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NIGHTS IN THE GALLEY. SIXTH YARN. 



WE were now at sea, and the dull monotony of a sea voyage made 

 me more anxious than ever to save my self from ennui by attending the 

 galley gatherings. It is the usual custom on board ships of war to al- 

 low the men half-an-hour to their supper ; but it is not an uncommon 

 thing in hot climates, with fine weather, and little to do, to extend the 

 meal time to an hour. Such was the case at the time of which I am 

 speaking. The moment the Phillimore was served, I made no delay in 

 taking up my old station, Jack Murray having given a half promise 

 to finish his adventures ; and knowing that he required very little to 

 induce him to spin a yarn, he priding himself upon his capabilities 

 to perform that, as well as every other part of a sailor's duty, I ex- 

 pected a good hour's amusement. On my arrival I found I was just 

 in time. The most important yarners had just taken their seats. 



" Well, lads," said Will, " what's it going to be to-night ? we are at 

 sea, now, good luck to it ; give us something to take the taste of that 

 Phillimore out of my mouth. Sink me if I don't wish the old banyan 

 days would come back again, and let's have our old allowance of grog. 

 What do you say, Jack." 



" Ay ! sure I do, lad ; d n the purser's slops, says I." 



It may be well here to remark that, although Jack now and then 

 gives way to a little abuse of Sir John Phillimore, his plan of substitu- 

 ting tea for an extra allowance of grog is universally approved of by 

 the sailors ; indeed, the good effects of the new system of provisioning 

 are so obvious, that nobody can be otherwise than pleased. But to 

 resume. 



" But I say, lads, come let's have a bit o' a yarn : what shall it be ? 

 I say, you Harry Somers," said Will Gibbon, turning to a man who 

 had come down from Navarino to join us at Malta, having volun- 

 teered to sail with his old captain, " you've just come from the Had- 

 miral, and were at the battle o' Navarino ; can't you spin a yarn 

 about it, and so teach Jack Murray how to talk, and then mayhap 

 he'll spin us the rest o' that yarn about his sweetheart." 



" I suppose that's a hint, Will," said Jack, " and I'll take it ; so if 

 Harry Somers will spin us a yarn about the haction first, I'll take up 

 the cudgels afterwards." 



" Come, that's fair," cried all at once ; " go on, Harry." 



" Well, lads, I ar'nt got much to tell ; but, mayhap, you never 

 heer'd about Captain Spencer in the little Talbot, twenty-eight, bul- 

 lying the whole Turkish fleet." 



"No, never, let's have it heave a-head, we've got an hour." 



" Well, lads, just afore the Turkish fleet run into the harbour, the 

 Talbot and Asia were the only ships in the Gulf; I belonged to 

 the Talbot then, it was afore I joined the admiral. And one morning 

 at about ten o'clock, the whole Turkish fleet of about five-and-twenty 

 sail was in sight, coming right down the Gulf. The admiral made the 

 signal for the Talbot to run under senior hofficer's stern, and speak. 



