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It was about the time I write of that the tyranny practised on board Her Majesty's ships was slowly but surely dawning upon the public, and a general outcry against injustice began. This was shown in a very significant manner by the following fact: A post-captain of high rank and powerful connections dared, in contradiction to naval law, to flog a midshipman.
Tuesday, 15. Mr. Mercer, midshipman of the Eden, who had sailed from hence in the Victoria, returned to-day in charge of the Elizabeth schooner under French colours, with upwards of 100 slaves on board. He had taken possession of her from the Eden's pinnace, while Lieutenant Robinson in the Victoria, went in chase of a suspicious vessel in another direction.
"It is not exactly a conclusion," replied Farley frankly. "It is a discovery." "How did you find it out, Farley?" asked Dan Dalzell, speaking to that midshipman for the first time in many weeks. "I have the word of the watchman who caught us. That is old Grierson, and there isn't a more honest old fellow in the yard." "Did you ask Grierson, Farley?" questioned another midshipman gravely.
"Thank you, sir; but I should certainly wish to learn my duties as midshipman, and to take my share in all work. My duties as interpreter must be generally very light, and I should find the time hang heavily on my hands if I had nothing else to do. I hope, therefore, sir, that you will put me to work, and have me taught my duty just as if I had joined in the regular way." "Very well, Mr.
"The lieutenant doesn't seem to be afraid that we'll run his craft into any danger." "He knows as well as we do what would happen to me, if there were any disaster, and I had to explain it before a court of inquiry," laughed Midshipman Farley. "Hello! Who slowed the boat down?" Dan had done it, unobserved by his comrades, in an irrepressible spirit of mischief.
While through the seaman's hand the tackle glides, Or school-boy midshipman, that, standing by, Strains his shrill pipe, as good or ill betides, And well the docile crew that skilful urchin guides."
He sprang into the boat to lift him up but no it was another gallant young midshipman, whom he had seen an instant before bravely cheering on his men. Assistance was useless, he had ceased to breathe. He placed him in the stern-sheets of his boat and regained his own.
Found by the master's watch that it was five o'clock, though but a little after four by ours; glad it was so near daylight, and looked for it with much anxiety. Cuba, thou art much in our way! Another ugly sea: sent a midshipman to bring news from the pumps: the ship was gaining on them very much, for they had broken one of their chains, but it was almost mended again. News from the pump again.
"Thank you very much, sir," said Dave gratefully. As the two midshipmen strolled slowly back in the direction of Chow Hop's, Dave murmured: "Now, you see why I took this step?" "I'm afraid not very clearly," replied Midshipman Hallam. "That scoundrelly Chow made his boast that other midshipmen patronized his place. I don't believe it. Such a vice wouldn't appeal to you, and it doesn't to me.
He was turning away, when a thought struck me, and, forgetting my awe of the captain, and the fact that a proposal from a midshipman to such a magnate might be resented as an unheard-of piece of impertinence, I exclaimed excitedly "I beg pardon, sir." "Yes?" "I think I know how it could be done." "Eh? You, Mr Herrick! Pooh!
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