his nondescript hat--black, small, and shining as a
japanned button, adhering to the back of his head by a kind of
supernatural agency, with which landsmen are unacquainted--can never be
seen by a true-born Englishman without feelings of gratitude and
affection, which, at all events, no other hat in the world can command.
Although the crew of the Fire-fly would have been looked upon by your
genuine seaman as a set of half-castes, which they really were, yet they
had, if possible, more recklessness of character than ever belonged to
any number of persons so congregated together; they had so often jested
at, and with death, in all its shapes, that it was little more than
pastime; and they had in their own persons experienced so many
hairbreadth 'scapes that they looked upon Springall's great and very
natural anxiety for the fate of the ship he loved, as a species of
madness which a little experience would soon cure him of. The elder ones
certainly knew that there was little use in their forming plans or
projects, as their commander would as usual adopt his own, and adhere to
them without their council or approval. It must be confessed that
lately they regarded his lying so constantly off so exposed a coast, a
proof of want of energy and forethought they had never noticed before;
but his prompt punishment of Jeromio had set his character again on a
firm footing; for, as Roupall said; "It proved that the Captain was
still himself."

When the door of the room in which they were assembled was opened,
instead of the Skipper, the long, lanky figure of the Reverend Jonas
Fleetword presented itself in the opening; his coat and hose unbrushed,
his pinnacle hat standing at its highest, and his basket-hilted sword
dangling from the belt carelessly and rudely fastened.

Those of the men who had been sitting, stood up, while others rushed
forward. Some laid their hands upon his shoulders, and all demanded
whence he came, and what he wanted.

Poor Fleetword had long since arrived at the conclusion that he had
unconsciously committed some crime, for which he was doomed to much
suffering in the flesh: first imprisoned, and destined to endure
starvation at the hands of Sir Willmott Burrell; then fed, but caged
like an animal, by one whom he denominated "a man of fearful aspect,
yea, of an angry countenance and fierce deportment, yet having
consideration for the wants of the flesh;" then, when he had been
liberated as he thought, for th