afe," was the next
squall through the trumpet, "the mastheads are secured to the beams."
"Thank you for nothing," said I to myself, "it's more good luck than good
management." When the ship was hove down, we got some of the pumps to work
on the side next the water, as it had gone from the well, and in a few
hours kept her clear. On the fourth day we righted her, as the dockyard
maties had botched her up.

We had now to wait about six weeks for the rudder; in the meanwhile we got
on board the water, provisions and stores, and fresh powder, the last
having had a ducking. From the time the ship came to the yard we had slept
and messed in the capstan house, consequently we had not an opportunity of
holding a cockpit inquiry on the master's conduct for running the vessel
on shore. The second day after getting on board we put on our scrapers and
toasting-forks, and assembled in the larboard berth, which was illuminated
for the occasion by four farthing candles. The court consisted of fourteen
members. I was chosen president; a black man who waited on our berth was
to personate the master. After taking our seats according to seniority, we
declared we would show neither favour nor partiality to the prisoner, but
try him fairly by the rules of the cockpit. I began, as president, by
asking him the reason he let the pilot quit the ship before she was clear
of the shoals.

Prisoner: "'Cause, massa, I had berry good opinion of myself, and I tink I
sabby de ground better den dat black scorpion who call himself pilot."

President: "If you knew the channels better than the pilot, how came you
to let the ship get on shore on the Turtle Head shoal?"

Prisoner: "Ah, Massa President, me no tink Turtle Head lib dere; me tink
him lib tree legs more west. De chart say him moral impossible he lib so
near Port Royal."

Here the chart was examined, and the shoal was in reality laid down in a
wrong place. This saved the master, or he must have been smashed. Here the
court adjourned to consider the sentence. After laughing and joking some
short time in the larboard wing, we again assembled looking as solemn as a
Lord Chancellor, when I, as the noble president, addressed the prisoner as
follows:--

"Prisoner, this honourable Court having duly considered the unseamanlike
and stupid blunder you have committed, do adjudge you to be suspended from
your duty as master of this ship for six calendar months, in order to give
you time to reflect on th