.

"No, he sha'n't," said Pigtop, the master's mate, laying hold of the
much-prized treasure, "let him take anything but that."

So I flung the water-jug at his head.

We were just proceeding to handicuffs, when the master-at-arms, hearing
the riot, opened the door. We then cooled upon it, and a truce ensued.
Explanations followed the truce, and an apology, on his part, the
explanation; for which apology I very gladly gave him the pencil-case,
that I had promised to keep as long as I lived, and a heartache at the
same time.

The poor fellow had given the faithful Jemima this mutable love-gift
three days before it came into my possession, on which occasion they had
broken a crooked sixpence together. I moralised upon this, and came to
the conclusion, that, whatever a tailor might be, a sailor is no match
for a tailor's daughter, born and bred up at Chatham.

Now, I have nothing wherewith to amuse the reader about the mischievous
tricks that were played upon me in my entrance into my naval life. The
clews of my hammock were not reefed. I was not lowered down by the head
into a bucket of cold water, nor sent anywhere with a foolish message by
a greater fool than myself. The exemptions from these usual
persecutions I attribute to my robust and well-grown frame; my
disposition so easily evinced to do battle on the first occasion that
offered itself; and, lastly, my well-stocked purse, and the evident
consideration shown to me by the captain and the first-lieutenant.

As I write as much for the instruction of my readers as for their
amusement, I wish to impress upon them, if they are themselves, or if
they know any that are, going to enter into the navy, the necessity, in
the first instance, of showing or recommending a proper spirit. Never
let the _debutant_ regard how young or how feeble he may be--he must
make head against the first insult--he must avenge the first hoax. No
doubt he will be worsted, and get a good beating; but that one will save
him from many hundreds hereafter, and, perhaps, the necessity of
fighting a mortal duel. Your certain defeat will be forgotten in the
admiration of the spirit that provoked the contest. And remember, that
the person who hoaxes you is always in the wrong, and it depends only
upon yourself to heap that ridicule upon him that was intended for your
own head; to say nothing of the odium that must attach to him for the
cruelty, the cowardice, and the meanness of fighting w