--as clock-work. After being twenty years a
first-lieutenant one gets a little method. I like regularity. Now the
admiral has never omitted asking me to dinner once, every time I have
come into harbour, except this time. I was so certain of it, that I
never expected to sail; and I have but two shirts clean in consequence."

"That's odd, isn't it?--and the more so, because he has had such great
people down here, and has been giving large parties every day."

"And yet I made three seizures, besides sweeping up those thirty-seven
tubs."

"I swept them up," observed Smith.

"That's all the same thing, _younker_. When you've been a little longer
in the service, you'll find out that the commanding officer has the
merit of all that is done; but you're _green_ yet. Let me see, where
was I? Oh!--It was about ninety-three or ninety-four, as I said. At
that time I was in the Channel fleet--Tomkins, I'll trouble you for the
hot water; this water's cold. Mr Smith, do me the favour to ring the
bell.--Jem, some more hot water."

"Please, sir," said Jem, who was bare-footed as well as bare-headed,
touching his lock of hair on his forehead, "the cook had capsized the
kettle--but he has put more on."

"Capsized the kettle! Hah!--very well--we'll talk about that to-morrow.
Mr Tomkins, do me the favour to put him in the report: I may forget
it. And pray, sir, how long is it since he has put more on?"

"Just this moment, sir, as I came aft."

"Very well, we'll see to that to-morrow. You bring the kettle aft as
soon as it is ready. I say, Mr Jem, is that fellow sober?"

"Yees, sir, he be sober as you be."

"It's quite astonishing what a propensity the common sailors have to
liquor. Forty odd years have I been in the service, and I've never
found any difference. I only wish I had a guinea for every time that I
have given a fellow seven-water grog during my servitude as
first-lieutenant, I wouldn't call the king my cousin. Well, if there's
no hot water, we must take lukewarm; it won't do to heave-to. By the
Lord Harry! Who would have thought it?--I'm at number sixteen! Let me
count, yes!--surely I must have made a mistake. A fact, by Heaven!"
continued Mr Appleboy, throwing the chalk down on the table. "Only one
more glass, after this; that is, if I have counted right--I may have
seen double."

"Yes," drawled Smith.

"Well, never mind. Let's go on with my story. It was either in the
year ninety-three or ni