e've room to stow
all this lumber? Strike it down into the forehold, Jacobs--but get out a
blue shirt or two, and a Scotch cap for the young whelp first, if he
wants to save that smooth toggery of his for his mammy. You're as green
as cabbage, I'm feared, my lad!" says he. By this time the boy was
struck all of a heap, an' didn't know what to say when he saw the boat
pulling for shore, except he wanted to have a sight of his bed-room.
"Jacobs," says the mate, laughing like an old bear, "take him below, and
show him his bed-room, as he calls it!" So down we went to the
half-deck, where the carpenter, bo'sun, and three or four of the
'prentices, had their hammocks slung. There I left him to overhaul his
big donkey of a chest, which his mother had stowed it with clothes
enough for a lord ambassador, but not a blessed thing fit to use--I
wouldn't 'a given my bit of a black box for the whole on it, ten times
over. There was another chockful of gingerbread, pots o' presarves,
pickles, and bottles; and, thinks I, "The old lady didn't know what
_shares_ is at sea, I reckon. 'Twill all be gone for footing, my boy,
before you've seen blue water, or I'm a Dutchman."

In a short time we was up anchor, going down with a fast breeze for the
Nore; and we stood out to sea that night, havin' to join a convoy off
Spithead. My gentleman was turned in all standing, on top o' some sails
below; and next day he was as sick as a greenhorn could be, cleaning out
his land-ballast where he lay, nor I didn't see him till he'd got
better. 'Twas blowing a strong breeze, with light canvas all in aloft,
and a single reef in the tops'ls; but fine enough for the Channel,
except the rain--when what does I see but the "Green Hand" on the
weather quarter-deck, holding on by the belaying-pins, with a yumbrella
over his head. The men for'ard was all in a roar, but none of the
officers was on deck save the third mate, The mate goes up to him, and
looks in his face. "Why," says he, "you confounded long-shore picked-up
son of a green-grocer, what _are_ you after?" an' he takes the article a
slap with his larboard-flipper, as sent it flying to leeward like a puff
of smoke. "Keep off the quarter-deck, you lubber," says he, giving him a
wheel down into the lee-scuppers--"it's well the captain didn't catch
ye!" "Come aft here, some of ye," sings out the third mate again, "to
brace up the main yard; and you, ye lazy beggar, clap on this moment and
pull!" At this the