The Merry Past 



cut off his trousers, and pulling off his coat committed 

 himself to the waves, whence he was picked up, un- 

 hurt, by his men. 



The spirit of the old English seaman was un- 

 quenchable, as many records testify. 



A brave, but economical, sailor, during a naval 

 engagement on board the " Royal Charlotte," had his 

 leg separated from his thigh by a cannon-ball, just at 

 the knee ; some of his shipmates had taken up Jack's 

 leg, and were going to throw it overboard, when he 

 called out : " D — n my eyes, you may do what you 

 please with the leg, but give me the silver buckle out 

 of the shoe." 



During a naval engagement the captain of a man- 

 of-war asked one of his lieutenants for a quid of 

 tobacco. It was in the very heat of the contest, and 

 a cannon-ball carried off the lieutenant in the act of 

 presenting it. " I must apply to you, now," said the 

 captain, coolly, turning to another officer ; " for, you 

 see, our friend is gone away with his tobacco box." 



A young midshipman, not more than thirteen or 

 fourteen years of age, was employed during the 

 engagement at Navarino in the charge of the ammu- 

 nition of his deck. A cannon-ball passed so close as 

 to knock him down, while it shattered the skull of a 

 sailor doing duty beside him. The "young gentle- 

 man," on recovering his senses and his feet, observing 

 that his trousers were bespattered with the blood and 

 brains of the unfortunate tar, coolly exclaimed, '' Poor 

 fellow ! 'tis a pity, a great pity, for — he has entirely 

 spoiled my lily-white ducks ! " 



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