y,
bending on one knee.

"Thou shalt have it, my loyal subject," replied Bruce, who was delighted
with the homage, "even (as Ahasuerus said to Esther) to the half of my
kingdom."

"God forbid that I should deprive your majesty of that," replied Jerry,
smiling at the idea of _halving nothing_. "It is only to request that I
may not keep the middle watch to-night."

"Rise, Jerry, you shall not keep a night-watch for a fortnight."

"I humbly thank your most gracious majesty," replied the astute boy, who
was a youngster of the watch of which Bruce was mate.

As the reader may be amused with the result of this promise, he must
know, that Bruce, who did not recollect what had passed, when he
perceived Jerry not to be on deck, sent down for him. The youngster, on
his appearance, claimed his promise; and his claim was allowed by Bruce,
rather than he would acknowledge himself to have been intoxicated.
Jerry, upon the strength of the agreement, continued, for more than the
prescribed time, to sleep in every night-watch, until, aware that he was
no longer safe, he thought of an expedient which would probably insure
him one night longer, and prevent a disagreeable interruption of his
dreams. Prose, whose hammock was hung up next the hatchway, had a bad
cold, and Jerry thought it prudent to shift his berth, that he might not
be found.

"It's the draught from the hatchway that makes your cold so bad, Prose;
you'll never get well while you sleep there. I will give you my inside
berth until it is better--'tis really quite distressing to hear you
cough."

"Well, now, Jerry, that's what I call very good-natured of you. I have
not had such a friendly act done towards me since I joined the ship, and
I do assure you, Jerry, that I shall not be ungrateful--I shall not
forget it."

It happened that, on the very night that Prose exchanged berths with
Jerry, Bruce made his calculation that the fortnight had elapsed three
days back: and although he felt himself bound in honour to keep his
promise, yet feeling rather sore at being over-reached, he now ordered
the quarter-master to cut Jerry's hammock down by the head. This was
supposed to be done, and poor Prose, who had just fallen asleep after
keeping the previous watch, awoke with a stunning sensation, and found
his feet up at the beams and his head on the deck; while Jerry, who had
been awakened by the noise, was obliged to cram the sheets into his
mouth, that his laughter mi