t from this he was
persuaded by Gascoigne, who told him that it would displease Captain
Wilson, and that old Tom, the Governor, would not receive him. Jack
agreed to this, and then, after a flourish about the rights of man,
tyranny, oppression, and so forth, he walked forward to the forecastle,
where he found his friend Mesty, who had heard all that had passed, and
who insidiously said to him in a low tone:

"Why you stay at sea, Massa Easy?"

"Why, indeed," thought Jack, boiling with indignation, "to be cooped up
here at the will of another? I am a fool--Mesty is right--I'll ask for
my discharge to-morrow." Jack went down below and told Gascoigne what
he had determined to do.

"You'll do no such thing, Jack," replied Gascoigne "depend upon it,
you'll have plenty of leave in a day or two. Pottyfar was in a pet with
the chaplain, who was too much for him. Captain Wilson will be on board
by nine o'clock."

Nevertheless, Jack walked his first watch in the _magnificents_, as all
middies do when they cannot go on shore, and turned in at twelve
o'clock, with the resolution of sticking to his purpose, and quitting
his Majesty's service; in fact, of presenting his Majesty with his
between two and three years' time, served as midshipman, all free,
gratis, and for nothing, except his provisions and his pay, which some
captains are bold enough to assert that they not only are not worth, but
not even the salt that accompanies it; forgetting that they were once
midshipmen themselves, and at the period were, of course, about the same
value.

The next morning Captain Wilson came off; the ship's company were
mustered, the service read by Mr Hawkins, and Jack, as soon as all the
official duties were over, was about to go up to the captain, when the
captain said to him:

"Mr Easy, the Governor desired me to bring you on shore to dine with
him, and he has a bed at your service."

Jack touched his hat, and ran down below, to make his few preparations.

By the time that Mesty, who had taken charge of his chest, etcetera, had
put his necessaries in the boat, Jack had almost made up his mind that
his Majesty should not be deprived yet awhile of so valuable an officer.
Jack returned on deck, and found that the captain was not yet ready; he
went up to Mr Pottyfar, and told him that the captain had ordered him
to go on shore with him; and Mr Pottyfar, who had quite got over his
spleen, said:

"Very well, Mr Easy--I wish you a gr