ing the mockery of a trial in the saloon, and their
differences of opinion on some points were so strong that at one moment
the proceedings seemed more than likely to be diversified by a pitched
battle. Rogers, however, whose head seemed capable of resisting the
effects of almost any amount of liquor, interposed between the
belligerents, and by a determined exercise of his newly-acquired
authority, and by most frightful threats of the chastisement which he
personally would inflict on the first man who ventured to disobey him,
succeeded at length in restoring some semblance of order. This
achieved, he ordered a grating to be rigged in the larboard gangway, and
that, when this was done, the chief mate should be seized thereto.

His orders were speedily carried out; and when the man Nicholls,
stripped to the waist, was firmly lashed to the grating in readiness to
receive his punishment, Rogers ordered that the second mate should be
brought to him.

The miserable Thomson was thereupon led before him, and a more wretched
spectacle than this man presented it would be difficult to find. His
old blustering, bullying, overbearing manner had completely deserted
him; the fear of death was upon him; and he shivered like a man in an
ague-fit.

"You Thomson," said Rogers, addressing him in a calm matter-of-fact tone
of voice, as if what he was about to say had reference only to some
trifling everyday affair, "you was present at the trial of that man
Nicholls as stands seized up to yonder grating, and you knows the
punishment as it was decided for to give him. It was five and twenty
lashes, well laid on; you hears that, _well laid on_. Wery good. Now,
this here same man Nicholls, it seems to me, is in a sort o' way to
blame for getting _you_ into your trouble. If he'd been a proper sort
of man, understandin' that he owed a dooty to the _crew_ as well as to
the owners of the ship, instead of encouraging you in your goin's-on
agin us, he'd have took you o' one side, and he'd ha' said to you, `Look
here, Thomson, my good feller, you mustn't be too hard upon them poor
sailor-men for'ard; you knows as they don't muster a full-handed crew,
and so it don't stand to reason as they can do so much as if they _was_
full-handed; they're a decent enough willin' lot of men, and we mustn't
axe too much from 'em. Just keep that in mind, and make things as easy
as you can for 'em.' If he'd been a proper sort of man, I say, he'd
have said s