d made him forget the matter.

Pearson lost no opportunity of strengthening me in my resolution not to
yield to any temptations Owen might throw in my way. The latter,
however, was not easily to be turned from his purpose. Again and again
he tried to prevail on me to accompany him on shore, laughing at my
scruples, and accusing me of parsimony and meanness. I did not give him
credit for any other motive for his wish to have me as his companion
beyond the very natural one of a desire to enjoy the use of my purse.
When he found that he had lost his influence over me, and that the move
he attempted to regain it the more I kept aloof from him, his whole
manner towards me in private changed, though in public, especially in
presence of the captain and lieutenant, it was as friendly as before.

I now found myself subject to a number of petty annoyances, of which I
was nearly certain that he was the author, though I could not trace them
completely. My hammock was over and over again cut down by the head, to
the risk of breaking my neck; my chest was rifled, and articles of value
in it destroyed, and even my uniforms were so injured, that at last I
could scarcely appear respectably on the quarter-deck. When my watch
was over, and I came down to meals, I found that the worst of everything
had been kept for me, often food that was scarcely eatable. At the
mess-table, though still pretending great regard, he lost no opportunity
of making sarcastic remarks, and placing me on every occasion in a wrong
position. I found, too, that stories greatly to my prejudice were put
about, of a character difficult if not impossible to refute. Had it not
been for Pearson, my existence on board would have been intolerable, but
as he never in the remotest degree benefited by my purse, his interest
in me was above suspicion, and he stoutly maintained that the stories
were false, and invented by some one wishing to do me an injury. Had my
friends wished to disgust me with the sea, they could scarcely have
adopted a better plan than engaging Owen to treat me as I had every
reason to believe he was now doing. I should, in truth, have been
completely disgusted, but my pride came to my aid, and prevented me from
making any complaint. In other respects, I liked a sea life, and as
Pearson, who was much respected, sided with me, many of the
better-disposed midshipmen remained my friends. Thus passed the first
three years of my naval career.