hite bit
soft tommy, sar,--broil him a sodger, sar--bumboat alongside, get a
fresh herring for relish, sar."

"Get me a little fresh air--take me upstairs."

"O Gemminnie! hi! hi! hi!--young gentleman, Massa Johnny Newcome. This
way, sar."

Conducted by this angel of darkness, I regained the deck and daylight,
and the nausea soon left my chest and the pain my head. I then made
this reflection, that whatever glory a naval officer may attain, if he
went through the ordeal I was about essaying, he richly deserved it.
The captain and some of the other officers now came on board. I was
introduced to most of them, and the skipper made himself very merry with
an account of my recent adventure with the master's mate, who was still
at the mast-head, as a convincing proof of the accuracy of the story,
and was plainly distinguishable some half-mile higher up the Medway.

I soon entered into conversation with one of the young gentlemen who was
destined to be, for so long, my messmate. I told him that the air below
would kill me. He acknowledged that it was bad enough to kill a dog,
but that a reefer could stand it. He also advised me not to have my
uniforms altered by the ship's tailors, as it would be done in a
bungling manner; but to get leave to go on shore, and that he would
introduce me to a very honest tradesman, who would do me justice. I
expressed my hopes to him, in a dry manner, that he did not belong to
the regiment of horse marines. He understood me, and said, upon his
honour, no: that it was all fair and above board; and as a
recommendation, which he thought would be irresistible, he added that
this tailor had a very pretty daughter, with the very pretty name of
Jemima.

As the latter information was very satisfactory evidence as to the skill
and honesty of the tradesman, I could not be guilty of such a _non
sequitur_ as not to promise to employ him. I then told him to make
haste and come on shore with me. I now was made painfully sensible
that, before I could enjoy my wishes, a little ceremony was needful; in
fact, that my powers of locomotion were no longer under my own control,
excepting for about one hundred and twenty feet in one direction, and
about thirty-five in another. As I was passing over the starboard side
of the quarter-deck, to ask leave to go on shore, the captain accosted
me, and did me the honour to request my company to dinner at his table.
Finding him in so bland a humour, I preferr