sary orders, which he did not receive from
the captain.

The hands flew aloft. My station was in the main-top, to which I
quickly ran up. Royals and topgallant sails were speedily taken in, two
reefs in the topsails, the yards were squared, and we ran off before the
fast-rising gale. We pitched and rolled pretty considerably as it was;
it would have been much worse if we had been close-hauled. As the gale
was from the northward, we ran south all the night.

In the morning it was my turn, with Dicky Larcom, to breakfast with the
captain, which, according to his lordship's orders, the young gentlemen
in the berth had taken their turns to do with considerable, regularity.
We had to dress in our best, and at the appointed hour we made our
appearance at the cabin door.

The captain treated us with his usual urbanity. We took our seats, and
had got through some slices of ham and toast, when Lord Robert told us
to help ourselves to coffee. As the ship was rolling and pitching, I,
knowing what might happen if I filled my cup, poured out only a small
quantity. Poor Dicky, not aware of the necessity of taking the same
precaution, filled his to the brim; when, just as he was about to lift
it to his lips, out flew the contents over the fine blue damask
table-cloth. On this Lord Robert jumped up, his countenance exhibiting
anything but an amiable expression, and, seizing poor Dicky by the
collar, he gave him a kick which sent him flying to the cabin door, with
an expression which sounded very unlike a blessing, exclaiming--

"Who is to wash breakfast-cloths for such a young powder-monkey as you?
Remember that in future you only breakfast with me once a month." Then
turning to me, he said in a gentle tone, "You see, Finnahan, I must
maintain discipline."

I of course said nothing, but bolted the remainder of my breakfast as
fast as I could, thinking it prudent to take my leave, lest his lordship
should, with or without reason, find fault with anything I might do, and
treat me in the same way.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

A MIDDY FLOGGED.

On returning to the berth, I found poor Dicky blubbering, and looking
very melancholy.

"It was not the loss of my breakfast, for I don't care if I never have
another with him, but it was the indignity with which I was treated," he
exclaimed. At this most of our messmates laughed.

"Indignity, do you call it, Dicky, to be kicked by a lord? It's a high
honour," said old Grumpus