198 IMPUDENCE. 



take me up the harbour, where the 

 " Superb " lay dismantled. 



On my reaching the beach which is 

 generally lined with boats to my great 

 dismay, not a wherry was to be seen 

 nothing but a man-of-war's gig, with 

 six men dressed alike in blue, apparently 

 waiting for their captain ; when, by 

 sudden impulse, without halting, I walked 

 directly down to the boat, stepped into 

 her, and said to the coxswain, " Pull 

 me on board the ' Superb.' ' 



Not a word more was spoken ; each 

 man at his thwart poised his oar in the 

 air. Taking my seat and the yoke lines 

 at the same time, the bowman, with his 

 boat-hook, instantly shoved off. Splash 

 went the oars in the water, and in 

 a few minutes I was alongside. 



"In bow rowed of all/' said I, as 

 the well-manned boat glided silently to 

 the foot of the stairs, wondering at my 

 own impudence in daring to occupy 



