nour; will you permit us to have it
read to us at the present meeting? we will be all attention. We will
not deprive you of your wine--give the book to the younker."

"If you will be so kind, Captain Reud, to promise for yourself and the
other gentlemen, to raise no discussion upon any particular phrase that
may arise."

The captain did promise. We shall presently see how that promise was
kept. The book was sent for, and placed in my hands. Now I fully
opined that at least we should get past the second page. I was
curiously mistaken.

"Here, steward," said the skipper, "place half a bottle of claret near
Mr Rattlin. When your throat is dry, younker, you can whet your
whistle; and when you come to any particular fine paragraph, you may
wash it down with a glass of wine."

"If that's the case, sir, I think, with submission, I ought to have my
two bottles before me also; but, if I follow your directions implicitly,
Captain Reud, I may get drunk in the first chapter."

Mr Silva thanked even a midshipman, with a look of real gratitude, for
this diversion in his favour. I had begun to like the man, and there
might have been a secret sympathy between us, as one day it was to be my
fate also to write myself, author.

Having adjusted ourselves into the most comfortable attitudes that we
could assume, I began, as Lord Ogleby hath it, "with good emphasis, and
good discretion," to read the "Tour up and down the Rio de la Plate."
Before I began, the captain had sent for the master, and the honourable
Mr B---; so I had a very respectable audience.

I had no sooner finished the passage, "After we had paved our way down
the river," than with one accord, and evidently by preconcert, every one
stretching forth his right hand, as do the witches in Macbeth, roared
out, "Stop!" It was too ludicrous. My eyes ran with tears, as I laid
down the book, with outrageous laughter. Mr Silva started to his feet,
and was leaving the cabin, when he was _ordered_ back by Captain Reud.
An appearance of amicability was assumed, and to the old argument they
went, baiting the poor author like a bear tied to a stake. Debating is
a thirsty affair; the two bottles to each, and two more, quickly
disappeared; the wine began to operate, and with the combatants
discretion was no longer the better part of valour.

Whilst words fell fast and furious, I observed something about eight
feet long and one high, on the deck of the cabin, covered with t