o first-lieutenant"--were the unconnected
parts of his expostulation, which could be distinguished. He was
extended across the table, face downwards; the lapels of his coat thrown
up, and two dozen blows, with the sleeve-board, were administered with
such force, that his shrieks were even louder than the laughter and
vociferation of his assailants.

During the infliction, the noise within was so great that they did not
pay attention to that which was outside, but as soon as Mr Skrimmage
had been put on his legs again, and the tumult had partially subsided,
the voice of the master-at-arms requesting admittance, and the screaming
of Mrs Skrimmage, were heard at the door, which continued locked and
guarded. The door was opened, and in flew the lady.

"My Skrimmage! my Skrimmage!--what have the brutes been doing to you?
Oh, the wretches!" continued the lady, panting for breath, and turning
to the midshipmen, who had retreated from her;--"you shall all be turned
out of the service--you shall--that you shall. We'll see--we'll write
for a court-martial--ay, you may laugh, but we will. Contempt to a
superior officer--clerk and caterer, indeed! The service has come to a
pretty pass--you villains! You may grin--I'll tear the eyes out of some
of you, that I will. Come, Mr Skrimmage, let us go on the
quarter-deck, and see if the service is to be trifled with. Dirty scum,
indeed--" and the lady stopped for want of breath occasioned by the
rapidity of her utterance.

"Gentlemen," said the master-at-arms, as soon as he could obtain
hearing,--"the first-lieutenant wishes to know the reason why you are
making such a noise?"

"Our compliments to Mr Phillips, and we have been settling the
mess-account, and taking the change out of the caterer."

"Yes," continued Mrs Skrimmage, "you villains, you have, you paltry
cheats--you blackguards--you warmin--you scum of the earth--you grinning
monkeys--you!--don't put your tongue into your cheek at me, you--you
beast--you ill-looking imp, or I'll write the ten commandments on your
face--I will--ay, that I will--cowardly set of beggars--" (No more
breath.)

"I'll tell you what, marm," rejoined the old master's-mate, "if you
don't clap a stopper on that jaw of yours, by George, we'll _cobb_ you."

"Cobb me!--you will, will you? I should like to see you. I dare you to
cobb me, you wretches!"

"Cobb her, cobb her!" roared out all the midshipmen, who were irritated
at her language; a