and I cannot recollect it, if you did not obey
that order instantaneously, I also put you in confinement, and obliged
you to leave the ship as soon as she returned to port. Do you
understand me, sir?"

"I rather think, sir," replied the carpenter, humbly touching his hat,
and walking to the main rigging, "that no such thing took place, for I
went up immediately, as I do now; and," continued the carpenter, who was
incurable, as he ascended the rigging, "as I shall again in another
27,672 years."

"That man is incorrigible with his confounded nonsense," observed the
captain to the first lieutenant. "Every mast in the ship would go over
the side, provided he could get any one to listen to his ridiculous
theory."

"He is not a bad carpenter, sir," replied the first lieutenant.

"He is not," rejoined the captain; "but there is a time for all things."

"Mr Simple, what are you about, sir?"

"I was listening to what you said," replied I, touching my hat.

"I admire your candour, sir," replied he, "but advise you to discontinue
the practice. Walk over to leeward, sir, and attend to your duty."

When I was on the other side of the deck, I looked round, and saw the
captain and first lieutenant both laughing.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

I GO AWAY ON SERVICE, AM WOUNDED AND TAKEN PRISONER WITH O'BRIEN--
DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND BETWEEN THE O'BRIENS--GET INTO COMFORTABLE
QUARTERS--MY FIRST INTERVIEW WITH CELESTE.

And now I have to relate an event, which, young as I was at the time,
will be found to have seriously affected me in after-life. How little
do we know what to-morrow may bring forth! We had regained our station,
and for some days had been standing off and on the coast, when one
morning at daybreak, we found ourselves about four miles from the town
of Cette, and a large convoy of vessels coming round a point. We made
all sail in chase, and they anchored close in shore, under a battery,
which we did not discover until it opened fire upon us. The shot struck
the frigate two or three times, for the water was smooth, and the
battery nearly level with it. The captain tacked the ship, and stood
out again, until the boats were hoisted out, and all ready to pull on
shore and storm the battery. O'Brien, who was the officer commanding
the first cutter on service, was in his boat, and I again obtained
permission from him to smuggle myself into it.

We ran on shore, amidst the fire of the gun-boats which protected the
c