The boys on board the _Saint Vincent_ in their slang called this
stroking business `stroniky'; and they have a rude rhyme anent it, which
embodies likewise what they catalogue as the hardships of the service--

"Pea doo and bolliky,
Hard work and stroniky,
Who wouldn't join the Navy!"

I bore my punishment unflinchingly, for, really I knew I deserved it;
but, although the gunner's mate did not spare his arm and the cuts he
gave me with his cane stung sharply, sharper than the pain I felt
physically was the consciousness that I had lost my good character!

My leave, too, was stopped, so that I did not get home for a month; not
that I cared about this much, for, to tell the truth, I hardly liked to
face father and Jenny till the recollection of my punishment had become
somewhat deadened by time and the chaff of my messmates.

They did not attach the disgrace that I did to my experience of
`stroniky.'

On the contrary, many anecdotes were told anent it after turning in that
evening, the time when we indulged in yarning amongst ourselves after
`lights out' was sounded, and all was darkness on the lower deck.

One story told was that of a young Scotchman, who, with the
characteristic thoughtfulness of his race, while blubbering, and yelling
out `Mudder--Mudder--Mudder--Mudder!' throughout the operation, yet
calculated accurately the duration of his ordeal, shouting in the most
matter-of-fact voice when given the last stroke, `That's sax!'

If not so particular as this Scotch lad in respect of numbering the
strokes I received, their effect was much more lasting in my case; for,
adopting Mick's advice rather late in the day, I threw overboard the
remaining stock of tobacco and pipes I had stowed in my `ditty box'
below and abjured smoking so long as I remained in the training-ship,
not resuming the habit until some years later when I was grown up and
was on active service abroad.

My good character, too, returned to me after a time; and I may say,
without boasting, I never lost it again while I remained on board the
_Saint Vincent_, keeping steady and trying to do my duty through good
report and ill until I left the ship.

A couple of months later on, also, I became also restored to the
captain's favour in rather a funny fashion.

I was out in the _Martin_ during her last cruise for the year, it having
got to be late in the autumn, and approaching the time for her to be
dismantled and lay up for the winter