d him, and in a half comic, half serious manner, said: "Well, Mr.
Culmer, I make no doubt you are well prepared for your examination." "And
who the devil put you there," answered Billy sharply, "to pass one who
taught you to be something of a sailor? Do you remember the _colting_ I
gave you when you were a youngster in my charge? But I never could beat
much seamanship into you. So you are to examine me, are you?" The two
other commissioners, who knew the whimsical character of the person before
them, called him to order, and requested he would answer some questions,
as he could not obtain his certificate without doing so. "Begin," said
Billy, turning his quid and hitching up his trousers. "You are running
into Plymouth Sound in a heavy gale from the S.E.; how would you proceed
in coming to an anchor? Your top-gallant masts are supposed to be on
deck." "I would first furl all and run under the storm forestay sail,
unfid the topmasts going in, and have a long range of both bower cables on
deck, and the sheet anchor ready. On coming to the proper anchorage I
would let go the best bower and lower the topmasts as she tended head to
wind; veer away half a cable and let go the small bower; veer away on both
cables until the best bower splice came to the hatchway. I should then
half a whole cable on one and half a cable on the other."

"'"The gale increases, and there is a heavy scud, and you find both
anchors are coming home. What then?"

"'"Then I would veer to one and a half on the best and a whole on the
other."

"'"In snubbing the best bower, it parts in the splice. What then?"

"'"What then?" exclaimed Billy sharply, for he began to be tired of being
interrogated respecting a part of seamanship he thought he knew better
than themselves. "Why," replied he, taking a fresh quid of tobacco, "I
would let go the sheet anchor."

"'"But," interrupted the elder Commissioner, "there is not, in consequence
of having dragged the bower anchors, room to veer more than a few fathoms
before you tail on the Hoe; consequently your sheet anchor, being only
under foot, will be of little or no use, and the strain being on the small
bower, it soon after parts."

"'"What humbug!" cried Billy, who could not contain himself longer. "I
tell you, gentlemen, what I would do. I would let her go on shore and be
d----d, and wish you were all on board her."

"'"Sit down, Mr. Culmer," said the second Commissioner, "and calm
yourself. We shall leav