"Happened?" said the poor fellow; "happened? see what has happened; here I am." "Did you make the freemason's signs?" replied I. "Didn't I? Yes--I did: Oh, what will become of me?" "You could not have made them right; you must have forgotten them." "I'm sure I made them as you told me; I'm quite sure of that." "Then perhaps I did not recollect them exactly myself: however, be of good heart; I will have the whole matter explained to the first lieutenant." "Pray do; only get me out of this. I don't want the glass back." "I'll have it done directly," replied I. As I went away, Bob Cross came up, and said I was wanted by the first lieutenant in the gun-room. "Don't be afraid," said he: "they've been laughing at it already, and the first lieutenant is it a capital humour; still he'll serve you out well; you must expect that." "Shall I make him the sign, Cross?" replied I, laughing. "No, no; you've gone far enough, and too far already; mind what I say to you." I went down into the gun-room, when a tittering ceased as the sentry opened the door, and I walked in. "Did you want me, sir?" said I to the first lieutenant, touching my hat, and looking very demure. "So, Mr Keene, I understand it was you who have been practising upon Mr Green, and teaching him insult and disrespect to his superior officers on the quarter-deck. Well, sir?" I made no reply, but appeared very penitent. "Because a boy has just come to sea, and is ignorant of his profession, it appears to be a custom--which I shall take care shall not be followed up--to play him all manner of tricks, and tell him all manner of falsehoods. Now, sir, what have you to say for yourself?" "Mr Green and I have both just come to sea, sir, and the midshipmen all play us so many tricks," replied I, humbly, "that I hardly know whether what I do is right or wrong." "But, sir, it was you who played this trick to Mr Green." "Yes, sir, I told him so for fun, but I didn't think he was such a fool as to believe me. I only said that you were a freemason, and that freemasons were kind to each other, and that you gave one another signs to know one another by; I heard you say you were a freemason, sir, when I dined in the gun-room." "Well, sir, I did say so; but that is no reason for your teaching him to be impudent." "He asked me for the signs, sir, and I didn't know them exactly; so I gave him the signs that Mr Dott and I always make between us." "Mr Dott and you--a pretty pair, as I said before. I've a great mind to put you in Mr Green's place--at all events, I shall report your conduct when the captain comes from London. There, sir, you may go." I put on a penitent face as I went out wiping my eyes with the back of my hands. After I went out, I waited a few seconds at the gun-room door, and then the officers, supposing that I was out of hearing, gave vent to their mirth, the first lieutenant laughing the loudest.