was saying how hard it was to
get an apology out of a midshipman. I'll just tell you what took place
on board of one ship I served in. There was a young midshipman on board
who was mighty free with his tongue; he didn't care what he said to
anybody, from the captain downward. He'd have his joke, come what would,
and he'd set everybody a-laughing; punish him as much as you please, it
was all the same. One day, when we were off Halifax Harbor, the master,
who was a good-tempered fellow enough, but not overbright, was angry
with this young chap for something that he had not done, and called him
a 'confounded young bear,' upon which the youngster runs to the
Jacob-ladder of the main rigging, climbs up, and as soon as he had
gained the main rattlings he cries out, 'Well, if I'm a bear, you aren't
fit to carry guts to a bear.' 'What, sir?' cried the master. 'Mutiny, by
heavens! Up to the masthead, sir, directly.' 'Don't you see that I was
going of my own accord?' replied the midshipman; for, you see, he knew
that he would be sent there, so he went up the rigging on purpose. Well,
this was rather a serious affair, and so the master reports it to the
first lieutenant, who reports it to the captain, who sends for the
youngster on the quarter-deck, at the time that the ship's company were
at quarters. 'Mr. ----' (I forget his name), said the captain (drawing
himself up to his full height, and perhaps an inch or two above it, as
they say), 'you have been guilty of disrespect to your superior officer,
in telling him that he was not fit to carry guts to a bear' (the captain
could hardly help laughing). 'Now, sir,' continued he, recovering
himself, 'I give you your choice: either you will make an apology to Mr.
Owen on this quarter-deck, or you must quit my ship immediately.' 'Sir,'
replied the midshipman, 'I don't think it quite fair that the master
should first punish me himself and then complain to you afterward. He
has taken the law into his own hands already by mastheading me for eight
hours, and now he makes a complaint to you; but I am always ready to do
as you wish, and, to please you, I will make an apology.' 'There is some
truth in your observation,' replied the captain, 'and I have pointed the
same out to the master; but still, this is a breach of discipline which
cannot be passed over, and requires a public retraction before the whole
ship's company. I therefore insist upon your retracting what you have
said.' 'Certainly, s