Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 11 — page 9: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Midshipman Easy. | orites are honored by them with a sobriquet, our hero obtained that of Equality Jack. —_ -_ ———e —— — - ame ee Se Ci—#*e ~ ——_—_—_—— ~ —_—_-— - a - — meee ee ee —_—$—__— a 2 ee ee a ee ee ee ee hurricane, so much so, as to recommend him to the ad- | sufficient to load the first boat, which shoved off, and rairal for promotion. It was given to him; and after | they went on board. Assoon as he was down below, | ‘he ship to which he had been appointed was paid off, | Jack hastened to change his trowsers, and, unobserved | he had been ordered to join H. M, sloop Harpy. Jack’s by any one, threw those belonging to Mr. Biggs on a conversation with Mesty was wera te by the voice chair in his cabin, and, having made a confidant of | of the boatswain, who was haranguing his boy. “It’snow | Mesty, who was delighted, he went on deck, and waited | ten minutes, sir, by Iny repeater,” said the boatswain, | the issue of the affair. | “that I have.sent for you;” and Mr. Biges ulled out aj}. Before Jack left the hotel, he had told the waiter asa No that there was the boatswain still fast asleep, and that | —— ————— CHAPTER XII, _ IN WHICH OUR HERO PREFERS GOING DOWN TO GOING UP; A CHOICE, IT IS TO BE. HOPED, HE WILL REVERSE UPON A MORE IMPORTANT OCCASION, olk turnip, ‘THE next day being Sunday, the hands were turned ' | huge silver watch, almost as bi A Jew had sold him the wate - the boatswain had heard of repeaters, and wished to have one. Moses had only shown him watches with the hour and min- he. must be roused up immediately; and this injunction was obeyed.. The boatswain, who had drunk too much the night before, and, as Jack had truly imagined, had up to divisions; and the weather not being favorable, instead of the service the articles of war were read with all] due respect shown to the same, the captain, officers, and crew with their hats off ina mizzling rain. Jack _who had been told by the captain that these articles of war were the rules and regulations of the service, by which the captain, officers, and men were equall bound, listened to them as they were read by the ecler with the greatest attention. He little thought that there were about five hundred orders from the Admir- opened the window because he was unwell, was waken- epeater. ed up, and hearing how late it was, hastened to dress “What makes it arepeater?” inquired the boatswain, | himself, Not finding his trowsers, he rung the bell, “Common watches,” said the cunning Jew, “only | supposing that they had been taken down to be, brush- tell the minutes and hours; but all repeaters tell the ed, and, in the meantime, put on everything else, that seconds,” _he might lose no time: the waiter who answered the bell The boatswain. was satisfied—bought the watch, and, | denied having taken the trousers out of the room, and ute hands; he now produced one with a second hand, telling him it was.ar * LT NES Rt RR SN eam me ee LR Re RE ge > - F it was quite as well that he had put on his although many had told him it was no repeater, he in- | sisted that it was, and would. call it so. , “I. swear,’’ continued the boatswain, ‘it’s ten min- utes and. twenty seconds by my repeater.” “Tf you please, sir,” said the boy, “I was changing my trowsers when you sent for me, and then I had to stow away my pag égains Silence, sir; I'd have you to know that when youare | sent for by your officer, trowsers or no trowsers, it is your duty to come up directly.” * Without trowsers, sir?” replied the DOT vg “Yes, sir, without trowsers; if the captain required mo, [should come without my shirt, aay before de- cency.”’. 5o,saying, the boatswain lays hold of the boy. of them, he could not.tell; he hac bill by the waiter, and stated that, for a de . What had become no recollection of having gone to bed the night before;: he inquired of the waiter, who,said that he knew nothing about them —that he was ve when he called him he had found the window open and it gg Fy that he had been unwell—he supposed that he poor Mr. Biggs was in asad quanda | | ' alty tacked on to them, which, like the numerous codi- cils of some wills, contained the most important mat- ter, and to a certain degree make the will nugatory. Jack listened very attentively, and, as each article tipsy when he came home, and that | was propounded, felt that he was not likely to commit himself in that point, and although he was rather aston- ished to find such a positive injunction against swear- thrown his trowsers out of the window, | ing, considered quite a dead letter in the ship, he thought Time flew, and the boatswain was in despair. they lend him a pair?” ‘He would his master,”’ ‘Could | that, altogether, he saw his wa very clear. But to make certain of it, as soon as the hands had been pi down he begged the clerk to let him have a copy of The master of the inh knew very well the difference | articles. of rank. between officers, and those whom he could trust and those whom he could not. He sent u = si e Now, the clerk had three, being the allowance of the the | ship, or at least all that he had in his possession, and made some demur at parting with one; but at last he pro- *surcly, Dir. Biges," said Jack, “you.are not going to punish that boy for not coming up without his trow- | gentleman ~~ ¢ have a pair of trowsers. The boat- sed—‘‘some rascal,’’ as he said, having stolen his tooth- gers?” swain felt in his pockets, and remembered that all his | brush—that if Jack would give him one he would give ‘Yes, Mr. Easy, I am—I must teach him a lesson. | We are bound, now that new-fangied ideas are brought into the ship to uphold the dignity of the service; and the orders of an officer are not to be delayed ten min- | utes and twenty seconds because a boy has no trowsers on,”’ Whereupon the boatswain administered several | smart cuts with his rattan upon the boy, edatstie. that rowsers be- fcre he.came on deck, “There,” said Mr. Biggs, “is a lesson for you, you scamp—and, Mr. Easy, it is a lesson for you also,” continued the, boatswain, walking away — with a most consequential air. | ‘*Murder Irish!’ said Mesty—“how him. cut caper. De oder day he haw] out de weather ear-ring, and touch him hat to a midshipman. Sure enough, make um cat laugh.”’ : The next day the Harpy was at anchor in Gibraltar Bay; the captain went on shore, directing the big to be | sent for him before nine o'clock; after which hour the | -port is only opened by special permission. There | happened to be a ball given by the officers of the gar- | rison on that evening, and a polite invitation was sent | to the officers of H. M. sloop Harpy. As those who accepted the invitation would detained_ late, it was | not for thefn to come off that night. And as | their services were required for the next day, Captain Wilson allowed them to remain on shore until seven | o'clock the next morning, at which hour, as there be a large party, there would be two boats sent for em. | Mr. A obtained leave, and asked permission to | take our hero with him; to which Mr. Sawbridge con- | sented.. Many other officers obtained leave, and,among | others, the boatswain, who, aware that his services | would be in request as soon as the equipment eom- | menced, asked ssion for this evening. And Mr. Sawbridge, feeling that he could be better spared at this than at any other, time, consented.,,Asper and | Jack went to an inn, dined, bespoke beds, and then | dressed. themselves for the ball, which was very bril- from “i company of. the officers, very | liant, and, pleasant. Captain Wilson looked on at the commence- ment, and then returned on board. Jack behaved | with his usual politeness, danced till two o'clock, and then, as the ball thinned, Asper proposed that they | should retire. Having once more applied to the re- freshment-room, they had procu their hats, and | were about to depart, when one of the officers of the | garrison asked Jack if which had just been bro and, taking some of the court where the anim tank, Jack fed the brute till all the cakes were gone, | : “i _coigne, who was steering the boat, having been sent on he would like to see a. baboon, | the situation of Mr. Bi al was chained down to.a small Mr. B , 1 expe boat erled Mr. ee brides: “be as smart as you please, money was in his trowsers pocket. He could not only not leave a deposit, but could not pay his bill. The landlord was inexorable. It was bad enough to lose his maney > but he could not lose more. ‘I shall be tried by a court-martial, by heavens!” exclaimed the boatswain. ‘It’s not far from the sally- ort; [ll make a run for it, and I can slip into one of boats and get another pair of trowsers before I re- rt myself as having come on board.’’ So making u is mind the boatswain took to his heels, and with check shirt-tails streaming in the wind ran as hard as é could to where the boat was waiting to receive him. He was encountered by many, but he only ran tho faster the more they jeered, and, at last, arrived breath- less at his goal, flew down the steps, jumped into tho t, and squatted on the stern sheets, much to the surprise of the officers and men, who thought him . He stated in a few words that somebody had stolen his trowsers during the night; and, as it was al. ready late, the boat shoved off, the men as well as offi- cers convulsed with laughter. “Have any of you a pea-jacket?”’ inquired the boat- swain of the men; but the weather was so warm that none of them had brought a. pea-jacket. The boat- swain looked round; he perceived that the officers were sitting on a boat-cloak. ‘Whose boat-cloak is that?”’ inquired the boatswain, ‘* Mine,”’ replied Gascoigne. “I trust, Mr. Gascoigne, you will have the kindness to lend it to me to go up the side with.” ‘Indeed I will not,” replied Gascoigne, who would sooner have thrown it overboard and have lost it than not beheld the anticipated fun; “ recollect I asked you for a fishing-line when we were becalmed off Cape. St. Vincent, and you sent word that you'd see me d—d first. Now I’ just see you the same before you have my boat-cloak,”’ ‘Oh, Mr. Gascoigne, I'll give you three lines directly I get on board.” ‘I dare say you will, but that won’tdonow. ‘ Tit for tat,’ Mr. Boatswain, and ha favors,” replied Gas- shore for the others... ‘In bow—rowed of all.” The boat was laid alongside—the rélentless Gascoigne if they last so long: and provided they | Jack re- plied that the one he had in use was very much worn, and that unfortunately he had but one new one, which he could not spare. Thereupon the clerk, who was a ve clean personage, and could not bear that his tee should be dirty, agreed toaccept the one in use, as Jack could not part with the other. The exchange was made, and Jack read the articles of war over and over again, till he thought he was fully master of them. ‘Now,” says Jack, “I know what I am todo, and what lam to expect, and these articles of war I will carry in my pocket as long as I’m in the service; that is to say, do not, Iam ab to replace them with another old tooth-brush, which apes to be the value attached to them.’’ he Harpy remained a fortnight in Gibraltar . and Jack had occasion him one of the copies of the articles of war. @ run on shore, and * Asper invariably went with him to se him out of mischief; that is to say, he allowed him to throw his money away on no one more worthless than himself. One morning Jack went down in the berth and found Gossett. blubbering. . at’s the matter, my dear Mr. Gossett?” inquired Jack, who was just as polite to the youngster as he was to anybody else. Rf oe has been thrashing me with a rope’s end,” replie Gossett, rubbing his arm and shoulders, ‘What for?” inquired Jack. ‘Because he says the service is going to hell—d’m sure it’s no fault of mine)—and that now all subo a tion is destroyed, and that upstarts join the ship who, use they have a five-pound note in their pocket, are allowed to do just as they please. He said he was de- termined to uphold the service, and then he knocked me down—and when 1 got up. again he told me that I could stand a little more—and then he took out his col and said he was determined to ride the high horse—an that there should be no Equality Jack in future,” ** Well,” replied Jack. arc then he colted me for half an hour, and that’s a 9 “By de soul of my fader, but it all for true, Massa Easy—he larrup um, sure enough—all for noe bad youn “ luck to him—I tink,” continued Mesty, ‘he hab de caught up his boat-cloak as the other officers rose to go | bad memory—and he want a little more of Equality on board, and rolling it up, in spite of the earnest en- | Jack.” treaties of Mr, Biggs, tossed it into the main chains, to the man who had thrown the stern-fast the quarter-deck. * Co cted you off in the first ; and to make | it’s against the articles of war, ‘ still more deplorable, the | etc.’ ht down from the rock; | first lieutenant was standing looking into the boat, and | louse?” they repaired to ne _ Captain Wilson wa ‘And he shall have it too,” lied our hero; “why quarreling, figh Isay, Mr. Gossett, have you got the spirit of a ‘“Yes,”’ replied Gossett. ) _ * Well, then, will you do what I tell you next time, and trust to me for protection?” and because he no-more to give him, the for the yards are not yet Rg “I don’t eare what I do,” =) er the boy, “if you baboon flew at Jack, who, in. making his retreat, fell | “Shall I go ahead in boat, and square them, | will back me against the cowardly tyrant.” back into the tank, which was about two feet deep. | sir?”’ ‘Do you refer to me?” cried Vigors, who had stopped | This was a joke;.and haying laughed heartily, they | ‘That boat! no; let. her Top natern jump up here | at the door of the berth. wished the officer good-night, and, went to the inn. and lower down the dingey. t the devildo yousit| “Say yes,” said Jack. | Now, what with the number of officers of the Harpy | there for, Mr, Biggs?—you’ll oblige me by showing a} _ ‘‘ Yes, I do,” cried Gossett. on shore, who had all put up at the same inn, and | little more activity, or, by Jove, you may save yourself | “You do, do you?—well, then, my chick, I must the landlord was. obliged. to, put his | the trouble of asking to go on shore again. Are youso- | trouble you with a little more of this,” said Vigors, comneny pe double and treble-bedded rooms; but this was of little consequence. Jack was shown into a double-bedded room, and proceeded to undress; the other was evidently occupied, by the heavy breathing _ ber, sir?” | _ The last observation decided Mr. Biggs. He from the boat — as he was, and touched his _ passed. the first lieutenant t as he rung up drawing out his colt. “I think that you had better not, Mr. Vigors,” ob- served Jack. ‘““Mind your own business, if you pease,” returned nn ema —_ ’ k’s ear. _. “ Perfectly sober, sir, but I’ve lost my trowsers.” Vigors, not much liking theinterfererce. “I am not : ye on em ouerh he recollected that his trowsers | _ “So it a Seah sir,” replied Mr. Sawbridge, as Mr. | addressing my conversation to you, and I will thank were wet through, and to dry them he opened the win- | Biggs s on the planeshear, of the sloop where the you never to interfere with me. I presime I have a dow, hung them out, and then ame own the win- ock-net divides for an entrance, with Tight to choose my own acquaintance, anl, depend upon dow again upon them, to hold them in their position, | shirt-tails flutte in. the cy mye Mr. sar pei: _it, it will not be that of a leveler.”’ e ran down the after which he turned in and fell fast asleep. At o'clock he was called, as he had requested, and pro- ceeded to dress, but to his aston ent found the window thrown open and his trowsers missing. It was evident, that his partner in the room had thrown the window open d the night, and that his bab aps having fallen down into the street, had been walked o with by somebody or another. Jack looked out of the window once SCrS, and perceived that whoever had thrown open the window been unwell hg, Mig . “A nice drunken companion I have a thought Jack; ** but whatp to be done?” And in say- ing he walked up to the other and perceived that it was tenanted by the tswain. ‘* el,” atl six could not contain ht Jack, “as Mr. Biggs has thought ee trowsers, I think I have a ri hit £0 take his, oF | . , the wear of them to goon. board. It was but | but he could prove nothing, he could not say who slept asleep when Jack mself any longer; _Ship-ladder which led on the laughter, Mr. Biggs could no Sawbridge, and the c tice of , and every eye in the “What's all this?”’ said Captain _ gan ay. | «Duty bet en ve the joke, r . _ ous look at. Jack, as he touched his hat to and then dived down to the lower deck, descend until after was on him ore decency,” replied Jack, who stood by Vilson, coming to the | “All that is at your pleasure, Mr. “igors,” replied r-deck, choked with | Jack; “ you havea right to choose you Own acquaint- ) Mr. | ance, and so have I a right to choose ef own friends, onversation had attracted the no- and, further, to support them. That is frien Mr. V pt a, . Vigors.”’ “Then,” replied Vigors, who could ot help bullying even at the risk of another combat, wich he probably intended to stand, “I shall take thdiberty of giving your friend a thrashing; and he sited the action to | recollected the day before; he cast a furi- | the word. ner the captain, | “Then I shall take the liberty to efend my friend,”. replied Jack; “and as you call me aeveler, I'll try if I to the indignation of the boat- | may not deserve the name’ — whenpon Jack placed a | Af anything could add _ swain, it was to find that his trowsers had com@on board | blow so well under the ear that Mr before him. He now felt that a trick had been poi _ the an” and was not in condit® to come to the! him, and also that our hero must have. been the igors dropped on! even if he had been inined. “And now oungster,” said Jack, wresting t? colt out of Vigors' he declared that decency must give way to | in the same room, for he was fast d, “do as Ibid you—give him g0od colting—if you | ee that the orders.of a superior officer were to | went to bed, and fast asleep. when Jack quitted the Boyt I'll thrash you. be obeyed, with or without garments. I know he is | Sonn: | Gossett required no second th’at; the pleasure of ob to be on board, and_now he shall try how he | The truth of the story soon became known to all the | thrashing his enemy, if ouly for «Ce, was = enough likes to obey orders in his shirt-tails.”” So cc and ‘duty before decency” became a by-word. |—andhe laid well on. Jack stooWith his fists dou Jack Pre he trowsers_of Ue, boaten airy a : that_the boatswain, could to. by erg ir Nila 8 to ready oP Vicor him pe gnere be 6 te ag t- been c , and, putting them | revenge himself upon the poor ; and Gascoigne ance, was stupe*d w e blow under snored, although he har te q . the | Jack never got any fishing tackle.. The boatswain was | the ear, and quite cowed; he tc his thrashing in the on, Sia rg" the rest of kis dress, an t to that of Mr. ry ae where he found | as obnoxious to the men as Vigors, and in consequence | most pensive manner, ; him just Pandy M4 8 Saha? paid the bill—for of Jack’s known opinions upon the rights of man, and| “That will do,” said Jack:‘‘and now do not be had forgotten purse—they proceeded down to his. having floored their two greatest enemies, he be- | afraid, Gossett; the very firstime he offers to e s...,. wort, where they found other officers waiting. | came a great favorite with the seamen; and as all fav- you when I am not present, 1 & pay him off for it ag EGomichbooks (S com