t out for punishment; `but I can't bear to see an innocent
man punished, and since one must be flogged, it must be the right one.
It warn't Bill Short that took the liquor; it was I.'

"`Why, how's this?' said the captain; `didn't you own that you took the
liquor, Mr Short?'

"`Why, yes, I did say so, 'cause I didn't wish to see _everybody_
flogged--but the truth's the truth, and I had no hand in it.'

"`Cast him loose--Holmes, you'll strip, sir.' Holmes stripped and was
tied up. `Give him a dozen,' said the captain; when out steps M'Alpine,
and swore it was him, and not Holmes; and ax'd leave to be flogged in
his stead. At which the captain bit his lips to prevent laughing, and
then they knew all was right. So another came forward, and says it was
him, and not M'Alpine; and another contradicts him again, and so on. At
last the captain says, `One would think flogging was a very pleasant
affair; you are all so eager to be tied up; but, however, I shan't flog,
to please you. I shall find out who the real culprit is, and then
punish him severely. In the meantime, you keep them all on the report,
Mr P---,' speaking to the first lieutenant. `Depend upon it, I'll not
let you off, although I do not choose to flog innocent men.' So they
piped down, and the first lieutenant, who knew that the captain never
meant to take any more notice of it, never made no inquiries, and the
thing blew over. One day, a month or two after, I told the officers how
it was managed, and they laughed heartily."

We continued our carouse till a late hour, old Tom constantly amusing us
with his long yarns; and that night, for the first time, I went to bed
intoxicated. Old Tom and his son assisted me into my bed-place, old Tom
observing, "Poor Jacob; it will do him good; his heart was heavy, and
now he'll forget it all, for a little time, at all events."

"Well but, father, I don't like to see Jacob drunk," replied young Tom.
"It's not like him--it's not worthy of him; as for you or me, it's
nothing at all; but I feel Jacob was never meant to be a toper. I never
saw a lad so altered in a short time, and I expect bad will come of it
when he leaves us."

I awoke, as might be supposed, after my first debauch, with a violent
headache, but I had also a fever, brought on by my previous anxiety of
mind. I rose, dressed, and went on deck, where the snow was nearly a
foot deep. It now froze hard, and the river was covered with small
pieces of