emony or preface, seized me by each arm, and very deliberately lashed
me fast in the rigging. They laughed at my remonstrance. I asked what
they meant, and the captain of the top said very civilly, taking off his
hat at the same time, "that it was the way all gemmen were sarved when
they first went aloft; and I must pay my footing as a bit of a
parkazite." I looked down to the quarter-deck for assistance, but every
one there was laughing at me and even the very little rogues of
midshipmen who had enticed me up were enjoying the joke. Seeing this
was the case, I only asked what was to pay. The captain of the top said
a seven shilling bit would be thought handsome. This I promise to give,
and was released on my own recognisances. When I reached the
quarter-deck I paid the money.

Having experienced nothing but cruelty and oppression since I had been
on board, I sorely repented of coming to sea; my only solace was seeing
Murphy, as he lay in his hammock, with his head bound up. This was a
balm to me. "I bide my time," said I; "I will yet be revenged on all of
you;" and so I was. I let none escape: I had them all in their turns,
and glutted my thirst for revenge.

I had been three weeks on board, when the ship was reported ready for
sea. I had acquired the favour of the first lieutenant by a constant
attention to the little duties he gave me to perform. I had been put
into a watch, and stationed in the fore-top, and quartered at the
foremast guns on the main deck. I was told by the youngsters that the
first lieutenant was a harsh officer, and implacable when once he took a
dislike; his manners, however, even when under the greatest excitement,
were always those of a perfect gentleman, and I continued living on good
terms with him. But with the second lieutenant I was not so fortunate.
He had ordered me to take the jolly-boat and bring off a women whom he
kept; I remonstrated and refused, and from that moment we never were
friends.

Murphy had also recovered from his fall, and returned to his duty; his
malice towards me increased, and I had no peace or comfort in his
presence. One day he threw a biscuit at my head, calling me at the same
time a name which reflected on the legitimacy of my birth, in language
the most coarse and vulgar. In a moment all the admonitions which I had
received, and all my sufferings for impetuosity of temper, were
forgotten; the blood boiled in my veins, and trickled from my wound