"I call on you, Nettleship, as president of the mess, to interfere," exclaimed the doctor. "What do these youngsters suppose I'm sent here for, but to watch over their morals and their health; and as I find it difficult in the one case to do my duty with the exactitude I desire, I shall take care not to neglect it in the other. There's young Chaffey there, who has stowed away enough duff to kill a bull, and now he's going to increase the evil by pouring this burning fiery liquid down his throat. Do you want to be in your grave, Jack? if not, be wise, and let the grog alone." Chaffey, the fattest midshipman among us, looked somewhat alarmed, and quickly passed up the rum. I observed that the doctor kept it by his side, and having finished his own quantum, began to sip the portions he had forbidden the youngsters to drink. It was difficult to suppose that he was perfectly disinterested in his advice. Being in harbour, we sat much longer than usual. At last I asked Tom if he thought I could venture to go and look out for Larry. "Oh, yes; this is Liberty Hall," he answered. I was going forward, when I heard my name called, and going to the spot from whence the voice came, I saw the first lieutenant standing before my chest, at which he cast a look of mingled indignation and contempt. By his side was a warrant officer, whom I heard addressed as Mr Bradawl, with a saw and chisel and hammer in hand. "Does this huge chest belong to you?" asked old Rough-and-Ready, as I came up. "Yes, sir," I answered; "I'm rather proud of it." "We shall see if you continue so," he exclaimed. "Do you think we have room to stow away such a lumbering thing as this? Where's the key?" I produced it. "Now tumble your things out." "But please, sir, I haven't room to pack them away. I have got this bundle, and that case, and those other things are all mine." "Tumble them out!" cried the lieutenant, without attending to my expostulations. I obeyed. And the carpenter began sawing away at a line which old Rough-and-Ready had chalked out not far from the keyhole. Mr Bradawl had a pretty tough job of it, for the oak was hard. The lieutenant stood by, watching the proceeding with evident satisfaction. He was showing me that a first lieutenant was all-powerful on board ship. I watched this cruel curtailment of my chest with feelings of dismay. Having sawn it thus nearly in two, the carpenter knocked off the end of the part he had severed from the rest, and then hammered it on with several huge nails.