Mr. Midshipman Easy

ansgresses against

he 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 a

he felt: the first lieutenant also smiled upon him, and many of the of

man touched his hat and requested he would be 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 lieutenant-the first lieutenant touched his hat, a

at, which he gave to the head boatswain's mate, who t

nto the deep blue wave; he cast his eyes 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

mocks," cried the master, who was o

" said the master again. Jack felt very indignant, and he tho

he service, that no one gets on the hammocks, unless in case of emergency-I never do-nor the first lieute

why that officer in the shining hat should be so angry, and

t's zeal: but this zeal appears to me to be the only unpleasant thing in th

probation of his conduct, although very regardless of the feeling of others, determined to pay this off on Jack, the very first convenient opportunity. Jack dined in the cabin, and was very much pleased to find that everyone drank wine with him, and that everybody at the captain's table appeared to be on an equality. Before the dessert had

ain's table, his very peculiar notions. If the company at the captain's table, which consisted of the second lieutenant, purser, Mr Jolliffe, and one of the midshipmen, were astonished

alked 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 Sawbri

messmates, but also with many of the officers of the ships that he sailed in. A man who is able and willing 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 "hail 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 fa

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 Sawb

eared in the service, but it was the first day in which he had entere

. Nature is sometimes extremely arbitrary, and never did she show herself more so than in insisting t

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 the disease till it formed a sharp but i

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 philanthropy of a Christian, and extended it towards others. Silent and reserved, he seld

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. Y

e one upon whom he imagines that he can best practise. In a midshipman's berth, this fact has become almost proverbial, although

n about seventeen, with light, curly hair, and florid countenance, the

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, hating everything like work, fond of everything like fun, fighting "a L'outrance" one minute, and sworn friends the next-with general principles of honour and justice, but which were occasionally warped according to circ

ollowed his messmates Jolliffe and Gasc

free and easy sort of a fellow, to tell the captain t

not argue individually, but generally, u

e care your rights of man don't get you in the wrong box-there's no arguing on board of a man-

o me they are not, or at least impossible to be acted upon, there is such a thing as prudence, and however much this question

ee agent," r

s," replied Gascoigne, laughing

ion of finding that equality th

esume," replied Gascoigne. "

Gascoigne listened without interruption, and Mesty with admiration

ou learn all this?

at philosopher, and has const

father wish yo

ed Jack, "but of course he could

h as possible keep your opinions to yourself. I shall have an opportunity

own came Mr Vigors and O'Connor, who

gors and Mr O'Connor,"

seats, without returning the salutation. Vigors had, from what he had heard and now se

ou came off scot free at the captain's table; but it won't do, I can tell you,

ure you that you are mistaken. Upon the same principle that I would never play t

er already: however, my boy, we'll

my messmates?" replied Jack, looking at Jolliffe. The

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 everyone else to do as you can, get what

ll be among savages, where the strong oppress the weak, and the only law is c

ce. You were at a public school

ng people here-the wea

a wink to a blind horse, that'

"Shorten sail" put an end to

ved orders to go to his duty,

; dat Mr Vigor-nebber care for him, wouldn't you help him-and sure you would," continued the black, feeling the musc

k no notice of black eyes, provided the lessons there well said. Jack had fought and fought again, until he was a very good bruiser, and although not so tall as

Jack against his father's arguments in favour of equality, but they had been overruled by

rongest in the berth, except Jolliffe, had successively had his superiority acknowledged, and, when on deck, he had talked

rth, "you take after your name, at all events; I suppose

u will oblige me, sir, by minding

er word, I'll give you a good thrashing, a

ost fancied himself back at Mr

decision and confidence, and still more to the delight of the other midshipmen, who would have forfeited a week's allowance to see Vigors well thrashed. Vigors, how

n 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, w

; and before Jack had resumed his clothes it had b

t I did not expect this yet awhile. This victory is the first severe blow to Mr Easy's equality, and