to go down the rigging. I went to my chest, and paid the seven
shillings to one of the topmen who followed me, and then went up on the
main-deck to learn as much as I could of my profession.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

MY MESSMATES SHOW ME THE FOLLY OF RUNNING IN DEBT--THE EPISODE OF SHOLTO
MCFOY.

Now that I have been on board about a month, I find that my life is not
disagreeable. I don't smell the pitch and tar, and I can get into my
hammock without tumbling out on the other side. My messmates are
good-tempered, although they laugh at me very much: but I must say that
they are not very nice in their ideas of honour. A few days after I
came onboard, I purchased some tarts of the bumboat woman, as she is
called; I wished to pay for them, but she had no change, and very
civilly told me she would trust me. She produced a narrow book, and
said that she would open an account with me, and I could pay her when I
thought proper. To this arrangement I had no objection, and I sent up
for different things until I thought that my account must have amounted
to eleven or twelve shillings. As I promised my father that I never
would run in debt, I considered that it was then time that it should be
settled. When I asked for it, what was my surprise to find that it
amounted to 2 pounds 14 shillings, 6 pence. I declared that it was
impossible, and requested that she would allow me to look at the items,
when I found that I was booked for at least three or four dozen tarts
every day, ordered by the young gentlemen "to be put down to Mr
Simple's account." I was very much shocked, not only at the sum of
money which I had to pay, but also at the want of honesty on the part of
my messmates; but when I complained of it in the berth, they all laughed
at me.

At last one of them said, "Peter, tell the truth; did not your father
caution you not to run in debt?"

"Yes, he did," replied I.

"I know that very well," replied he: "all fathers do the same when their
sons leave them; it's a matter of course. Now observe, Peter; it is out
of regard to you, that your messmates have been eating tarts at your
expense. You disobeyed your father's injunctions before you had been a
month from home; and it is to give you a lesson that may be useful in
after-life, that they have considered it their duty to order the tarts.
I trust that it will not be thrown away upon you. Go to the woman, pay
your bill, and never run up another."

"That I certain