ccession, according to his general wont, and
having a snap and a snarl at everyone. His temper, never a good one
originally, had been soured by a bad digestion and ill luck in the way
of promotion, the poor beggar having been passed over repeatedly by men
younger than himself. "How is it you were not here when the watch was
mustered?"

"I'm very sorry, sir," said I, apologetically. "I overslept myself,
sir."

"Oh, indeed? You'd better not be late again when I'm officer of the
watch, or I'll have you spread-eagled in the mizzen rigging as a warning
to others, like they nail up crows against a barn door ashore. That'll
make you sharper next time, my joker! Do you hear me, youngster?"

"Yes, sir," said I, touching my cap. "I hear you, sir."

"Very well, then. Mind you heed as well as hear!" he replied
snappishly, rather disappointed, I thought, at my making no further
answer, or trying to argue the point with him. "You can go down now to
the wardroom steward and tell him to get me a cup of coffee as quickly
as he can. Now, don't be a month of Sundays about it! Say it must be
hot and strong, and not like that dish-water he brought me yesterday;
or, I'll put him in the list and stop his grog! Do you hear me?"

"Yes, sir," I said respectfully as before, giving no occasion for
offence so as to come in for more grumbling on his part. "I hear you,
sir."

"Confound that youngster, I can't catch him anyhow!" I heard him mutter
to himself as if uttering his thoughts aloud, as I turned away with
another touch of my cap and left the quarter-deck to fulfil my errand.
"He's like those monkeys at the Rock--too artful to speak. Keeps his
tripping lines too taut for that!"

He was quite right; for, three weeks' association on board, though I had
been brought little in contact with him, had taught me to know his
character pretty well. I had learnt that the best way to get on with
Mr Bitpin was, to let him do all the talking and only to answer him
when necessity required.

It was advisable also that the reply should be made in the fewest words
possible, such a course giving him no ground for further complaint.

When I returned, some few minutes later, with the desired refreshment
for the lieutenant, which I brought up myself, thus saving the wardroom
steward, who was a very decent fellow, a probable wigging besides
getting a cup of coffee myself as a bonus for performing the service, I
found the decks swabbed and