n a hurry forgot to use these pans;
but as the mess to which the stain might be opposite had their grog
stopped if the party were not found out, they took good care not only to
keep a look-out, but to inform against the offender. Now the punishment
for the offence was as follows--the man's hands were tied behind his
back, and a large tin spitting-box fixed to his chest by a strap over
the shoulders. All the other boxes on the lower deck were taken away,
and he was obliged to walk there, ready to attend the summons of any man
who might wish to empty his mouth of the tobacco-juice. The other men
were so pleased at the fancy, that they spat twice as much as before,
for the pleasure of making him run about.

I was much amused one morning watch that I kept. We were stowing the
hammocks in the quarter-deck nettings, when one of the boys came up with
his hammock on his shoulder, and as he passed the first lieutenant, the
latter perceived that he had a quid of tobacco in his cheek.

"What have you got there, my good lad--a gum-boil?--your cheek is very
much swelled."

"No, sir," replied the boy, "there's nothing at all the matter."

"Oh, there must be; it is a bad tooth, then. Open your mouth, and let
me see."

Very reluctantly the boy opened his mouth, and discovered a large roll
of tobacco-leaf.

"I see, I see," said the first lieutenant, "your mouth wants
overhauling, and your teeth cleaning. I wish we had a dentist on board;
but as we have not, I will operate as well as I can. Send the armourer
up here with his tongs."

When the armourer made his appearance, the boy was made to open his
mouth, while the chaw of tobacco was extracted with his rough
instrument.

"There now," said the first lieutenant, "I am sure that you must feel
better already; you never could have had any appetite. Now, captain of
the afterguard, bring a piece of old canvas and some sand here, and
clean his teeth nicely."

The captain of the afterguard came forward, and putting the boy's head
between his knees, scrubbed his teeth well with the sand and canvas for
two or three minutes.

"There, that will do," said the first lieutenant. "Now, my little
fellow, your mouth is nice and clean, and you'll enjoy your breakfast.
It was impossible for you to have eaten anything with your mouth in such
a nasty state. When it's dirty again, come to me and I'll be your
dentist."

One day I was on the forecastle with Mr Chucks, the boatswain, wh