-room: and Jerry was about to follow, when Captain
Bradshaw caught him by the arm.

"Stop, my young gentleman, you've not had your `whack,' yet."

"I've had quite sufficient, sir, I thank you," replied Jerry; "an
excellent dinner--many thanks to your hospitality."

"Yes, but I must now give you your dessert."

"I've had my dessert and coffee too, sir," said Jerry, trying to escape.

"But you have not had your _chasse-cafe_, and I cannot permit you to
leave the cabin without it. Steward, desire a boatswain's mate to bring
his cat, and a quarter-master to come here with seizings."

Jerry was now in a stew--the inflexible countenance of Captain Bradshaw
showed that he was in earnest. However, he held his tongue until the
operators appeared, hoping that the captain would think better of it.

"Seize this young gentleman up to the breach of the gun,
quarter-master!"

"Will you oblige me, sir, by letting me know my offence!"

"No, sir."

"I do not belong to your ship," continued Jerry. "If I have done wrong,
Captain M--- is well known to be a strict officer, and will pay every
attention to your complaint."

"I will save him the trouble, sir."

Jerry was now seized up, and every arrangement made preparatory to
punishment. "Well, sir," resumed Jerry, "it must be as you please; but
I know what Captain M--- will say."

"What, sir?"

"That you were angry with your officers, whom you could not punish, and
revenged yourself upon a poor boy."

"Would he?--Boatswain's mate, where's your cat?"

"Here, sir;--how many tails am I to use?"

"Oh, give him the whole nine."

"Why, your honour," replied the man, in a compassionate tone, "there's
hardly room for them there."

Jerry, who, when his indignation was roused, cared little what he said,
and defied consequences, now addressed the captain.

"Captain Bradshaw, before you commence, will you allow me to tell you
what I will call you after the first lash?"

"What, sir?"

"What!" cried Jerry, with scorn,--"Why, if you cut me to pieces, and
turn me out of the service afterwards, I will call you a paltry coward,
and your own conscience, when you are able to reflect, will tell you the
same."

Captain Bradshaw started back with astonishment at such unheard-of
language from a midshipman; but he was pleased with the undaunted spirit
of the boy--perhaps he felt the truth of the observation. At all
events, it saved Jerry. After a short pause, the captain said--