ficer of the middle watch; but I'll soon turn in, for my relief is
not so big as myself, and I can thrash him."

Littlebrain was as good as his word; he cut down his relief; and then
thrashed him for venturing to expostulate. The consequence was, that in
ten minutes he was in his hammock, and "South West and by West
three-quarters West" came gently down the hatchway, and rested in his
arms. Jack soon fell fast asleep, and when he was wakened up the next
morning by the quarter-master, his bedfellow was no longer there. A
mate inquiring how the wind was, was answered by the quartermaster that
they had a fresh breeze from the North North West, by which Jack
understood that his sweetheart was no longer on duty.

Our hero had passed such a happy night with his soft and kind companion,
that he could think of nothing else; he longed for her to come again,
and, to the surprise of everybody, was now perpetually making inquiries
as to the wind which blew. He thought of her continually; and in fact
was as much in love with "South West and by West three-quarters West" as
he possibly could be. She came again--once more did he enjoy her
delightful company; again she slept with him in his hammock, and then,
after a short stay, she was relieved by another.

We do not intend to accuse the wind of inconstancy, as that was not her
fault; nor of treachery, for she loved dearly; nor of violence, for she
was all softness and mildness; but we do say, that "South West and by
West three-quarters West" was the occasion of Jack being very often in a
scrape, for our hero kept his word; he forgot all other winds, and, with
him, there was no other except his dear "South West and by West
three-quarters West." It must be admitted of Jack, that, at all events,
he showed great perseverance, for he stuck to his point.

Our hero would argue with his messmates, for it is not those who are
most capable of arguing who are most fond of it; and, like all arguers
not very brilliant, he would flounder and diverge away right and left,
just as the flaws of ideas came into his head.

"What nonsense it is your talking that way," would his opponent say;
"why don't you come to the point?"

"And so I do," cried Jack.

"Well, then, what is your point?"

"South West and by West three-quarters West," replied our hero.

Who could reply to this? But in every instance, and through every
difficulty, our hero kept his promise, until his uncle Sir Theophilus
wa