e mischief you have done and the great expense
you have occasioned by running His Majesty's ship on a shoal called the
Turtle Head; and they advise you not to be so self-sufficient in future,
and, if it be not morally impossible, to clothe yourself with the robe of
humility, and to put all your conceit into the N.W. corner of your chest,
and never let it see daylight. And the Court further adjudges you, in
consequence of your letting the pilot quit the ship before she was in
sea-way, to be severely reprimanded and also admonished as to your future
conduct, and you are hereby suspended, reprimanded, and admonished
accordingly. I dissolve this Court. Master Blacky, get dinner ready as
fast as you can, as we are very sharp set."

"Yes, massa," was the answer; "to-day you hab for dinner salt junk and
bargeman biscuit, and to-morrow you hab change." "What do you say, you
black woolly-headed rascal?" said one of the mids. "Why, I say, massa, you
hab change to-morrow--you hab bargeman biscuit and salt junk." "Why," said
another horrified mid, "I heard the caterer order you to get some fish
from the canoe alongside." "Yes, massa, dat berry true, but de d----d black
scorpion would not sell 'um to massa midshipman, cause he no hab pay for
fish last time." "If you mention that again," said one of my messmates,
"I'll crack your black cocoa-nut, and if you do not get some to-morrow,
I'll take care your grog shall be stopped." Here the caterer of the mess
interfered by promising the mess should have some fish for their dinner
next day, and the contest ended. Master Blacky started up the ladder to
stand the wrangle in the galley for our dinner, and shortly after we
attacked a tolerably good-looking piece of King's own, with the addition
of some roasted plantains, which our black factotum had forgotten to
mention in his bill of fare.

Having procured our rudder we sailed to prove, the middies said, "Whether
promotion should be stopped or not by the ship's sinking or floating?"
Fortunately for us, by the aid of the chain pumps twice a day, she did the
latter. We continued on a man-of-war's cruise there and back again for
five weeks, and then returned to our former anchorage. During this short
cruise I had prepared myself for passing, and soon after our arrival, my
time being served, I requested the first lieutenant to speak to the
captain that I might pass for a lieutenant. "Go yourself," said he, "and
tell him. He is in his room at the