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"Fat Jack of the bone house," observed the lieutenant, looking at Oxbelly. "A lieutenant in his Majesty's service, of longer standing than yourself, young man," replied Oxbelly firmly; "and who, if he ever meets you in any other situation will make you answer for your insolent remark." "Indeed!" observed the lieutenant ironically; "now, if you had said you were once a boatswain or gunner."
"Why don't you make your bed larger, Mr Oxbelly?" "Sir, I have proposed, but my wife will have it that the bed is large enough if I would not toss in my sleep. I can't convince her. However, she'll have it all to herself now. I slept well last night, for the first time since I left the Boadicea." "The Boadicea?" "Yes, sir, I was second lieutenant of the Boadicea for three years."
Mr Oxbelly was also walking near them. "When I was cruising here it was very different," observed Jack; "I had a vessel which I did not know how to manage, a crew which I could not command, and had it not been for Mesty, what would have become of me?" "Massa Easy, you know very well how to get out of scrapes, anyhow." "Yes, and how to get into them," continued Gascoigne.
"No doubt, no doubt, Mr Gascoigne; but, nevertheless, the king's prerogative must never be given up." "There I agree with you, Mr Oxbelly; it must be held in case of sudden emergency and absolute need." "We'll argue that point by-and-bye," replied Jack; "now let us consult as to our measures.
Jack looked at her large proportions, and decided at once that it must be Mrs Oxbelly, in which conjecture he was right. "Pray, sir, what do you mean by carrying off my husband in that way?" exclaimed the lady, red with anger. "God forbid that I should have to carry your husband, Mrs Oxbelly, he is rather too heavy."
Mr Oxbelly had no idea that he was otherwise than in good condition, although he had probably not seen his knees for years. It was his obesity that was the great objection to him, for in every other point there was nothing against him.
Jack had gone on board, leaving fourteen of his men on board the galliot Gascoigne had done the same Mesty still remained on board his vessel; and they were congratulating themselves, and ordering the men on board to the windlass, when they heard the sound of oars. "Silence! what is that?" exclaimed Oxbelly. "The gun-boats or row-boats, as sure as I'm alive!"
It's not the warfare I like best of the two." "Both good, Massa Easy; suppose you no steal board of polacca ship, you not see Missy Agnes." "Very true, Mesty. Bout ship, Mr Oxbelly." "Mr Oxbelly not good for boat service," observed Mesty, showing his teeth. It was dark before the Rebiera was anchored in the outer roads, a cable's length astern of the outermost American vessel.
"I'm not quite so sure of that." "He's very anxious to see little Billy," said Gascoigne. "What do you know of little Billy, young man?" "And more than anxious to be on shore again. He's quite tired of sleeping single, Mrs Oxbelly." "Ah, very well, he has been talking, has he? very well," exclaimed the lady in a rage.
"If no ab noting to do-it will be d -d 'tupid," continued Mesty. "Now then the other side of the question. If we steer for Palermo, we shall be sooner there and sooner home." "To which I reply," said Gascoigne, "that the shorter the cruise is, the less I shall have of your company." "And I shall have to sleep with Mrs Oxbelly," continued Oxbelly.
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