and, perceiving him
sinking, I darted overboard, and held him until a boat came and picked
him up; as the water was smooth and there was little wind, and the ship
not going more than two miles an hour, I incurred little risk.

When I came on deck I found the captain fit for Bedlam, because the
accident had delayed the topsails going to the mast-head quite as quick
as the rest of the fleet. He threatened to flog the man for falling
overboard, and ordered me off the quarter-deck. This was a great
injustice to both of us. Of all the characters I ever met with, holding
so high a rank in the service, this man was the most unpleasant.

Shortly after, we were ordered to Minorca to refit; here, to my great
joy, I found my own ship, and I "shook the dust off my feet," and
quitted the flag with a light heart. During the time I had been on
board, the admiral had never said, "How do ye do?" to me--nor did he
say, "Good bye," when I quitted. Indeed, I should have left the ship
without ever having been honoured with his notice, if it had not
happened that a favourite pointer of his was a shipmate of mine. I
recollect hearing of a man who boasted that the king had spoken to him;
and when it was asked what he had said, replied, "He desired me to get
out of his way."

My intercourse with the admiral was about as friendly and flattering.
Pompey and I were on the poop. I presented him with a piece of hide to
gnaw, by way of pastime. The admiral came on the poop, and seeing
Pompey thus employed, asked who gave him that piece of hide? The yeoman
of the signals said it was me. The admiral shook his long spy-glass at
me, and said, "By God, sir, if ever you give Pompey a bit of hide again,
I will flog you."

This is all I have to say of the admiral, and all the admiral ever said
to me.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

Since laws were made for every degree,
I wonder we haven't better company on Tyburn tree.
"BEGGAR'S OPERA."

While I was on board of this ship, two poor men were executed for
mutiny. The scene was far more solemn to me than anything I had ever
beheld. Indeed, it was the first thing of the kind I had ever been
present at. When we hear of executions on shore, we are always prepared
to read of some foul atrocious crime, some unprovoked and unmitigated
offence against the laws of civilised society, which a just and merciful
government cannot allow to pass unpunished. With us at sea there are
many shades of differen