I get up there,' replied I, `but it's
all to please you.' So up I went, as I have many a time since, and as
you often will, Peter, just to enjoy the fresh air and your own pleasant
thoughts, all at one and the same time.

"The first time that I put my foot on shore was at Minorca. Several of
us went on shore, and having dined upon a roast turkey, stuffed with
plum-pudding, and having drunk as much wine as would float a jolly-boat,
we ordered donkeys, to take a little equestrian exercise. Some went off
tail on end, some with their hind-quarters uppermost, and then the
riders went off instead of the donkeys; some wouldn't go off at all; as
for mine he would go--and where the devil do you think he went? Why,
into the church, where all the people were at mass; the poor brute was
dying with thirst, and smelt water. As soon as he was in,
notwithstanding all my tugging and hauling, he ran his nose into the
holy-water font, and drank it all up. They rose up from their knees and
seized me, calling upon all the saints in the calendar. Although I knew
what they meant, not a word of their lingo could I speak, to plead for
my life, and I was almost torn to pieces before the priest came up.
Perceiving the danger I was in, I wiped my finger across the wet nose of
the donkey, crossed myself, and then went down on my knees to the
priests, crying out _Culpa mea_, as all good Catholics do--though 'twas
no fault of mine, as I said before, for I tried all I could, and tugged
at the brute till my strength was gone. The priests perceived by the
manner in which I crossed myself that I was a good Catholic, and guessed
that it was all a mistake of the donkey's. They ordered the crowd to be
quiet, and sent for an interpreter, when I explained the whole story.
They gave me absolution for what the donkey had done, and after that, as
it was very rare to meet an English officer who was a good Christian, I
was in great favour during my stay at Minorca, and was living in plenty,
paying for nothing, and as happy as a cricket. So the jackass proved a
very good friend, and, to reward him, I hired him every day, and
galloped him all over the island. But, at last, it occurred to me that
I had broken my leave, for I was so happy on shore that I quite forgot
that I had only permission for twenty-four hours, and I should not have
remembered it so soon, had it not been for a party of marines, headed by
a sergeant, who took me by the collar, and dragg