cock," expostulated the paymaster, "upon my word I
didn't think of that, or I wouldn't have been so greedy. Really, now,
upon my honour!"

Just then, the boatswain's call was heard ringing through the ship, and
the drummers began beating to quarters, which made us all jump up.

"By jingo, I wonder what's in the wind now!" exclaimed Mr Stormcock,
making a grab at his sword-belt, which he had unfastened for comfort
after his breakfast, laying it alongside him on the locker while taking
his snooze. "It's always `All hands,' or `Quarters,' or the `Fire
Bell,' or something! I was just thinking of going into my cabin and
having a fair lay off the land till noon, for there's nothing for me to
do on deck; when here comes this hanged rattle of the drum, confound it,
to upset my caulk. A fellow can't call his soul his own aboard ship--a
sailor's life's a dog's life, by jingo!"

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

THE CHAPLAIN MAKES A MISTAKE, AND WE MAKE SAIL.

"Ah! my little friend, here you are, I see, in your proper place," said
Commander Nesbitt kindly to me, on my ranging myself by his side on the
poop, where he was standing with the captain; for, being his special
messenger, or aide-de-camp, so to speak, although it was not really my
watch on deck again till late in the afternoon, I thought on hearing the
drummer beat to quarters that I ought to go to him at once. "Every man
to his station is the rule on board ship. That is only how order and
discipline can be carried out with such a large company to deal with!"

I could see, too, that this rule was observed to the very letter, for
the first lieutenant was already on the forecastle, eyeglass in eye, of
course, as usual; while Mr Bitpin was on the quarter-deck, just below
the break of the poop; and "Joe" Jellaby on the main deck, close to the
hatchway, so as to be within easy hail.

Mr Cheffinch, the gunnery lieutenant, and Charley Gilham, in their
turn, were on the lower deck, looking after things there, with all the
mates and midshipmen and cadets, each at his allotted post and everyone
equipped with sword or dirk buckled on ready for instant action.

Mr Triggs, the gunner, likewise had taken the keys of the magazine from
their proper resting-place when not wanted for use, just without the
door of the captain's cabin, where a sentry always stood guard over
them; and was now prepared with all his staff of "powder-monkeys" to
send up whatever ammunition might be required at