“Shore, Sir!” bellowed he “and who the devil is to carry on the duty, if you go on shore?  Shore, eh!  I wish there was no shore, and then d——­n the dog that couldn’t swim!  No, Sir; you have had shore enough.  The service is going to h——­l, Sir!  A parcel of brats, with lieutenants’ commissions before they should have been clear of the nursery!  No, Sir:  stay on board, or, d——­n me, I’ll break you, like an egg-shell, before you have taken the shine out of that fine new epaulette!  No, no, by G——­; no more cats here than catch mice.  You stay on board, and do your duty:  every man does his duty here; and let me see the ——­ that don’t do it!”

I was in some measure prepared for this sublime harangue; but still there was sufficient room in my mind to admit of great astonishment at this sudden change of wind.  I replied that he had promised me leave yesterday, and that, upon the strength of that promise, I had left all my things on shore, and that I was not in any way prepared to go to sea.

“I promised you leave, did I?  Perhaps I did; but that was only to get you on board.  I am up to your tricks, you d——­d young chaps:  when you get on shore, there is no getting you off again.  No, no; no-catchee no-habee!  You would not have made your appearance these three days, if I hadn’t sugared the trap!  Now I have got you, I’ll keep you, d——­n my eyes!”

I repeated my request to go on shore; but, without condescending to offer any farther reasons, he answered—­

“I’d see you d——­d first, Sir!  And observe, I never admit of expostulation.  Nothing affords me more pleasure than to oblige my officers in every thing reasonable; but I never permit reply.”

Thought I to myself, “You certainly have escaped from hell, and I do not see how the infernal regions can do without you.  You would have been one of the most ingenious tormentors of the damned.  Domitian would have made you admiral, and your boatswain captain of the fleet!”

Having made this reflection, as I took a turn or two on deck, thinking what was best to be done, and knowing that “the king could do no wrong,” the officer whom I had just superseded came up the hatchway, and, touching his hat very respectfully to the captain, asked whether he might go on shore.

“You may go to hell, and be d——­d, Sir!” said the captain (who hated bad language); “you are not fit to carry guts to a bear!—­you are not worth your salt; and the sooner you are off, the cleaner the ship will be!  Don’t stand staring at me, like a bull over a gate!  Down, and pack up your traps, or I’ll freshen your way!” raising his foot at the same time, as if he was going to kick him.

The young officer, who was a mild, gentlemanly, and courageous youth, did as he was bidden.  I was perfectly astonished:  I had been accustomed to sail with gentlemen.  I had heard of martinets, and disciplinarians, and foul-mouthed captains; but this outdid all I ever could have conceived, and much more than I thought ever could have been submitted to by any correct officer.  Roused to indignation, and determined not to be treated in this manner, I again walked up to him, and requested leave to go on shore.