sed to shove her up the companion-ladder
just in the same way, with his head completely buried in her petticoats.
As soon as she was up, he used to pull his head out, looking as red and
hot as a fresh boiled lobster. Well, up she came, with her will in her
hand, and looking at me very fiercely, she said, `since the shark has
taken my dear dog, he may have my will also,' and throwing it over
board, she plunged down on the carronade slide. `It's very well,
madam,' said I; `but you'll be cool by-and-bye, and then you'll make
another will.' `I swear by all the hopes that I have of going to heaven
that I never will!' replied she. `Yes you will, madam,' replied I.
`Never, so help me God! Captain Kearney, my money may now go to my next
heir, and that, you know, will not be you.' Now, as I knew very well
that the old lady was very positive, and as good as her word, my object
was to recover the will, which was floating about fifty yards astern,
without her knowledge. I thought a moment, and then I called the
boatswain's mate to pipe _all hands to bathe_. `You'll excuse me, Miss
Kearney,' said I, `but the men are going to bathe, and I do not think
you would like to see them all naked. If you would, you can stay on
deck.' She looked daggers at me, and rising from the carronade slide,
hobbled to the ladder, saying, that `the insult was another proof of how
little I deserved any kindness from her.' As soon as she was below, the
quarter-boats were lowered down, and I went in one of them and picked up
the will, which still floated. Brigs having no stern-windows, of course
she could not see my manoeuvre, but thought that the will was lost for
ever. We had very bad weather after that, owing to which, with the loss
of her favourite pug, and constant quarrelling with me--for I did all I
could to annoy her afterwards--she fell ill, and was buried a fortnight
after she was landed at Plymouth. The old lady kept her word; she never
made another will. I proved the one I had recovered at Doctor's
Commons, and touched the whole of her money."

As neither the first lieutenant nor I could prove whether the story was
true or not, of course we expressed our congratulations at his good
fortune, and soon afterwards left the cabin to report the marvellous
story to our messmates. I went on deck. I found that the shark had
just been hooked, and was being hauled on board. Mr Phillott had also
come on deck. The officers were all eager abo