rose and bowed, at which the
others took their seats, without returning the salutation. Vigors had,
from what he had heard and now seen of Easy, thought he had somebody
else to play upon, and without ceremony he commenced.

"So, my chap, you are come on board to raise a mutiny here with your
equality--you came off scot free at the captain's table; but it won't
do, I can tell you, even in the midshipman's berth some must knock
under, and you are one of them."

"If, sir," replied Easy, "you mean by knock under, that I must submit, I
can assure you that you are mistaken. Upon the same principle that I
would never play the tyrant to those weaker than myself, so will I
resent oppression if attempted."

"Damme, but he's a regular sea lawyer already: however, my boy, we'll
soon put your mettle to the proof."

"Am I then to infer that I am not on an equality with my messmates?"
replied Jack, looking at Jolliffe. The latter was about to answer him,
but Vigors interrupted.

"Yes, you are on an equality as far as this--that you have an equal
right to the berth, if you are not knocked out of it for insolence to
your masters; that you have an equal share to pay for the things
purchased for the mess, and an equal right to have your share, provided
you can get it; you have an equal right to talk, provided you are not
told to hold your tongue. The fact is, you have an equal right with
every one else to do as you can, get what you can, and say what you can,
always provided that you can do it; for here the weakest goes to the
wall, and that is midshipmen's berth equality. Now, do you understand
all that; or will you wait for a practical illustration?"

"I am then to infer that the equality here is as much destroyed as it
even will be among savages, where the strong oppress the weak, and the
only law is club law--in fact, much the same as it is at a public or
large school on shore?"

"I suspect you are right for once. You were at a public school: how did
they treat you there?"

"As you propose treating people here--`the weakest went to the wall.'"

"Well, then, a nod's as good as a wink to a blind horse, that's all, my
hearty," said Vigors.

But the hands being turned up, "Shorten sail" put an end to the
altercation for the present.

As our hero had not yet received orders to go to his duty, he remained
below with Mesty.

"By de powers, Massa Easy, but I lub you with my hole soul," said Mesty.
"By Jasus, you really