r
ill-looking fellow, with large whiskers.

I shall not repeat the elegant philippics with which I was greeted.
Suffice it to say that I found all the big ones against me, and the
little ones neuter; the caterer, supposing I had received suitable
admonition for my future guidance, and that I was completely bound over
to keep the peace, turned all the youngsters out of the berth. "As for
you, Mr Fistycuff," said he, addressing himself to me, "you may walk
off with the rest of the gang, so make yourself scarce, like the
Highlander's breeches."

The boys all obeyed the command in silence, and I was not sorry to
follow them. As I went out he added, "So, Mr Rumbusticus, you can obey
orders, I see, and it is well for you; for I had a biscuit ready to shy
at your head." This affront, after all I had suffered, I was forced to
pocket; but I could not understand what the admiral could mean, when he
said that people went to sea "to learn manners."

I soon made acquaintance with the younger set of my mess-mates, and we
retreated to the forecastle as the only part of the ship suitable to the
nature of the conversation we intended to hold. After one hour's
deliberation, and notwithstanding it was the first night I had ever been
on board a ship, I was unanimously elected leader of this little band.
I became the William Tell of the party, as having been the first to
resist the tyranny of the oldsters, and especially of the tyrant Murphy.
I was let into all the secrets of the mess in which the youngsters were
placed by the captain to be instructed and kept in order. Alas! what
instruction did we get but blasphemy? What order were we kept in,
except that of paying our mess, and being forbidden to partake of those
articles which our money had purchased? My blood boiled when they
related all they had suffered, and I vowed I would sooner die than
submit to such treatment.

The hour of bed-time arrived. I was instructed how to get into my
hammock, and laughed at for tumbling out on the opposite side. I was
forced to submit to this pride of conscious superiority of these
urchins, who could only boast of a few month's more practical experience
than myself, and who, therefore, called me a greenhorn. But all this
was done in good-nature; and, after a few hearty laughs from my
companions, I gained the centre of my suspended bed, and was very soon
in a sound sleep. This was only allowed to last till about four o'clock
in the mornin