ilosophy to the proof."

"It is for that very reason, sir," replied Jack, "that I have decided
upon going to sea: and if you do remain on board, I hope to argue the
point with you, and make you a convert to the truth of equality and the
rights of man."

"By the Lord that made us both, I'll soon make you a convert to the
thirty-six articles of war--that is, if you remain on board; but I shall
now go to the captain, and report your conduct, sir, and leave you to
your dinner with what appetite you may."

"Sir, I am infinitely obliged to you; but you need not be afraid of my
appetite; I am only sorry, as you happen to belong to the same ship,
that I cannot, in justice to the gentlemanly young men whom I expect,
ask you to join them. I wish you a very good morning, sir."

"Twenty years have I been in the service," roared Sawbridge, "and,
damme,--but he's mad--downright, stark, staring mad." And the
first-lieutenant bounced out of the room.

Jack was a little astonished himself. Had Mr Sawbridge made his
appearance in uniform it might have been different, but that a
plain-looking man, with black whiskers, shaggy hair, and old blue
frock-coat and yellow casimere waistcoat, should venture to address him
in such a manner, was quite incomprehensible;--he calls me mad, thought
Jack, I shall tell Captain Wilson what is my opinion about his
lieutenant. Shortly afterwards, the company arrived, and Jack soon
forgot all about it.

In the meantime, Sawbridge called at the captain's lodgings, and found
him at home: he made a very faithful report of all that had happened,
and concluded his requests by demanding, in great wrath, either an
instant dismissal or a court-martial on our hero, Jack.

"Stop, Sawbridge," replied Captain Wilson, "take a chair. As Mr Easy
says, we must argue the point, and then I will leave it to your better
feelings. As for the court-martial, it will not hold good, for Mr
Easy, in the first place, has not yet joined the ship, and in the next
place, could not be supposed to know that you were the first-lieutenant,
or even an officer, for you went to him out of uniform."

"Very true, sir," replied Sawbridge, "I had forgotten that."

"Then, as for his dismissal, or rather, not allowing him to join, Mr
Easy has been brought up in the country, and has never seen anything
aquatic larger than a fish-pond, perhaps, in his life; and as for the
service, or the nature of it, I believe he is as ignorant of it a