hes, and holystones, I know not, but she certainly grew and
flourished at a most astonishing rate, and every day waxed more and
more impudent and importunate at the dinner-hour. I saw a good deal of
this familiarity going on, but had no idea of the estimation Jean was
held in, till one day, when we were about half-way across the China
Sea, and all our stock of sheep, fowls, and ducks, was expended, I
said to the steward, "You had better kill the pig, which, if properly
managed, will last till we reach Macao."

The servant stood for some time fumbling with his hair, and shuffling
with his feet, muttering something to himself.

"Don't you hear?" I asked. "Kill the pig; and let us have the fry
to-day; the head with plenty of port wine, as mock-turtle soup,
to-morrow; and get one of the legs roasted for dinner on Saturday."

Off he went; but in half-an-hour returned, on some pretence or other,
when he took occasion to ask,--

"Did you say Jean was to be killed, sir?"

"Jean! Who is Jean?--Oh, now I remember; the pig. Yes, certainly. Why
do you bother and boggle so about killing a pig?"

"The ship's company, sir--"

"Well; what have the ship's company to say to my pig?"

"They are very fond of Jean, sir."

"The devil they are! Well; what then?"

"Why, sir, they would take it as a great kindness if you would not
order her to be killed. She is a great pet, sir, and comes to them
when they call her by name, like a dog. They have taught her not to
venture abaft the mainmast; but if you only call her, you'll see that
what I say is true."

"Indeed! I'll soon try that experiment;" and seized my hat to go on
deck.

"Shall I tell the butcher to hold fast?" asked Capewell.

"Of course!" I exclaimed. "Of course!"

Off shot the steward like an arrow; and I could soon distinguish the
effect of the announcement, by the intermission of those horrible
screams which ever attend the execution of the pig tribe, all which
sounds were instantly terminated on the seizings being cut that tied
poor Jean's legs.

On reaching the quarter-deck, I told what had passed to the officer of
the watch, who questioned its propriety a little, I thought, by the
tone of his answer. I, however, called out "Jean! Jean!" and in a
moment the delighted pig came prancing along. So great, in fact, was
her anxiety to answer the call, as if to show her sense of the
trifling favour I had just conferred upon her, that she dashed towards
us, tripped up t