186 



THE RAT 



and a gay brotherhood we were, full of fun and 

 ready for all kinds of mischief. They taught me 

 to dance a hornpipe, and to say " Shiver my 

 timbers," and I am afraid that I learnt also to be 

 very fond of a drop of rum. Fortunately, 1 never 

 got more than a drop, for sailors are economical of 

 that valuable liquor, and drain the cup pretty well 

 to the dregs ; but even as it was I was several times 

 on the near side of intoxication, which is more 

 than you can say, you old milk-and-water drinker 1 

 ' Details of the voyage would not interest you ; 

 in fact, I do not think that there were any. Let 

 it suffice to say that in due time we put into 

 Southampton, where, like all good sailors, I went 

 ashore for a spree, and, as other good sailors have 

 done before me and will do after me, I enjoyed 

 myself so well that I missed my ship. But having 

 once acquired a liking for the sea, I could not rest 

 on land, though life in the docks was pleasant 

 enough, and after a few days I climbed along 

 another hawser, and found myself once more afloat 

 on that most seaworthy craft the Betsy Jane, 

 She took me to Jersey, but I soon tired of that 

 sunny isle, and made my way to the shores of 

 France on board another vessel, and there, to my 

 amazement and indignation, I was called a joli 



