Chapter 73 - Page 2

corporals, reigns supreme in these bowels of the ship. Throughout
the night these policemen relieve each other at standing guard
over the premises; and, except when the watches are called, they
sit in the midst of a profound silence, only invaded by trumpeters'
snores, or the ramblings of some old sheet-anchor-man in his sleep.

The two ship's corporals went among the sailors by the names of
Leggs and Pounce; Pounce had been a policeman, it was said, in
Liverpool; Leggs, a turnkey attached to "The Tombs" in New York.
Hence their education eminently fitted them for their stations;
and Bland, the master-at-arms, ravished with their dexterity in
prying out offenders, used to call them his two right hands.

When man-of-war's-men desire to gamble, they appoint the hour,
and select some certain corner, in some certain shadow, behind
some certain hammock. They then contribute a small sum toward a
joint fund, to be invested in a bribe for some argus-eyed
shipmate, who shall play the part of a spy upon the master-at-
arms and corporals while the gaming is in progress. In nine cases
out of ten these arrangements are so cunning and comprehensive,
that the gamblers, eluding all vigilance, conclude their game
unmolested. But now and then, seduced into unwariness, or
perhaps, from parsimony, being unwilling to employ the services
of a spy, they are suddenly lighted upon by the constables,
remorselessly collared, and dragged into the brig there to await
a dozen lashes in the morning.

Several times at midnight I have been startled out of a sound
sleep by a sudden, violent rush under my hammock, caused by the
abrupt breaking up of some nest of gamblers, who have scattered
in all directions, brushing under the tiers of swinging pallets,
and setting them all in a rocking commotion.

It is, however, while laying in port that gambling most thrives
in a man-of-war. Then the men frequently practice their dark
deeds in the light of the day, and the additional guards which,
at such times, they deem indispensable, are not unworthy of note.
More especially, their extra precautions in engaging the services of
several spies, necessitate a considerable expenditure, so that, in
port, the diversion of gambling rises to the dignity of a nabob luxury.

During the day the master-at-arms and his corporals are continually
prowling about on all three decks, eager to spy out iniquities. At one
time, for example, you see Leggs switching his magisterial rattan, and
lurking round the fore-mast on the spar-deck; the next moment, perhaps,
he is three decks down, out of sight, prowling among the cable-tiers.
Just so with his master, and Pounce his coadjutor; they are here,
there, and everywhere, seemingly gifted with