NIGHTS IN T1IK (iALLEY. 



reef tackles let go the bowlines see haulyards let go the top- 

 gallant sheets lower away the topsails. ' There's the main-top- 

 gallant sheet gone,' sings out the skipper. And sure enough it 

 hadn't run clear ; it got jammed in the sheave of the block on deck, 

 and away snapped the sheet like a piece of tinder. ' Who was by 

 that sheet?' said the skipper to the first leaftenant. ' I, Sir,' says 

 my uncle, who was captain of the after-guard. ( Very well, you 

 blackguard, I'll teach you to see the ropes clear for running.' ' It 

 was clear, Sir, I assure you.' ' You lie, you blackguard ; no reply, 

 Sir, I'll flog you : stand out there. Captain of marines, put a sentry 

 over the prisoner ; I shall have some more for you directly. Main- 

 top, there.' 'Sir!' ' Where's the captain of the top?' ' Here, 

 Sir.' ' Let me know who's the last man off the main-topsail-yard.' 

 ' They are all in, Sir.' ' You blackguard, that's not the question 

 I asked. Find out who was the last man, or I'll flog you instead ; 

 d'ye hear?' ' Aye, aye, Sir/ said the captain of the top, who knew 

 the captain too well to stand palavering him. ' Forecastle, there !' 

 sings out the skipper. f Sir !' ( Let me know the last man off the 

 yard.' e Aye, aye, Sir,' said the second leaftenant, who was cany- 

 ing on for'ard. ' All in off the yard, Sir.' ' Man the haulyards 

 let go reef-tackles,, cluelines, buntlines light up in the top hoist 

 away !' Up they went to the tune of ' Bob's a dying.' ' Haul 

 home the top-gallant sheets !' The main you know had been spliced 

 in the twinkling of a broomstick. ' Hoist away the top-gallant 

 sails Now send those men aft.' Aft came the poor fellers, sure 

 of a flogging ; for the skipper never broke his word when he pro- 

 mised to haul a poor feller off. e Oh, you are the three blackguards, 

 are you ? lazy rascals, that disgrace my ship : so, you were last in 

 reefing topsails ; very well, you shall be first next time, or I'll know 

 the reason why. Turn the hands up.' Up they tumbled off the 

 lower-deck, swearing it was a b y shame ; but this, you know, was 

 of no use ; growl we may, but go we must : isn't that bad ?" 



" Aye, that it is, my bo' ; a good growl eases a feller's heart,'* said 

 old Will, who was a thorough-bred growler. 



" Well, up they all went, and there were all the quarter-deck 

 gentry with their e fore-and-afters,' and ' pig-stickers/* and the skip- 

 per with the Articles of War in his hand. ' Now, you blackguards, 

 I'll teach you to be last off the topsail-yard; and you, captain of the 

 after-guard, you are the worst of the whole. Strip, Sir.' ' Please 



your honour, I was tickler in seeing them 'ere ' ' Silence, you 



blackguard : strip, or I'll start you till you do !' The boatswain's 

 mate was standing at the larboard side of the gratings, a great 

 brawny fellow, with his sleeves turned up to his elbows. ' Silence !' 

 said the captain, and you might have heard a pin drop. ' Quarter- 

 master, seize him up.' The skipper opened the Articles of War 

 off went all the ' fore-and-afters.' He read the article for disobe- 

 dience of orders on went the hats. ' Master-at-arms, count the 

 lashes. Boatswain's mate, give him a dozen for disobedience of 

 orders ; and do your duty, or I'll cast him off and put you in his 



* Cocked-hats and swords. 



