I awoke the next morning at daylight with a noise over my head which sounded like thunder; I found it proceeded from holy-stoning and washing down the main-deck. I was very much refreshed nevertheless, and did not feel the least sick or giddy. Mr Trotter, who had been up at four o'clock, came down and directed one of the marines to fetch me some water. I washed myself on my chest, and then went on the main-deck, which they were swabbing dry. Standing by the sentry at the cabin door, I met one of the midshipmen with whom I had been in company at the Blue Posts. "So, Master Simple, old Trotter and his faggot of a wife have got hold of you--have they?" said he. I replied, that I did not know the meaning of faggot, but that I considered Mrs Trotter a very charming woman. At which he burst into a loud laugh. "Well," said he, "I'll just give you a caution. Take care, or they'll make a clean sweep. Has Mrs Trotter shown you her ankle yet?" "Yes," I replied, "and a very pretty one it is." "Ah, she's at her old tricks. You had much better have joined our mess at once. You're not the first greenhorn that they have plucked. Well," said he, as he walked away, "keep the key of your own chest--that's all." When he left me I went on the quarter-deck. All the sailors were busy at work, and the first lieutenant cried out to the gunner, "Now, Mr Dispart, if you're ready, we'll breech these guns." "Now, my lads," said the first lieutenant, "we must slue (the part the breeches cover) more forward." As I never heard of a gun having breeches, I was very anxious to see what was going on, and went up close to the first lieutenant, who said to me. "Youngster, hand me that _monkey's tail_." I saw nothing like a _monkey's tail_; but I was so frightened that I snatched up the first thing that I saw, which was a short bar of iron, and it so happened that it was the very article which he wanted. When I gave it to him, the first lieutenant looked at me, and said, "So you know what a monkey's tail is already, do you? Now don't you ever sham stupid after that." Thought I to myself, I'm very lucky, but if that's a monkey's tail it's a very stiff one! I resolved to learn the names of every thing as fast as I could, that I might be prepared, so I listened attentively to what was said; but I soon became quite confused, and despaired of remembering anything. "Mr Chucks," said the first lieutenant to the boatswain, "what blocks have we below--not on charge?" "Let me see, sir, I've one _sister_, t'other we split in half the other day, and I think I have a couple of _monkeys_ down in the store-room.--I say, you Smith, pass that brace through the _bull's eye_, and take the _sheepshank_ out before you come down." "And, Mr Chucks, recollect this afternoon that you _bleed_ all the _buoys_." Bleed the boys! thought I, what can that be for? at all events, the surgeon appears to be the proper person to perform that operation.