NIGHTS IM THK GALLEY. 



says Watts, ' do you go on board and bring the skipper back to me ; 

 don't tell him what I want him for, and take care he doesn't change 

 his boots.' Away went my father, and when he got on board, he 

 says to the skipper, ' our commander wants you, he wants to speak 

 to you.' ' Wants to speak to me ?' says the skipper, ' what does he 

 want, do you know ?' ' How am I to know what he wants ; do you 

 think commanders tells the likes o' me what they wants ? But you're 

 going to England, arn't you ? don't you think it may be to take a 

 letter, I saw him go down in his cabin with, just after he gived me the 

 orders to bring you on board. I don't say it is so, but I only say 

 don't you think that's the most likely ?' ' To be sure,' says the skip- 

 per, ' I didn't think o' that ; I'll just run down in my cabin and dress 

 a bit, and be with you again directly.' ' Oh, no occasion for that, 

 no occasion for that at all,' says my father ; ' our skipper is a rough- 

 and-ready sort o' chap, he wants you just as you are, 'cause he's in 

 a hurry /' so after making two or three more attempts to get below, 

 which my father prevented, he got into the schooner's boat, and was 

 soon on board ; when he came on deck, he went up to Watts smirk- 

 ing and smiling as civilly as possible ' Did you want me, Sir ? can 

 I be of anv service to you in taking letters home, I'll take the greatest 

 care of them ; I assure you, Sir, I shall be most happy to do any 

 thing for you/ ' Thank you,' said Watts, ' you are very kind, I 

 am very much obliged to you, but at present I don't want to send 

 any letters home ; what I sent for you for was, because when I was 

 on board your brig, I noticed you limped a little, and as you haven't 

 been in action to get any wounds, I conclude you boots pinch you, so 

 I am going to have them stretched. Here, Short,' he says, says he, 

 ' just pull this gentleman's boots off, perhaps there may be some 

 oakum inside, or something that hurts his feet.' At the same time 

 three men jumped fore'd and held him down, while my father 

 pulled off his boots, and in one of them was found the pass, inclosed in 

 a piece of lead covered over with wool, to prevent its rubbing- the foot. 

 ' Oh ! this is what's the matter with your feet, is it my friend ? I 

 shall take you to the admiral, he'll be your doctor. Short/ says he, 

 ' you'll take command of his brig with six of our men, and follow me 

 to Oporto/ Well, lads, I shan't say no more about young Watts, 

 'cause I want to give, Jack Murray time to finish his yarn, but just 

 say he was made master and commander, and after being in two or 

 three actions, he got his post rank, and at the conclusion of the war 

 he went on shore, and took my father with him, who had refused a 

 warrant, saying he would rather remain as Captain Watts'ja servant; 

 and there, lads, he is now. So now, Jack, it's your turn/' 



" Well, lads, I arn't got much to tell, 'cause if I was to tell you all 

 my cruisings I should take you up too long; perhaps I may some day, 

 but not now. I wish I hadn't promised to finish my yarn, but how- 

 somnever as I have, I'll just tell you that when we got to Portsmouth, 



I sent my letter to Lord , and he desired me to call upon him. 



I did so, and then he asked me what he could do for me ; whether 

 I should like to be a warrant officer, or be coxswain to his brother, 

 who was a post captain; c or would you,' said he, ' rather leave the sea 

 altogether and come and live here ? whichever you like ; take your 



