Mr. Midshipman Easy

himself on the other si

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 a 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 required, 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 country; and that, as the orders were transmitted from the captain through the lieutenant, and from the lieutenant to the midshipmen, 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 everyone was equally obliged to obey. Indeed, as the ca

aptain'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 equality he had been seeking for in vain on shore, when, at last, he recollected 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 w

oubt of his zeal; for if the whole country had been at s

t one to him: and I'll answer for it, when you meet him on boa

now what a first lieutenant was: wha

l z

on board, he'd show me the difference be

l z

should be a little e

l z

d a sergeant and m

l z

put my philosop

should do nothing in the service without it. Recollect that

ed considerably,

d Captain Wilson, "find Mr Sawb

, "but I did not much admi

ntry. But, Mr Easy, I sent for you to say that we shall sail to-morrow; and, as I shall send my things off this afternoon b

t down to the boat by some of the crew who came up for it, and attended the summons of the captain

ack very politely, after which, the captain entered into conversation with the first lieutenant, and for a while Jack was left to himself. It was too dark to distinguish faces, and to one who had never been on board of a

were pleased at the joke, and continued to dance over those who were down, until they rolled themselves out of the way. Jack, who did not understand this, fared badly, and it was not till the calls piped belay that he could recover his legs, after having been tramp

, Mr Easy?" s

lied Jack, catc

is every man for himself, and God for us all. Harpur," continued the first lieutenant to the doctor, "tak

olliffe, a master's mate,

ith the captain. Order one of the qua

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

er here, or talks about a trespass; for I'm sure anyone is welcome to my share of 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 hammoc

ne had, by the captain's orders, attended Jack during his illness, and this man came to his assist

d. The marine pointed it out to him, and Jack, who felt excessively hungry, crawled over and between chests, unt

it, but also my share of the Harpy, unto anyone who fancies it. E

Jack, and to whom Jack returned the compliment. The first thing that Jack observed was, that Mr Jolliffe was very deeply pockmarked, and that he had but

ks," thought Jack-"we

on error of judging by appearanc

eam ends longer than usual, but those who are strongest suffer most-you made you

t saying," replied Jack; "but it's no use just now.

" replied Mr Jolliffe. "Breakfast for

I then g

t make allowances for your illnes

re the servants to give me something to eat. Dry toast o

-muffins we never see, dry toast cannot be made, as we have no soft bread; but a cup

Jack, "I will thank y

ed Jolliffe,

e-and the two syllables were handed forwar

er. He was a curious anomaly-a black man who had b

lmost 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 substantiated. His master had settled at New

enant, who had entered him, struck with his remarkable expression of countenance, and being a German scholar, had named him Mephistopheles Faust, from whence his Christian name had been razed to Mesty. Mesty in other points was an eccentric character; at one moment, when he remembered his

double as he couched under the beams, and

ow, anyhow, seeing how the praters are in the copper, and so many blackguard 'palpeen

ss it is necessary," replied Jolliffe; "but this poor lad has eaten nothing

n 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

have someth

then," replied Jack,

and the bumboat woman on

water," replied Jolliffe, "and I really am afraid that you

tay, try a little out of the copper, it might keep him asy. It but a little difference, tay soup a

he can take, Mesty; ge

s nuts, and the pepper-caster. Jack's visions of tea, coffee, muffins, dry toast, and milk, vanished as he perceived the mess; but he was very hungry, and he found it