because I didn't peach at
Barbadoes, when the man _sucked the monkey_?"

"To be sure I do."

"Well, then, I didn't think it fair then, as I was one of them. But now
that I'm a bit of an officer, I'll just tell you that when we get to
Carlscrona, there's a method of _sucking the monkey_ there, which, as
first lieutenant, with such a queer sort of captain, it is just as well
that you should be up to. In the old _St. George_ we had seventy men
drunk one afternoon, and the first lieutenant couldn't find it out
nohow."

"Indeed, Swinburne, you must let me into that secret."

"So I will, Mr Simple. Don't you know there's a famous stuff for cuts
and wounds, called balsam?"

"What, Riga balsam?"

"Yes, that's it; well, all the boats will bring that for sale, as they
did to us in the old _St. George_. Devilish good stuff it is for
wounds, I believe; but it's not bad to drink, and it's very strong. We
used to take it _inwardly_, Mr Simple, and the first lieutenant never
guessed it."

"What! you all got tipsy upon Riga balsam?"

"All that could; so I just give you a hint."

"I'm much obliged to you, Swinburne; I certainly never should have
suspected it. I believe seamen would get drunk upon anything."

The next morning we anchored at Spithead, and found the convoy ready for
sea. The captain went on shore to report himself to the admiral, and,
as usual, the brig was surrounded with bum-boats and wherries, with
people who wished to come on board. As we were not known on the
Portsmouth station, and had no acquaintance with the people, all the
bum-boats were very anxious to supply the ship; and as this is at the
option of the first lieutenant, he is very much persecuted until he has
made his decision. Certificates of good conduct from other officers
were handed up the side from all of them: and I looked over the books at
the capstan. In the second book the name struck me; it was that of Mrs
Trotter, and I walked to the gangway, out of curiosity, to ascertain
whether it was the same personage who, when I was a youngster, had taken
such care of my shirts. As I looked at the boats, a voice cried out,
"Oh, Mr Simple, have you forgot your old friend? don't you recollect
Mrs Trotter?" I certainly did not recollect her; she had grown very
fat, and, although more advanced in years, was a better looking woman
than when I had first seen her, for she looked healthy and fresh.

"Indeed, I hardly did recollect you, Mrs Tr