.26 JACK IN A CHURCH. 



Now, the next thing,' says she, ' what I'd have you mind of all things, is 

 that you must remember, no one upon no account whatsomdcver must 

 say nothing, except the parson. 'Aye, aye,' says Joe, ' I'll be blowed if 

 I won't mind that, 'specially as I know nobody has no right to give no 

 orders, except the captain. Well, that's all, I 'spose,' says he ? ' Yes,' 

 says she, ' that's all, only be sure to remember that nobody's to speak 

 never a word, except the parson.' And with that, they cried hands to 

 the lee braces, and stood in. 



" Well, my lads, having slackened sail, they brought their helm to 

 port, and espying a sunny anchorage, with only a single craft moored in 

 it, stood across to'ards its nearest end. Then they clued up their courses, 

 and backing their maintopsail, got starn way, and let fall their kedgers. 

 But they'd got so far abaft, that they could see little or nothing of what 

 was a going on ; and, as Joe kept every now and then poking up his 

 starboard eye, over the hammock rail, and seemed mighty restless, his 

 missus thought they might get a better berth. So she got under weigh, 

 and with her consart in her wake, doubled a cape, and stood on, under 

 an easy sail, through the whole fleet, till at last she brought to, under 

 the bows of the Admiral's ship, and throwed out a signal for Joe to do 

 the like. This was a much better sittivation, for they could hear beauti- 

 ful, and faced the whole congregation. All went on very well, for some 

 time ; the parson was a getting through his log, like an East Indiaman 

 in a stagg'rer, and Joe seemed very 'tentive. Well, my hearties ! as bad 

 luck would have it, just as the old gentleman, who was a reading, had 

 cut through a tarnation long thingum-bob, a strange voice from above 

 singed out— drawing it out as long as the maintop bowline — A — men ! 

 My eyes ! you should ha' seen Joe ; he pricked up his ears directly, and as 

 he didn't know well what to make on it, at first, he said nothing to nobody, 

 but looked very queer, and beginned to grumble to himself. His missus, 

 who had all along been very fearful of his behaviour, heered him saying 

 summat just above his breath, and, ' What's the matter, Joe ?' says she. 

 ' Matter !' says he, ' blow me ! nothing's the matter, only this here feller in 

 the fore-top has been a saying what he should'nt ha'said.' Well, the people 

 about beginned to look rather funny, and Joe's partner told him to let down 

 his bowsprit, and not say no more. The parson, you know, had it all to 

 himself now for some time, and Joe knowed all that was right enough, 

 and so kept wonderful quiet. 



" But by and bye, you know, the fore-top feller striked up again, and 

 beginned to sing out summat considerable longer than the first. Joe 

 bobbed up his truck again, and looked rather flustered. ' Poll,' says he, 

 • didn't you tell me afore we corned in, that nobody was to say nothing, 

 except the parson.' ' Hush ! for goodness sake, be quiet, Joe,' says she. 

 ' Quiet,' says he, ' when I sees no discipline aboard the Admiral's ship, 

 d — d if I will !' Joe started up, throwed down his log-book, and primed 

 for action. ' I say, you mister !' he sings out, ' you mister in the fore- 

 top, ahoy ! What 'thority have you to cry out when the captain's a 

 speaking, and you've orders to run in your piece, and lash down the 

 port.? Pretty regg'lations aboai'd here, indeed! Don't you see, his 

 honour looks quite dumbfoundered with your impudence ? ' What bus'- 

 ness have you to keep there mocking the skipper, in this here insiniva- 

 ting way, eh— you long-shore toddler ? I wish I'd got you aboard the 



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