w years of my life. I had
been accustomed to the dingy obscurity of an Irish cabin, but never had
I been, I thought, in a more dark and gloomy habitation than this.

"Never fear, Jack, you'll soon find yourself at home here," said Peter,
divining my thoughts. While he was speaking, a seaman lighted a lantern
which hung from a beam, and its glare showed me that the place was more
roomy than I had supposed, and that every part of it was perfectly
clean. I found, indeed, afterwards, that it was very superior to the
places merchant-seamen are compelled often to live in. Some of the crew
slept in standing bed-places ranged round the sides of the vessel, or
rather inside her bows, while for others hammocks were slung from the
beams which supported the deck. The chests were arranged to serve as
seats, while there was a rack for the plates and mugs belonging to their
mess.

The greater part of the crew was still on shore. "Now, Jack, that you
know the sort of place we have to live in, I'll show you the
accommodation prepared for the captain and his passengers. It must not
make you envious any more than it does me, for I think that those who
have learning and education should enjoy advantages in proportion. I
feel that it is my own fault that I do not live in as fine a cabin as
the captain does."

Even though Peter had thus prepared me to see something very fine, the
richness of the cabin fittings and furniture surpassed anything I had in
my simplicity imagined to exist. Perhaps those accustomed to such
things might not have thought it so very great. I know that there were
damask curtains, and coverings to the sofas, and mirrors, and pictures
in gold frames, and mahogany tables and chairs, and cut-glass decanters,
and china in racks, and a number of pistols and muskets and cutlasses,
all burnished and shining, fixed against a bulkhead.

"Why, this is a place fit for a king," I exclaimed; "sure he can't have
anything grander."

Peter laughed. "The captain prides himself on being very natty, and
having everything in good order," said he; "but kings, I fancy, live in
finer places than this. However, my reason for bringing you here was to
show you the place, that you may know how to behave yourself should you
be sent for to attend on the captain. You must obey him quickly, try
and understand his wishes, and keep things clean and in their places.
If you do this, you are certain to please him."

Thus it was that my