he grew tired of her, and had given Trotter 200 pounds to marry her, and
that now they did nothing but get drunk together and fight with each
other.

He went to my hammock and lowered it down at one end, so that Mrs
Trotter lay with her head on the deck in a very uncomfortable position.
To my astonishment, she swore at him in a dreadful manner, but refused
to turn out. He was abusing her and shaking her in the hammock, when
Mr Trotter, who had been aroused at the noise, rushed from behind the
screen. "You villain! what are you doing with my wife?" cried he,
pummelling at him as well as he could, for he was so tipsy that he could
hardly stand.

Mr Trotter was soon knocked down, when all of a sudden Mrs Trotter
jumped up from the hammock, and caught the midshipman by the hair, and
pulled at him. Then the sentry thought right to interfere; he called
out for the master-at-arms, and went down himself to help the
midshipman, who was faring badly between the two. But Mrs Trotter
snatched the lantern out of his hand and smashed it all to pieces, and
then we were all left in darkness, and I could not see what took place,
although the scuffling continued. Such was the posture of affairs when
the master-at-arms came up with his light. The midshipman and sentry
went up the ladder, and Mr and Mrs Trotter continued beating each
other. To this, none of them paid any attention, saying, as the sentry
had said before, "Let them fight it out."

After they had fought some time, they retired behind the screen, and I
followed the advice of the midshipman, and got into my hammock, which
the master-at-arms hung up again for me. I heard Mr and Mrs Trotter
both crying and kissing each other. "Cruel, cruel Mr Trotter!" said
she blubbering.

"My life, my love, I was so jealous!" replied he.

"Damn and blast your jealousy," replied the lady; "I've two nice black
eyes for the galley to-morrow." After about an hour of kissing and
scolding, they both fell asleep again.

The next morning before breakfast, the midshipman reported to the first
lieutenant the conduct of Mr Trotter and his wife. I was sent for, and
obliged to acknowledge that it was all true. He sent for Mr Trotter,
who replied that he was not well, and could not come on deck. Upon
which the first lieutenant ordered the sergeant of marines to bring him
up directly. Mr Trotter made his appearance, with one eye closed, and
his face very much scratched.

"Did not I des