d not yet been shipped--burst out the cross bulkheads,
sweeping like a torrent the marine, the cabin-door, and everything else
in its force, and floating Jack and the chaplain with several others
down the main hatchway on to the lower deck. The lower deck being also
full of water, men and chests were rolling and tossing about, and Jack
was sometimes in company with the chaplain, and at other times
separated; at last they both recovered their legs, and gained the
midshipmen's berth, which, although afloat, was still a haven of
security. Mr Hawkins spluttered and spit, and so did Jack, until he
began to laugh.

"This is very trying, Mr Easy," said the chaplain: "very trying indeed
to the temper. I hope I have not sworn--I hope not."

"Not a word," said Jack--"I was close to you all the time--you only
said, `God preserve us!'"

"Only that? I was afraid that I said `God damn it!'"

"Quite a mistake, Mr Hawkins. Let's go into the gun-room, and try to
wash this salt water out of our mouths, and then I will tell you all you
said, as far as I could hear it, word for word."

So Jack by this means got another glass of grog, which was very
acceptable in his wet condition, and made himself very comfortable,
while those on deck were putting on the dead-lights, and very busy
setting the goose-wings of the mainsail, to prevent the frigate from
being pooped a second time.

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

IN WHICH OUR HERO BECOMES EXCESSIVELY UNWELL, AND AGREES TO GO THROUGH A
COURSE OF MEDICINE.

The hammocks were not piped down that night: some were taken
indiscriminately for the wounded, but the rest remained in the nettings,
for all hands were busy preparing jury-masts and jury-rigging, and Mr
Pottyfar was so well employed that, for twelve hours, his hands were not
in his pockets. It was indeed a dreadful night: the waves were
mountains high, and chased the frigate in their fury, cresting,
breaking, and roaring at her taffrail; but she flew before them with the
wings of the wind; four men at the helm assisted by others at the
relieving tackles below. Jack, having been thanked on and washed off
the quarter-deck, thought that he had done quite enough; he was as deep
as he could swim before he had satisfied all the scruples of the
chaplain, and stowing himself away on one of the lockers of the
midshipmen's berth, was soon fast asleep, notwithstanding that the
frigate rolled gunwale under. Gascoigne had done much better; he h