ney, but he
could not lose more.

"I shall be tried by a court-martial, by heavens!" exclaimed the
boatswain. "It's not far from the sally-port; I'll make a run for it,
and I can slip into one of the boats and get another pair of trousers
before I report myself as having come on board;" so, making up his mind,
the boatswain took to his heels, and with his check shirt tails
streaming in the wind, ran as hard as he could to where the boat was
waiting to receive him. He was encountered by many, but he only ran the
faster the more they jeered, and, at last, arrived breathless at his
goal, flew down the steps, jumped into the boat, and squatted on the
stern sheets, much to the surprise of the officers and men, who thought
him mad. He stated in a few words that somebody had stolen his trousers
during the night; and as it was already late, the boat shoved off, the
men as well as the officers convulsed with laughter.

"Have any of you a pea-jacket?" inquired the boatswain of the men--but
the weather was so warm that none of them had brought a pea-jacket. The
boatswain looked round; he perceived that the officers were sitting on a
boat-cloak.

"Whose boat-cloak is that?" inquired the boatswain.

"Mine," replied Gascoigne.

"I trust, Mr Gascoigne, you will have the kindness to lend it to me to
go up the side with."

"Indeed I will not," replied Gascoigne, who would sooner have thrown it
overboard and have lost it, than not beheld the anticipated fun;
"recollect I asked you for a fishing-line, when we were becalmed off
Cape St. Vincent, and you sent word that you'd see me damned first. Now
I'll see you the same before you have my boat-cloak."

"Oh, Mr Gascoigne, I'll give you three lines, directly I get on board."

"I dare say you will, but that won't do now. `Tit for tat,' Mr
Boatswain, and hang all favours," replied Gascoigne, who was steering
the boat, having been sent on shore for the others. "In bow--rowed of
all." The boat was laid alongside--the relentless Gascoigne caught up
his boat-cloak as the other officers rose to go on board, and rolling it
up, in spite of the earnest entreaties of Mr Biggs, tossed it into the
main chains to the man who had thrown the stern-fast, and to make the
situation of Mr Biggs still more deplorable, the first lieutenant was
standing looking into the boat, and Captain Wilson walking the quarter
deck.

"Come, Mr Biggs, I expected you off in the first boat," cried Mr
Sawbridge