t Mr Easy might be
summoned.

As soon as Jack made his appearance, Captain Wilson called to Easthupp.
"Now, purser's steward, what is this you have to say?"

"If you please, Captain Vilson, I am wery sorry to be obliged to make
hany complaint of hany hofficer, but this Mr Heasy thought proper to
make use of language quite hunbecoming of a gentleman, and then to kick
me as I vent down the atchvay."

"Well, Mr Easy, is this true?"

"Yes, sir," replied Jack; "I have several times told the fellow not to
address himself to me, and he will. I did tell him he was a radical
blackguard, and I did kick him down the hatchway."

"You told him he was a radical blackguard, Mr Easy?"

"Yes, sir; he comes bothering me about his republic, and asserting that
we have no want of a king and aristocracy."

Captain Wilson looked significantly at Mr Sawbridge.

"I crtainly did hoffer my political opinions, Captain Vilson; but you
must be avare that ve hall ave an hequal stake in the country--and it's
a Hinglishman's birthright."

"I'm not aware what your stake in the country may be, Mr Easthupp,"
observed Captain Wilson, "but I think that, if you used such
expressions, Mr Easy was fully warranted in telling you his opinion."

"I ham villing, Captain Vilson, to make hany hallowance for the eat of
political discussion--but that is not hall that I ave to complain hof.
Mr Easy thought proper to say that I was a swindler and a liar."

"Did you make use of those expressions, Mr Easy?"

"Yes, sir, he did," continued the steward, "and, moreover, told me not
to cheat the men, and not to cheat my master the purser. Now, Captain
Vilson, is it not true that I am in a wery hostensible sitevation, but I
flatter myself that I ave been vell edecated, and vos vonce moving in a
wery different society--misfortains vill appin to us hall, and I feel my
character has been severely injured by such impertations;" whereupon Mr
Easthupp took out his handkerchief, flourished, and blew his nose. "I
told Mr Heasy that I considered myself quite as much of a gentleman as
himself, and at hall hewents did not keep company with a black feller
(Mr Heasy will understand the insinevation), vereupon Mr Heasy, as I
before said, your vorship, I mean you, Captain Vilson, thought proper to
kick me down the atchvay."

"Very well, steward, I have heard your complaint, and now you may go."

Mr Easthupp took his hat off with an air, made his bow, and went down
the main