Chapter 67 - Page 2

however, by a
hand, and the yards unobstructed, came round.

When the last rope was coiled, away, the Captain desired to know
of the First Lieutenant who it might be that was stationed at the
weather (then the starboard) main-lift. With a vexed expression
of countenance the First Lieutenant sent a midshipman for the
Station Bill, when, upon glancing it over, my own name was found
put down at the post in question.

At the time I was on the gun-deck below, and did not know of
these proceedings; but a moment after, I heard the boatswain's
mates bawling my name at all the hatch-ways, and along all three
decks. It was the first time I had ever heard it so sent through
the furthest recesses of the ship, and well knowing what this
generally betokened to other seamen, my heart jumped to my
throat, and I hurriedly asked Flute, the boatswain's-mate at the
fore-hatchway, what was wanted of me.

"Captain wants ye at the mast," he replied. "Going to flog ye, I guess."

"What for?"

"My eyes! you've been chalking your face, hain't ye?"

"What am I wanted for?" I repeated.

But at that instant my name was again thundered forth by the other
boatswain's mate, and Flute hurried me away, hinting that I would soon
find out what the Captain desired of me.

I swallowed down my heart in me as I touched the spar-deck, for a
single instant balanced myself on my best centre, and then, wholly
ignorant of what was going to be alleged against me, advanced to
the dread tribunal of the frigate.

As I passed through the gangway, I saw the quarter-master rigging
the gratings; the boatswain with his green bag of scourges; the
master-at-arms ready to help off some one's shirt.

Again I made a desperate swallow of my whole soul in me, and
found myself standing before Captain Claret. His flushed face
obviously showed him in ill-humour. Among the group of officers
by his side was the First Lieutenant, who, as I came aft, eyed me
in such a manner, that I plainly perceived him to be extremely
vexed at me for having been the innocent means of reflecting upon
the manner in which he kept up the discipline of the ship.

"Why were you not at your station, sir?" asked the Captain.

"What station do you mean, sir?" said I.

It is generally the custom with man-of-war's-men to stand
obsequiously touching their hat at every sentence they address to
the Captain. But as this was not obligatory upon me by the
Articles of War, I did not do so upon the present occasion, and
previously, I had never had the dangerous honour of a personal
interview with Captain Claret.

He quickly noticed my omission of the homage