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"As certain as I'm here, and Mrs Oxbelly's at Southsea," said Oxbelly, "they'll take some of the men the more so as, supposing us to be a Spanish convoy, they will be disappointed." "They will hardly take them out of the prizes," observed Easy. "I don't know that; men must be had for his Majesty's service somehow.
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."
"Fire a gun for the prizes to close," said Jack; "we will put the men on board again, and then be off to Palermo as fast as we can." "We can do no better," said Oxbelly. "If ever I chance to meet that fellow again, I will trouble him to repeat his words. Trim the sails, my lads." "His language was unpardonable," observed Jack.
"Why don't you make your bed larger, Mr Oxbelly?" "Sir, I have proposed it, 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."
"Hab fine ship, fine gun, fine men, and do noting," cried Mesty. "By de power, I no like dat, Massa Easy." "You want eight months of coming of age, Jack," observed Gascoigne. "It won't make a difference of more than three or four weeks," said Mr Oxbelly; "and the expenses have been very great." "But " "But what, Jack?" "Agnes."
"I dare say Mrs Oxbelly would make a very good Chancellor of the Exchequer," replied Gascoigne, smiling; "one thing is certain, that if they gave the subject half the consideration they have others of less magnitude, an arrangement might be made by which his Majesty's navy would never be short of men."
I remember Mrs Oxbelly telling one of them, when " "I beg your pardon, Mr Oxbelly," interrupted Jack, "but we have no time to chat now; the breeze is coming down fast, and I perceive the prizes are closing. Let us lower down the boat, send the men on board again, and give them their orders which I will do in writing, in case they part company." "Very true, sir.
"Have we any men hurt, Mr Oxbelly?" inquired Jack. "Only two; Spearling has lost his thumb with a piece of langrage, and James has a bad wound in the thigh." "Very well; I will ask for the surgeon to come on board." Jack pulled to the frigate and went up the side, touched his hat in due form, and was introduced by the midshipmen to the other side, where the captain stood.
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.
You will have no obstruction from us in the execution of your duty at the same time, I call upon the two young gentlemen by your side, and your own men, to bear witness to what takes place." "Oh, very well, sir just as you please. Your papers I perceive are all right. Now you will oblige me by mustering your men." "Certainly, sir," replied Jack; "send all the men aft to muster, Mr Oxbelly."
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