The Merry Past 



and pride of his life to sail under the command of Sir 

 Home." '' Well," said Sir Home, " I have a wish to 

 serve you ; but must insist on your explaining your 

 reasons for this application." After some hesitation, 

 he replied : " Sir, the gentlemen on your quarter-deck 

 have all friends who can, and do, supply them with 

 money ; I have not ; and my slender finances will not 

 allow me to keep pace with their mess, nor can I bear 

 the mortification of living by myself." " Well, well," 

 said Sir Home, '' if this is your only reason, I do not 

 see why the service should lose a valuable officer for 

 a little paltry cash ; draw upon me for what you re- 

 quire for your mess and I will settle it. I know when 

 you can you will pay me ; till that time arrives, never 

 consider yourself in my debt." 



At welcome intervals most pleasant windfalls in the 

 shape of good hauls of prize-money rejoiced the 

 hearts of both ofiiicers and men; the distribution of 

 this would appear at times not to have been entirely 

 equitable as regards the latter, who did not always re- 

 ceive a fair share. 



When the British, under Lord Nelson, were bearing 

 down to attack the combined fleet off Trafalgar, the 

 first lieutenant of the *' Revenge," on going round to 

 see that all hands were at their quarters, observed one 

 of the men devoutly kneeling at the side of his gun. 

 So very unusual an attitude in an English sailor 

 exciting his surprise and curiosity, he went and asked 

 the man if he was afraid. " Afraid ! " answered the 

 honest tar, with a countenance expressive of the 

 utmost disdain. " No ! I was only praying that the 

 I 113 



