THE YARE VALLEY 237 



mercy, I have considerable pleasure, under all the circum- 

 stances of the case, in mitigating the severe punishment I have 

 already awarded by allowing you a paper shirt, collar and a 

 pair of braces ! Remove the prisoner.' So ended the great 

 trial at Coltishall Lock. 



" By the time ' Toper ' had finished his cruise with us 

 there was not a happier man in the fleet. And when we ended 

 our voyage a purse was made up for the old man, and he left 

 us declaring ' he never sailed with such a nice merry lot of 

 gents in all his life.' His latter statement might have had a 

 double meaning as the practical jokes played upon the old 

 man were innumerable." 



THE LARBOARD WATCH. 



