knew
whether I had done right or wrong; at all events, thought I to myself, I
did for the best; so I put it on the capstan, and walked to my own side
of the deck. The captain and first lieutenant then went below, and
O'Brien came aft.

I told him what had occurred, and how the master was angry with me.
O'Brien laughed very heartily, and told me never to mind, but to keep in
the lee-scuppers and watch him. "A glass of grog is a bait that he'll
play round till he gorges. When you see it to his lips, go up to him
boldly, and ask his pardon, if you have offended him, and then, if he's
a good Christian, as I believe him to be, he'll not refuse it."

I thought this was very good advice, and I waited under the bulwark on
the lee-side. I observed that the master made shorter and shorter turns
every time, till at last he stopped at the capstan and looked at the
grog. He waited about half a minute, and then he took up the tumbler,
and drank about half of it. It was very strong, and he stopped to take
breath. I thought that this was the right time, and I went up to him.
The tumbler was again to his lips, and before he saw me, I said, "I hope
sir, you'll forgive me; I never heard of a night telescope, and knowing
that you had walked so long, I thought you were tired, and wanted
something to drink to refresh you."

"Well, Mr Simple," said he, after he had finished the glass, with a
deep sigh of pleasure, "as you meant kindly, I shall let you off this
time; but recollect, that whenever you bring me a glass of grog again,
it must not be in the presence of the captain or first lieutenant."

At last our watch was over, and about two bells I was relieved by the
midshipman of the next watch. It is very unfair not to relieve in time,
but if I said a word, I was certain to be thrashed the next day upon
some pretence or another. On the other hand, the midshipman whom I
relieved was also much bigger than I was, and if I was not up before one
bell, I was cut down and thrashed by him: so that between the two I kept
much more than my share of the watch, except when the master sent me to
bed before it was over.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

THE FIRST LIEUTENANT PRESCRIBES FOR ONE OF HIS PATIENTS, HIS
PRESCRIPTIONS CONSISTING OF "DRAUGHTS" ONLY--O'BRIEN FINISHES THE
HISTORY OF HIS LIFE, IN WHICH THE PROVERB OF "THE MORE THE MERRIER" IS
SADLY DISPROVED--"SHIPPING" A NEW PAIR OF BOOTS CAUSES THE "UNSHIPPING"
OF THEIR OWNER--WALKING HOME AF