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Updated: May 21, 2025
It was the universal subject of conversation, morning, noon, and night, in the gun-room, the midshipmen's berth, and at the messes of the petty officers and men. Many a midnight watch was made to pass rapidly away by discussions as to the probabilities of their success, and with yarns of length interminable, about pirates and robberies on the high seas.
Mr Large, in an evil hour, yielded to the midshipmen's representations, and consented to accompany them. They, without difficulty, obtained leave from the first lieutenant, promising to be back before dark with the canoe loaded with birds.
When his watch was over, he came aft into the midshipmen's berth, where several of his messmates were collected. He might have turned in, for the night was drawing on, but there were still two hours to daylight. He, as well as others, dropped asleep with their heads on the table.
The lieutenant, observing the three midshipmen's tattered uniforms, advanced towards them, and inquired as he shook hands, "Has an American man-of-war been cast away here?" "No, sir; but an American whaler was wrecked here a few weeks ago." "Then who are you, and how came you here?" asked the lieutenant. Tom in a few words narrated their adventures, and then asked, "And what is your ship, sir?"
So much for the ship in the aggregate; let us now survey the midshipmen's berth. Here we found the same language and the same manners, with scarcely one shade more of refinement. Their only pursuits when on shore were intoxication and worse debauchery, to be gloried in and boasted of when they returned on board. My captain said that everything found its level in a man-of-war.
In spite of the execution done by the heavy charges of the midshipmen's double-barrel guns, several wolves tried to spring into the sledge as it went past, and one of them succeeded in leaping upon one of the horses.
I was in the midshipmen's berth, when some of them proposed that we should get possession of the pig; and the plan they agreed upon was as follows: they were to go to the pen that night, and with a needle stuck in a piece of wood, to prick the pig all over, and then rub gunpowder into the parts wounded.
Then came rehearsal for the show to be given by the Masqueraders, the midshipmen's dramatic association, and at this occurred something which would have been pronounced utterly impossible had the world's opinion been asked. The show was to be given the last week in May. Mr. Harold and Mr. Stewart would arrive a few days before, each on a month's leave.
"The gentlemen of the midshipmen's berth request the pleasure of Mr Pigeon's company at dinner, to meet two distinguished foreigners, in every way worthy of his acquaintance and friendship." Pigeon asked the gun-room officers whether he ought to accept the invitation. "Certainly, it will be an insult if you don't," was the answer.
Moreover, Mesty did not think it prudent to leave the vessel a mile from the Harpy with only two on board; besides, as Jack said, he had had no dinner, and was not quite sure that he should find anything to eat when he went into the midshipmen's berth; he would therefore have some dinner cooked, and eat it before he went on board in the meantime, they would try and close with her.
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