nety-four that I was in the Channel fleet: we
were then abreast of Torbay--"

"Here be the hot water, sir," cried Jem, putting the kettle down on the
deck.

"Very well, boy. By-the-bye, has the jar of butter come on board?"

"Yes, but it broke all down the middle. I tied him up with a ropeyarn."

"Who broke it, sir?"

"Coxswain says as how he didn't."

"But who did, sir."

"Coxswain handed it up to Bill Jones, and he says as how he didn't."

"But who did, sir."

"Bill Jones gave it to me, and I'm sure as how I didn't."

"Then who did, sir, I ask you."

"I think it be Bill Jones, sir, 'cause he's fond of butter, I know, and
there be very little left in the jar."

"Very well, we'll see to that to-morrow morning. Mr Tomkins, you'll
oblige me by putting the butter-jar down in the report, in case it
should slip my memory. Bill Jones, indeed, looks as if butter wouldn't
melt in his mouth. Never mind. Well, it was, as I said before--it was
in the year ninety-three or ninety-four, when I was in the Channel
fleet; we were then off Torbay, and had just taken two reefs in the
top-sails. Stop--before I go on with my story, I'll take my last glass;
I think it's the last--let me count. Yes, by heavens! I make out
sixteen, all told. Never mind, it shall be a stiff one. Boy, bring the
kettle, and mind you don't pour the hot water into my shoes, as you did
the other night. There, that will do. Now, Tomkins, fill up yours; and
you, Mr Smith. Let us all start fair, and then you shall have my
story--and a very curious one it is, I can tell you, I wouldn't have
believed it myself, if I hadn't seen it. Hilloa! What's this?
Confound it! What's the matter with the toddy? Heh, Mr Tomkins?"

Mr Tomkins tasted; but, like the lieutenant, he had made it very stiff;
and, as he had also taken largely before, he was, like him, not quite so
clear in his discrimination. "It has a queer _twang_, sir: Smith, what
is it?"

Smith took up his glass, tasted the contents.

"_Salt-water_," drawled the midshipman.

"Salt-water! So it is by heavens!" cried Mr Appleboy.

"Salt as Lot's wife! By all that's infamous!" cried the master's mate.

"Salt-water, sir!" cried Jem in a fright, expecting a _salt_ eel for
supper.

"Yes, sir," replied Mr Appleboy, tossing the contents of the tumbler in
the boy's face, "salt-water. Very well, sir,--very well!"

"It warn't me, sir," replied the boy, making up a piteous look.

"No,