the captain to embark. By
nine o'clock that evening, Mr Jack Easy was safe on board his Majesty's
sloop _Harpy_.

When Jack arrived on board, it was dark, and he did not know what to do
with himself. The captain was received by the officers on deck, who
took off their hats to salute him. The captain returned the salute, and
so did Jack very politely, after which the captain entered into
conversation with the first-lieutenant, and for a while Jack was left to
himself. It was too dark to distinguish faces, and to one who had never
been on board of a ship, too dark to move, so Jack stood where he was,
which was not far from the main bitts; but he did not stay long; the
boat had been hooked on to the quarter davits, and the boatswain had
called out:

"Set taut, my lads!"

And then with the shrill whistle, and "Away with her!" forward came
galloping and bounding along the men with the tackles; and in the dark
Jack was upset, and half a dozen marines fell upon him; the men, who had
no idea that an officer was floored among the others, were pleased at
the joke, and continued to dance over those who were down, until they
rolled themselves out of the way. Jack, who did not understand this,
fared badly, and it was not till the calls piped belay, that he could
recover his legs, after having been trampled upon by half the starboard
watch, and the breath completely jammed out of his body. Jack reeled to
a carronade slide, when the officers, who had been laughing at the lark
as well as the men, perceived his situation--among others, Mr
Sawbridge, the first-lieutenant.

"Are you hurt, Mr Easy?" said he kindly.

"A little," replied Jack, catching his breath.

"You've had but a rough welcome," replied the first-lieutenant, "but at
certain times, on board ship, it is every man for himself, and God for
us all. Harpur," continued the first-lieutenant to the doctor, "take
Mr Easy down in the gun-room with you, and I will be down myself as
soon as I can. Where is Mr Jolliffe?"

"Here, sir," replied Mr Jolliffe, a master's mate, coming aft from the
booms.

"There is a youngster come on board with the captain. Order one of the
quartermasters to get a hammock slung."

In the meantime Jack went down into the gun-room, where a glass of wine
somewhat recovered him. He did not stay there long, nor did he venture
to talk much. As soon as his hammock was ready, Jack was glad to go to
bed--and as he was much bruised he was not d