bye," replied Jack; '' now 
 let us consult as to our measures. My opinion is, that if I made 
 more sail we should beat the frigate, but she would come up 
 with the prizes." 
 
 '* That's the best thing we can do, Mr. Easy; but let us send 
 a boat on board of them, and takeout all the men that can pos- 
 sibly be spared, that there may be no excuse for impressing 
 them." 
 
 ** Yes," replied Gascoigne, " and as the wind is falling it is 
 
 24. 
 
372 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 possible it may fall calm, and they may send their boats ; sup- 
 pose we separate a mile or two from each other." 
 
 ** Dat very good advice, Massa Gascoigne," observed Mesty. 
 
 This plan was acted upon, only three men were left in the 
 lateens, and four in the galliot, and the vessels, in obedience to 
 the orders, sheered off on both sides of the Rebiera, who made 
 all sail and started a-head of the prizes. This manoeuvre was 
 perceived on board of the frigate, and made them sure that it 
 was a Spanish convoy attempting to escape. The fire-engine 
 was got on deck, sails wetted, and every exertion made to 
 come up. But about four o'clock in the afternoon, when the 
 frigate was eight or nine miles off, it fell calm, as Gascoigne had 
 predicted, and the heads of all the vessels, as well as the frigate, 
 were now round the compass. 
 
 ** There's out boats," said Mr. Oxbelly; ** they will have a 
 long pull, and all for nothing." 
 
 '* How savage they will be!" observed Gascoigne. 
 
 ** Nevermind that," replied Jack; '* Mesty says that dinner 
 is ready." 
 
 After dinner, they all went on deck, and found that the boats 
 had separated, one pulling for each of the prizes, and two for 
 the Rebiera. In less than an hour, they would probably be 
 alongside. 
 
 ** And now let us decide how we are to act. We must not 
 resist, if they attempt to impress the men ?" 
 
 ** I've been thinking upon that matter, Mr. Easy, and it ap- 
 pears to me that the men must be permitted to act as they 
 please, and that we must be neuter. I, as a lieutenant in his 
 majesty's service, cannot of course act, neither can Mr. Gas- 
 coigne. You are not in the service, but I should recommend 
 you to do the same. That the men have a right to resist, if 
 possible, is admitted; they always do so, and never are punished 
 for so doing. Under the guns of the frigate, of course we should 
 only have to submit ; but those two boats do not contain more 
 than twenty-five men I should think, and our men are the 
 stronger party. We had better leave it to them, and stand 
 neuter." 
 
 ** Dat very good advice," said Mesty ; <* leab it to us;" and 
 
MR. MIJ3SHIPMAN EASY. 373 
 
 Mesly walked away forward where the seamen were already 
 in consul talion. 
 
 Jack also agreed to the prudence of this measure, and he per- 
 ceived that the seamen, after a consultation with Mesty, were 
 all arming themselves for resistance. 
 
 The boats were now close onboard, and English colours were 
 hoisted at the gaff. This did not, however, check the impetus 
 of the boats, who, with their ensigns trailing in the still water 
 astern of them, dashed alongside, and an officer leaped on board, 
 cutlass in hand, followed by the seamen of the frigate. The 
 men of the Rebiera remained collected forward — Easy, Gas- 
 coigne, and Oxbelly aft. 
 
 **What vessel is this?" cried the lieutenant who commanded 
 the boats ? 
 
 Jack, with the greatest politeness, took off his hat, and told 
 him that it was the Rebiera letter of masque, and that the pa- 
 pers were ready for his inspection. 
 
 ** And the other vessels?" 
 
 ' * Prizes to the Rebiera , cut out of Malaga bay ," replied Jack . 
 
 ** Then you are a privateer," observed the disappoiipi^d, pi\^ 
 ficer. '* Where are your papers?" :,i ; ;» ■ i^vjk.^i; 
 
 "** Mr. Oxbelly, oblige me by bringing them up," said Jack. 
 
 ** Fat Jack of the bone house," observed the lieutenant, 
 looking at Oxbelly. riinsTO Us 
 
 ** A lieutenant in his majesty's service, of longer standing 
 than yourself, young man," replied Oxbelly firmly; — '* and 
 who, if he ever meets you in any other situation, will make 
 you answer for your insolent remark." 
 
 ** Jndeed," observed the lieutenant ironically ; " now, if you 
 had said you were once a boatswain or gunner." 
 
 '* Consider yourself kicked/' r^^rj^d Oxbelly, losings his 
 temper. u a*; ^ k,,., 
 
 *' Hey day ! why you old porpoise !" 
 
 ** Sir," observed Jack, who listened with indignation, '' Mr, 
 Oxbelly is a lieutenant in his majesty's service; and you have 
 no right to insult him, even if he were not.'' 
 
 *' I presume you are all officers,*' replied the lieutenant. 
 *' 1 am, Sir," retorted Gascoigne, *' an officer in his majesty's 
 
374 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 service, and on board of this vessel by permission o[ Captain 
 Sawbridge of the Latona." 
 
 *' And I was, until a few moR^hs ago, sir," continued Jack; 
 * * at present I am captain and owner of this vessel — but here 
 are the papers. You will have no obstruction from usJn the 
 execution of your duty — at the same time, I call upon the two 
 young gentlemen by your side and your own men to bear wit- 
 ness to what takes place." 
 
 ** O very well, sir— just as you please. Your papers I per- 
 ceive are all right. Now you will oblige me by mustering your 
 men.*' 
 
 "Certainly, sir, "replied Jack; ** send all the men aft to 
 muster, Mr. Oxbelly." 
 
 The meu came aft to the mainmast, with Mesty at their head, 
 and answered to their names. As the men passed over, the 
 lieutenant made a pencil-mark against ten of them, who appeared 
 the finest seamen ; and, when the roll had been called, he or- 
 dered those men to get their bags and go into the boat. "^ ** 
 
 ** Sir, as you must observe, I am short handed, with my 
 men away in prizes; and I, as commander of this vessel, protest 
 against this proceeding : if you insist upon taking them, of course 
 I can do nothing," observed Jack. 
 
 '*I do insist, sir; I'm not going onboard empty-handed, at 
 all events." 
 
 '* Well, sir, I can say no more," said Jack walking aft to the 
 taffrail, to which Oxbelly and Gascoigne had retreated. 
 
 " Gome, my lads, get those men in the boat," said the 
 lieutenant. 
 
 But the men had all retreated forward in a body, with Mesty 
 at their head, and had armed themselves. Some of the seamen 
 of the frigate had gone forward, in obedience to their officer, 
 to lead the men selected into the boat ; but they were immedi- 
 ately desired to keep back. The scuffle forward attracted the 
 notice of the lieutenant, who immediately summoned all his 
 me out of the boats. ffff *1V^ 
 
 *' Mutiny, by heavens! Come up, all of you, my lads." 
 
 Mesty then came forward, with a sabre in one hand and a 
 pistol in the other, and thus addressed the seamen of the frigate. 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 375 
 
 ** I tell you dis, ray lads — you not so strong as we— you not 
 got better arms — we not under gun of frigate now, and ab deter- 
 mination not to go board. 'Pose you want us, come take us 
 — 'pose you can. By all de power, but we make mince-meat 
 of you any how." 
 
 The seamen paused — they were ready to fight for their coun- 
 try, but not to be killed by or kill those who were their own 
 countrymen, and who were doing exactly what they would have 
 done themselves. The lieutenant thought otherwise, he was 
 exasperated at this sensation. 
 
 ** You black scoundrel, I left you out because I thought you 
 not worth having, but now I'll add you to the number." 
 
 ** Stop a little," replied Mesty. 
 
 *' The lieutenant would not take the Ashantee*s very prudent 
 advice ; he flew forward to seize Mesty, who struck him a blow 
 with the flat of his sabre, which levelled him almost to the 
 deck. At this the men and other officers of the frigate darted 
 forward ; but after a short scuffle, in which a few wounds were 
 received, were beaten back into the boats. The lieutenant was 
 thrown in after them, by the nervous arm of Mesty — and, as- 
 sailed by cold shot and other missiles, they sheered off with 
 precipitation, and pulled back in the direction of the frigate. 
 
 ** There will be a row about this," said Oxbelly, ** as soon as 
 they come clear of the vessel. If the frigate gets hold of us she 
 will show us no mercy. There is a breeze coming from the 
 north-west. How fortunate ! we shall be three leagues to 
 windward, and may escape.'' 
 
 " I doubt if she could catch us at any point of sailing: they 
 may come up with the prizes, but can do nothing with them." 
 
 *' No, the boats which boarded them are already returning to 
 the frigate ; she must wait for them , and that will give us a start, 
 and it will be night before they can even make sail." 
 
 ** Fire a gun for the prizes to close, " said Jack ; *' we will put 
 the men on board again, and then be off to Palermo as fast as 
 we can." 
 
 ** We can do no better," said Oxbelly. ** If ever I chance 
 to meet that fellow again, I will trouble him to repeat his words. 
 Trim the sails, my lads." 
 
376 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 '* His language was unpardonable," observed Jack. 
 
 "Since I've been in the service, Mr. Easy, 1 have always 
 observed that some officers appear to imagine, that because 
 they are under the king's pennant, they are warranted in in- 
 sulting and tyrannizing over all those who have rot the honour 
 to hoist it; whereas, the very fact of their being king's officers 
 should be an inducement to them to show an example of courtesy 
 and gentlemanly-conduct in the execution of their duty, however 
 unpleasant it may be.'* 
 
 ** It is only those who, insignificant themselves, want to make 
 themselves of importance, by the pennant they serve under," 
 repliexl our hero. 
 
 **Very true, Mr. Easy ; but you are not aware that a great 
 part of the ill-will shown to the service, is owing to the inso- 
 lence of those young men in office. The king's name is a war- 
 rant for every species of tyranny and unwarrantable conduct. 
 I remember Mrs. Oxbelly telling one of them, when — " 
 
 *' I beg your pardon, Mr. Oxbelly," interrupted .Jack, " but 
 we have no time to chat now, the breeze is coming down fast, 
 and I perceive the prizes are closing. Let us lower down the 
 boat, send the men on board again, and give them their orders 
 —which I will do in writing, in case they part company." 
 
 "Very true, sir. It will be dark in hal fan hour, and as we 
 are now standing in shore, they will ihink that we intend to 
 remain on the coast. As soon as it is quite dark we will shape 
 our course for Palermo. I will go down and look at the chart." 
 
 CHAPTER XLIl. 
 
 Which winds up ihe liaulical advenUufs of Mr. Midshipman liasy. 
 
 In half an hour the prizes were again alongside, the men put 
 on board, and the boat hoisted up. The frigate still remained 
 becalmed to leeward, and hoisted in her boats. They watched 
 until she was hid by the shades of night, and then wearing 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 377 
 
 round stood away, with the wind two points free, for the coast 
 of Sicily. The next morning when the sun rose there was 
 nothing in sight. Strange anomaly, in a state of high ciyilisa- 
 tion, where you find your own countrymen avoided and more 
 dreaded than even your foes. 
 
 The run was prosperous, the weather was fine, and the prizes 
 did not part company. 
 
 On the sixteenth day the Rebiera and her convoy anchored 
 in Palermo Bay. The wind was light in the morning that they 
 stood in, and as Jack had a large blue flag with Rebiera in white 
 letters hoisted at the main, Don Philip and Don Martin were on 
 board and greeting our hero, before the Rebiera's anchor had 
 plunged into the clear blue water. 
 
 The information which our hero received, after having been 
 assured of the health of Agnes and her parents, was satisfactory. 
 The disappearance of the friar had, at first, occasioned much 
 surprise ; but as the servants of Don Rebiera swore to his re- 
 turn without the black, and the letter of Don Rebiera, sent to 
 the convent, requesting his presence, was opened and read, 
 there was no suspicion against the family. A hundred conjec- 
 tures had been afloat, but gradually they had subsided, and it 
 was at last supposed that he had been carried off by the ban- 
 ditti, some of whom had been taken, and acknowledged that they 
 had seized a friar on a day which they could not recollect. The 
 reader will remember that it was Mesty. 
 
 The Rebiera received pratique, and Jack hastened on shore 
 with Don Philip and his brother, and was once more in the com- 
 pany of Agnes, who, in our hero's opinion, had improved since 
 his departure. Most young men in love think the same after 
 an absence, provided it is not too long. The prizes were sold 
 and the money distributed, and every man was satisfied, as the 
 cargoes fetched a larger sum than they had anticipated. 
 
 We must pass over the pros and cons of Don Rebiera and his 
 lady, the pleading of Jack for immediate nuptials, the unwilling- 
 ness of the mother to part with her only daughter, the family 
 consultation, the dowry, and all these particulars. A month 
 after his arrival Jack was married, and was, of course, as happy 
 as the day was long. ♦;. 
 
378 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 A few days afterwards Mr. Oxbelly advised departure, as the 
 expenses of the vessel were heavy, and it was his duty so to do. 
 Don PhiHp and Don Martin obtained leave to go to England 
 with their sister and her husband. Nevertheless, Jack, who 
 found Palermo a very pleasant residence, was persuaded by the 
 Don and his wife to remain there a month, and then there was 
 crying, and sobbing, and embracing, and embarking; and at last 
 the Rebiera, whose cabins bad been arranged for the reception 
 of the party, weighed and made sail for Malta, Jack having pro- 
 mised to call upon the governor. 
 
 In four days they anchored in Valletto harbour, and Jack paid 
 his respects to his old friend, who was very glad to see him. 
 The governor sent his own barge for Mrs. Easy, and she was 
 installed in the state apartments, which were acknowledged to 
 be very comfortable. Our hero had, as usual, a long story to 
 tell the governor, and the governor listened to it very atten- 
 tively, probably, because he thought it would be the last, which 
 opportunity Jack employed to narrate the unfortunate end of 
 his father. 
 
 *'I would not have said so at the time, Mr. Easy, but now the 
 wound is healed, I tell you, that it is the best thing that could 
 have happened— poor old gentleman I he was mad, indeed." 
 
 Our hero remained a fortnight at Malta, and then Signora 
 Easy was re-embarked, and once more the Rebiera made sail. 
 
 *' Fare you well, my lad; what I have seen of your brothers- 
 in-law pleases me much, and as for your wife, it will be your 
 own fault if she is not all that you would wish. If ever I come 
 to England again, I will pay my first visit to Forest Hill. God 
 bless you." 
 
 Bat Sir Thomas never did go back to England, and this was 
 their final adieu. Once more the Rebiera pursued her course, 
 stopped a day or two at Gibraltar, shared the proceeds of the cap- 
 tured gun-boat, and then made sail for England, where she ar- 
 rived without adventure or accident in three weeks. 
 
 Thus ended the last cruise of Mr. Midshipman Easy. As soon 
 as their quarantine at the Mother-bank was over, they dis- 
 embarked, and found Dr. Middlelon and Mr. Hanson waiting 
 for them at the George hotel. Our hero had scarcely time to 
 
MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 379 
 
 introduce his wife, when the waiter said, that a lady wished lo 
 speak to him. She did not wait to know if Jack was Tisible, 
 but forced her way past him. Jack looked at her large propor- 
 tions, and decided at once that it must be Mrs. Oxbelly, in which 
 conjecture he was right. 
 
 '* Pray, sir, what do you mean by carrying off my husband in 
 that way ?'' exclaimed the lady, red with anger. 
 
 << God forbid that I should have to carry your husband, 
 Mrs. Oxbelly; he is rather too heavy." 
 
 '* Yes, sir, but it's little better than kidnapping, and there's 
 a law, sir, for kidnapping children at all events. I shall send 
 my lawyer to you, that you may depend upon." 
 
 ** You hardly can consider your husband as a child, Mrs. Ox- 
 belly," replied Jack, laughing. 
 
 '* Very well, sir, we shall see. Pray where is he now ?'* 
 
 '* He is on board, Mrs. Oxbelly, and will be delighted to see 
 you." 
 
 '' Fm not quite so sure of that." 
 
 <* He's very anxious to see little Billy," said Gascoigne. 
 
 " What do you know of little Billy, young man?" 
 
 ** And more than anxious to be on shore again. He's <juite 
 tired of sleeping single, Mrs. Oxbelly." 
 
 '* Ah, very well, he has been talking, has he? very well,'* 
 exclaimed the lady in a rage. 
 
 <' But," said Easy, *-^I am happy to say, that with pay and 
 prize-money, during his short absence, he has brought home 
 nearly five hundred pounds." 
 
 ** Five hundred pounds ! — you don't say so, sir?" exclaimed 
 Mrs. Oxbelly ; ** are you sure of that?" 
 
 ** Quite sure," rejoined Gascoigne. 
 
 <* Five hundred pounds! — Well, that is comfortable— dear 
 me I how glad I shall be to see him ! Well, Mr. Easy, it was 
 hayd to part with him in so unhandsome a way — but all's 
 fo'i^he best in this world. What a dear, nice lady your wife 
 is, Mr. Easy— but I won't intrude — I heg pardon. Where is 
 the brig, Mr. Easy ?" 
 '-^.'f Now coming into harbdur," replied Gascoigne; '<if you 
 bargain, you can get off for two-pence." 
 
380 MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY. 
 
 *' Five hundred pounds I" exclaimed Mrs. Oxbelly, whose 
 wrath was now appeased. 
 
 " By all power, she no fool of a woman dat,'* said Mesty, as 
 she retreated, curtsying. ' ' I tink Mr. Oxbelly very right sleep 
 tingle." 
 
 We have now come to the end of our hero's adventures ; that 
 afternoon they all started for Forest Hill, where every thing was 
 ready for their reception. The Rebiera's men were paid off, 
 and were soon distributed on board of his majesty's ships; the 
 vessel was sold, and Mr. Oxbelly retired to Southsea, to the 
 society of his wife and little Billy. Whether he obtained from 
 his wife a divorce de thoro, is not handed down. 
 
 Our hero, who was now of age, invited all within twenty miles 
 of home to balls and dinners ; became a great favourite, kept 
 a pack of hounds, rode with the foremost, received a deputation 
 to stand for the county, on the conservative interest, was elected 
 without much expense, which was very wonderful, and took his 
 seat in parliament. Don Philip and Don Martin, after two 
 months' stay, took their passage back to Palermo, fully satisfied 
 with the prospects of their sister as to competence and happiness. 
 Jack had no occasion to argue the point with Agnes; she con- 
 formed at once to the religion of her husband, proved an excel- 
 lent and affectionate wife, and eventually the mother of four 
 children, three boys and a girl. 
 
 Mesty held his post with dignity, aud*.proved himself trust* 
 worthy. Gascoigne, by the interest of the conservative member, 
 soon obtained the rank of post-captain, and was always his de- 
 voted and sincere friend. And thus ends the history of Mr. Mid- 
 sh^man Easy. 
 
 C-CF: 
 
 END. 
 
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