he then
gave a string of captains, each of whom would have given his mate a round
dozen at the gangway, if he had taken so much on him as this one does.

"'Grog!' suggested Cooper, in extenuation.

"Welch admitted Wylie was liberal with that, and friendly enough with the
men; but, still, he preferred to see a ship commanded by the captain, and
not by a lubber like Wylie.

"I expressed some surprise at this term, and said I had envied Wylie's
nerves in a gale of wind we encountered early in the voyage.

"The talking sailor explained, 'In course, he has been to sea afore this,
and weathered many a gale. But so has the cook. That don't make a man a
sailor. You ask him how to send down a to'-gallant yard or gammon a
bowsprit, or even mark a lead line, and he'll stare at ye like Old Nick,
when the angel caught him with the red-hot tongs, and questioned him out
of the Church Catechism. Ask Sam there if ye don't believe me. Sam, what
do you think of this Wylie for a seaman?'

"Cooper could not afford anything so precious, in his estimate of things,
as a word; but he lifted a great brawny hand, and gave a snap with his
finger and thumb that disposed of the mate's pretensions to seamanship
more expressively than words could have done it.

"The breeze has freshened, and the ship glides rapidly through the water,
bearing us all homeward. H. R. has resumed her place upon the deck; and
all seems bright again. I ask myself how we existed without the sight of
her.

"This morning the wind shifted to the southwest; the captain surprised us
by taking in sail. But his sober eye had seen something more than ours;
for at noon it blew a gale, and by sunset it was deemed prudent to bring
the ship's head to the wind, and we are now lying to. The ship lurches,
and the wind howls through the bare rigging; but she rides buoyantly, and
no danger is apprehended.

"Last night, as I lay in my cabin, unable to sleep, I heard some heavy
blows strike the ship's side repeatedly, causing quite a vibration. I
felt alarmed, and went out to tell the captain. But I was obliged to go
on my hands and knees, such was the force of the wind. Passing the mate's
cabin, I heard sounds that made me listen acutely; and I then found the
blows were being struck inside the ship. I got to the captain and told
him. 'Oh,' said he, 'ten to one it's the mate nailing down his chests, or
the like.' But I assured him the blows struck the side of the ship, and,
at my earn