last I got well; and the first thing I did was
to take a boat and go and dive down the forehold of my old ship, and
swim aft to the bread-room."

"And what did you see sir?" said I.

"Oh, nothing, except lots of human skeletons, and whitings in abundance,
swimming between their ribs. I brought up my old quadrant out of the
starboard wing, where I was adjusting it when the alarm was given. I
found it lying on the table just where I left it. I never shall forget
what a damned rap we hit the old _Queen Charlotte_, with our larboard
broadside; every gun went slap into her, double-shotted. Damn my eyes,
I suppose we diddled at least a hundred men."

"Why, sir," said I, "I always understood she only lost two men on that
occasion."

"Who told you that?" said Captain G---; "your old captain?"

"Yes, sir," said I, "he was a midshipman in her."

"He be damned," said my skipper; "to my certain knowledge, three
launch-loads of dead bodies were taken out of her, and carried to the
hospital for interment."

As the boat touched the landing-place this accomplished liar had time to
take breath; and in fact I was afraid he would have exhausted his stock
of lies before dinner, and kept nothing for the dessert. When we
landed, he went to his old quarters at the Star and Garter, and I to the
George. I reminded him at parting that six o'clock was my hour.

"Never fear me," said he.

I collected my company previous to his arrival, and told my friends that
it was my determination to make him drunk, and that they must assist me,
which they promised to do. Having once placed him in that predicament,
I was quite sure I should stop his future discourses in favour of
temperance. My companions, perfectly aware of the sort of man they had
to deal with, treated him on his entrance with the most flattering marks
of respect. I introduced them all to him in the most formal manner,
taking them to him, one by one, just as we are presented at court--to
compare great things with small. His good humour was at its highest
spring tide; the honour of drinking wine with him was separately and
respectfully asked, and most condescendingly granted to every person at
the table.

"Capital salmon this," said the captain; "where does Billet get it from?
By the bye, talking of that, did you ever hear of the pickled salmon in
Scotland?"

We all replied in the affirmative.

"Oh, you don't take. Damn it, I don't mean dead pickled salmon; I mean
l