lways split and worn in
the front, from constantly taking it off, instead of touching it, when
he came on the quarter-deck; and, as soon as it was too far gone in
front to raise the purchase off his head, he used to shift it end for
end, bringing the back part in front, and then he would wear it, until,
as the Yankees say, it was in `taterations altogether,' and he was
forced to bend a new one.

"Now, we had a boy on board, who entered one day when the captain landed
at Torquay to dine with a friend. His name was Jack Jervis: his father
and his whole tribe had been fishermen for as long as could be
remembered; and Jack himself had been drafted out of his cradle into a
coble; and there he had continued day and night, from one year's end to
another, helping his father to fish--so, you see, it had become second
nature to him; and, after he came on board, his liking for his former
calling still remained with him, and he never was so happy as when his
line was overboard, or when he was snooding a hook in some corner or
another. He went by the name of Jack the Fisherman; and a smart,
active, willing lad he was, sure enough.

"Now, there was a little difficulty between Old Duty and Jack the
Fisherman. Old Duty would not allow the lines to be overboard when the
ship was in harbour; as he said it was untidy in appearance, and that
there was always plenty of work, and no time for fishing. So Jack
hadn't pulled up his line ten or a dozen times before he was pulled up
himself. `Whose line's that?' says Old Duty. `Mine, sir,' says Jack,
touching his hat. `I don't allow fishing, young man,' said the first
lieutenant. `You understand me?--I don't allow fishing. You've your
duty to do, sir, and I've got mine.'

"Jack, who had only been two or three days on board, and who, I believe,
would never have entered, had he known that there would have been such a
`_weto_,' as the boatswain used to call it, looked quite astonished, and
said,--

"`What, mayn't I fish, sir?'

"`No, my man, you must not fish without permission; and that I never
give in harbour. If I catch you fishing again, you get two dozen at the
gun, recollect that. You've got your duty to do, and I've got mine.'

"Well, Jack could not give up his habit, so he used to fish at night,
and all night long, out of the fore-chains; but it so happened that the
ship's corporal caught Jack in the middle watch, and reports him to the
first lieutenant.

"`So, you've bee