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"So you had better take a round turn with yours, Ringbolt, and let me alone, or I'll fetch you such a swat over your figure-head, you'll think a Long Wharf truck-horse kicked you with all four shoes on one hoof! You Emperor you counter-jumping son of a gun cock your weather eye up aloft here, and see your betters! I say, top-mates, he ain't any Emperor at all I'm the rightful Emperor.
The first night out of port was a clear, moonlight one; the frigate gliding though the water, with all her batteries. It was my Quarter Watch in the top; and there I reclined on the best possible terms with my top-mates. Whatever the other seamen might have been, these were a noble set of tars, and well worthy an introduction to the reader.
Superadded to these, were four capacious pockets on the outside; one pair to slip books into when suddenly startled from my studies to the main-royal-yard; and the other pair, for permanent mittens, to thrust my hands into of a cold night-watch. This last contrivance was regarded as needless by one of my top-mates, who showed me a pattern for sea-mittens, which he said was much better than mine.
And thus, the mid-world Equator passed, our frigate strikes soundings at last. Hand in hand we top-mates stand, rocked in our Pisgah top.
My top-mates thought that this remarkable metamorphose was the effect produced upon a weak, vain character suddenly elevated from the level of a mere seaman to the dignified position of a petty officer.
"Braganza! bragger it is," he replied; "and a bragger, indeed. See that feather in his cap! See how he struts in that coat! He may well wear a green one, top-mates he's a green-looking swab at the best." "Hush, Jonathan," said I; "there's the First Duff looking up. Be still! the Emperor will hear you;" and I put my hand on his mouth.
I shall never forget the lyric air with which, one morning, at dawn of day, when all the East was flushed with red and gold, he stood leaning against the top-mast shrouds, and stretching his bold hand over the sea, exclaimed, "Here comes Aurora: top-mates, see!" And, in a liquid, long-lingering tone, he recited the lines,
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