Mary
Axe, where he had, been taught to read and write, and had afterwards
made his escape. He joined the juvenile thieves of the metropolis, had
been sent to Bridewell, obtained his liberty, and by degrees had risen
from petty thieving of goods exposed outside of the shops and
market-stalls, to the higher class of gentlemen pickpockets. His
appearance was some what genteel, with a bullying sort of an impudent
air, which is mistaken for fashion by those who know no better. A
remarkable neat dresser, for that was part of his profession; a very
plausible manner and address; a great fluency of language, although he
clipped the king's English; and, as he had suffered more than once by
the law, it is not to be wondered at that he was, as he called himself,
a _hout-and-hout_ radical. During the latter part of his service, in
his last ship, he had been employed under the purser's steward, and
having offered himself in this capacity to the purser of H.M. sloop
_Harpy_, with one or two forged certificates, he had been accepted.

Now, when Mr Easthupp heard of Jack's opinions, he wished to cultivate
his acquaintance, and with a bow and a flourish, introduced himself
before they arrived at Gibraltar, but our hero took an immediate dislike
to this fellow from his excessive and impertinent familiarity.

Jack knew a gentleman when he met one, and did not choose to be a
companion to a man beneath him in every way, but who, upon the strength
of Jack's liberal opinions, presumed to be his equal. Jack's equality
did not go so far as that; in theory it was all very well, but in
practice it was only when it suited his own purpose.

But the purser's steward was not to be checked--a man who has belonged
to the swell mob is not easily repulsed; and although Jack would plainly
show him that his company was not agreeable, Easthupp would constantly
accost him familiarly on the forecastle and lower deck, with his arms
folded, and with an air almost amounting to superiority. At last, Jack
told him to go about his business, and not to presume to talk to him,
whereupon Easthupp rejoined, and after an exchange of hard words, it
ended by Jack kicking Mr Easthupp, as he called himself, down the
after-lower-deck hatchway. This was but a sorry specimen of Jack's
equality--and Mr Easthupp, who considered that his honour had been
compromised, went up to the captain on the quarter-deck, and lodged his
complaint--whereupon Captain Wilson desired tha