PADDY. 327 



That right, the second mate, in whose watch he 

 was, told him to slack up the foretopgallant clew- 

 line, which happened to be too tight. He went 

 forward, and let go the foretopsail halyards, car- 

 rying away by this stupid trick, both foretopgal- 

 lant sheets. We of the watch below were awak 

 ened by his cries to the second mate for mercy. 

 We lost two hours' sleep by his blunder, and did 

 not therefore feel sorry that he got a beating, 

 severe as it was. He bore the marks of it upon 

 him for nearly a month. 



We were a week from land ere we arrived at a 

 full understanding of all the length, breadth and 

 depth of his ignorance. He actually knew no 

 more about a ship, than a person who had never 

 Aeen one. When sent aloft to furl the royal, he 

 whispered to one standing near the main rigging, 

 " Is it the highest one?" 



On receiving an affirmative answer, (accompa- 

 nied, I must say, with a curse,) he hurried aloft. 

 But now instead of rolling up the sail and passing 

 the gasket lines about it, he sat on the yard and 

 looked sapiently down upon deck. 



Such a look of angry astonishment as filled the 

 mate's face upon this occasion, I never saw equaled. 



"Why don't you furl the sail, you booby?'' 

 he shouted. 



" Aye, aye, sir ! " answered Paddy, readily 

 enough, but never stirring. 



" Roll it up, you infernal stupid ! and come down 

 here quick; I want to thrash you! " shouted tha 



