32 NIMROD OF THE SEA; OS, 



less of time, as Time was an enemy to be led captive by the 

 cunningly meshed yarn. 



" Come, Jack, now for a long yarn," is the request of the 

 watch, as we gather about the windlass and the forehatch. 



" Oh, Lord bless your souls ! I haven't time for a long 

 yarn, as it's my ' trick ' at the helm at four bells." 



" You don't get out that way. Jack ;" and some one agrees 

 to take Jack's trick, so that he has a clear three and a half 

 hours to drone over an old-fashioned yarn, the requisites be- 

 ing that it shall be of " love and fun, with some murder in 

 it " — the more improbable the better. Jack consents, and is 

 conscientious enough to stretch the yarn out to eight bells, 

 as per contract. Should he find himself, at the end of half 

 an hour, ahead of time, he resorts to an expedient worthy of 

 a professional novelist. The hero is taken home, and friends 

 crowd around him anxious to hear his latest adventures. 

 Jack refreshes himself from a black bottle, and boldly re- 

 peats the yarn he has just told us. We then lay awake to 

 watch that his memory is perfect, and that he does not trip, 

 or omit the slightest detail. Should he do so, he is at once 

 stopped, to account for the kink we have detected. If he 

 makes many slips, the impression becomes general that he 

 has been playing on our credulity. This is pretty sure to 

 breed a row, to be settled at the first port we make, as Cap- 

 tain B will not allow any fighting on board. Thus we 



are thoroughly awakened, and in great good humor we strike 

 eight bells and call the larboard watch. 



The theories and philosophy of the landsmen are accepted 

 with a very liberal discount by forecastle savants. "How 

 could those lubbers ashore be expected "to know the real 

 facts of deep water, when they squat ashore and take the 

 dead shells and waifs which the live sea tosses to their reach- 

 ing hands ? A dead whale floats ashore, and they make draw- 

 ings that would stand as well for a Dutch galiot, and put it 



