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"My eyes! you've been chalking your face, hain't ye?" "What am I wanted for?" he repeated. But at that instant, his name was thundered forth by the other boatswain's-mates, and Brown hurried him away, hinting that he would soon find out what the captain wanted.
To say the truth, men-of-war's-men, in general, make but poor auditors upon these occasions, and adopt every possible means to elude them. Often the boatswain's-mates were obliged to drive the men to service, violently swearing upon these occasions, as upon every other. "Go to prayers, d n you! To prayers, you rascals to prayers!" In this clerical invitation Captain Claret would frequently unite.
The bell struck eight, and its sharp peals, followed by the hoarse summoning of the watch below, by the boatswain's-mates, disturbed his reverie, and Captain M descended to his cabin. And now, reader, I shall finish this chapter. You may, perhaps, imagine that I have the scene before me, and am describing from nature: if so, you are in error.
At the time, Fernando was on the gundeck below, and did not know of these proceedings; but a moment after, he heard the boatswain's-mates bawling his name at all the hatchways and along all three decks.