all respects one "on service." The
captain said a great deal, the lieutenants very little, and the
midshipmen nothing at all; but the performance of the knife and fork,
and wine-glass (as far as it could be got at), were exactly in the
inverse ratio. The company consisted of my own captain, and two others,
our first lieutenant, Murphy, and myself.

As soon as the cloth was removed, the captain filled me out a glass of
wine, desired I would drink it, and then go and see how the wind was. I
took this my first admonitory hint in its literal sense and meaning; but
having a very imperfect idea of the points of the compass, I own I felt
a little puzzled how I should obtain the necessary information.
Fortunately for me, there was a weathercock on the old church-steeple;
it had four letters, which I certainly did know were meant to represent
the cardinal points. One of these seemed so exactly to correspond with
the vane above it, that I made up my mind the wind must be west, and
instantly returned to give my captain the desired information, not a
little proud with my success in having obtained it so soon. But what
was my surprise to find that I was not thanked for my trouble; the
company even smiled and winked at each other; the first lieutenant
nodded his head and said, "Rather green yet." The captain, however,
settled the point according to the manners and customs, in such cases
used at sea. "Here, youngster," said he, "here is another glass for
you; drink that, and then Murphy will show you what I mean." Murphy was
my chaperon; he swallowed his wine--rather _a gorge deployee_, put down
his glass very energetically, and bowing, left the room.

When we had got fairly into the hall, we had the following duet:--"What
the hell brought you back again, you damned young greenhorn? Could you
not take a hint, and be off, as the captain intended? So I must lose my
wine for such a young whelp as you. I'll pay you off for this, my tight
fellow, before we have been many weeks together."

I listened to this elegant harangue with some impatience, and much more
indignation. "I came back," said I, "to tell the captain how the wind
was."

"You be damned," replied Murphy: "do you think the captain did not know
how the wind was--and if he had wanted to know, don't you think he would
have sent a sailor like me, instead of such a damned lubberly whelp as
you?"

"As to what the captain meant," said I, "I do not know. I did as I wa