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My friend Larkyns, able caterer of the mess as he had hitherto proved himself to be from the date of his deposing poor Mr Stormcock up to our going to the Peiho, was at his wits' end to replenish our sadly-depleted larder, which brought on the head of the unfortunate Dobbs every day at dinner more abuse than even the long-suffering steward could well bear.
It was much better, indeed, than most of us youngsters had probably been accustomed to when at school in our longshore days, no matter how we might growl and turn up our noses at it now; but, cocksy Master Tommy, of course, was incorrigible, treating such an innuendo as this, in spite of the loud voice and pointed manner of Mr Stormcock, with the contempt it deserved, the young rascal grinning and sticking his tongue in his cheek in so provocative a fashion that the master's mate instantly pitched a hot potato at him.
"By jingo, I think he might say `splice the main brace' now, after all this jollification!" growled Mr Stormcock, who had come up on the quarter-deck while the ship was thus being made snug for the night and left now under easy sail, consisting of the courses with reefed topsails and topgallants, as well as the jib and spanker and foretopmast staysail.
"I bet we don't have any fight at all!" grumbled Mr Stormcock, as he buckled on his sword and prepared to go in the launch with Mr Gilham, who was directed to command her, Larkyns, having to play second fiddle in the boat on this occasion. "Those blessed Chinamen won't come up to the scratch as soon as they see we mean business." "Perhaps not," said Mr Gilham.
"By heavens, it's too cruel!" cried Mr Stormcock, jumping up in the launch as the Opossum dropped down towards us on the ebb tide, away from the withering fire. "Can't we do something to help them?"
"Sure, sor, it's ownly a thrifle," he urged, when told by Mr Stormcock to go below to Mr McGilpin, who was busy in the after-cabin, attending to those of the wounded that the Chinese gunners, who aimed remarkably well, had not put altogether beyond the reach of surgical aid. "I wudn't throuble the docthor wid it; an' faix, I want to pay thim Chaynee images fur smashin' me crockery!
"I hope you won't chuck me overboard for it, though, as they did him!" replied Mr Stormcock, good-humouredly. "Goodness knows, I don't wish any harm to the old ship, or anyone in her! It isn't likely I would; but, look at those clouds there away to win'ard and judge for yourself what sort of weather we're likely to have before nightfall!"
"Two can play at that game, old fellow; and as you force me to do it, take that and that!" My action followed suit to my words, as I gave him a smart "one, two" with my left, which knocked him backwards against Mr Stormcock just as the latter was coming out of the gunroom.
"Very good so far," interposed Mr Stormcock again at this point, in an ironical tone. "Pray go on; it is most interesting!" "Glad you like it," said Larkyns, coolly, without turning a hair. "Well, then, to finish the story. Very unfortunately for these fond lovyers, a storm arose, like that bit of breeze we had t'other day.
"I have just calculated," observed Mr Stormcock amidst the general talk about our late messmate, as if stating a most important fact, "that the youngster fell overboard in latitude 48 degrees north, pretty nearly, and longitude 8 degrees 10 minutes west a trifle to the westward of where we met that confounded Frenchman."
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