"Then you can plead in justification that they are not sufficiently clear for an ordinary comprehension," he answered. "I do when I make a mistake, and old Rough-and-Ready is always willing to receive my excuses, as he can't spell them out very easily himself, though they are his constant study day and night. Indeed, I doubt if he reads anything else, except Norie's _Navigation_ and the _Nautical Almanack_?" Nettleship showed me a copy of the former work, and kindly undertook to instruct me in the science of navigation. All day long, however, he was employed in the duties of the ship, and in the evening I was generally sleepy when it was our watch below, so that I didn't make much progress. Though I got on very well, I was guilty, I must own, of not a few blunders. I was continually going aft when I intended to be going forward, and _vice versa_. The day after I came aboard I was skylarking with Tom Pim, Chaffey, and other midshipmites (as the oldsters called us), when I told them that I would hide, and that they might find me if they could. I ran up the after-ladder, when seeing a door open, I was going to bolt through it. Just then a marine, who was standing there, placed his musket to bar my way. Not wishing to be stopped, I dodged under it, turning round and saying-- "Arrah, boy! don't be after telling where I'm gone to." The sentry, for such he was, not understanding me, seized hold of my collar. "You mustn't be going in there, whoever you are," he said in a gruff tone. "I'm a midshipman of this ship, and have a right to go wherever I like, I'm after thinking," I said, trying to shake myself clear of his grasp. "Hush, now; be pleasant, will ye, and do as I order you!" "I shouldn't be finding it very pleasant if I was to break through the rules and regulations of the service," he answered. "Now go forward, young gentleman, and don't be attempting to playing any of your tricks on me." "I'm your officer, and I order you not to interfere with me, or say where I'm gone," I exclaimed. "I obey no orders except from my own lieutenant or the captain and the lieutenants of the ship," answered the sturdy marine. "You can't go into the captain's cabin while I'm standing here as sentry;" and he proceeded to use more force than was agreeable to my dignity. "Shure you're an impudent fellow to behave so to an officer," I exclaimed; at which the sentry laughed, and said-- "Off with you, Master Jackanapes, and consider yourself fortunate that worse hasn't come of your larking." Trying to look dignified I answered-- "You're an impudent fellow, and I shall make known your conduct to your superiors. I know your name, my fine fellow, so you'll not get off." I had observed his name, as I thought, on his musket.