"At all events, you might have brought away my epaulets," replied he; "but you youngsters think of nothing but gormandising." I had the first watch that night, when Swinburne, the quarter master, came up to me, and asked me all the particulars of the affair, for he was not in the boats. "Well," said he, "that Mr Chucks appeared to be a very good boatswain in his way, if he could only have kept his rattan a little quiet. He was a smart fellow, and knew his duty. We had just such another killed in our ship, in the action off Cape St. Vincent." "What! were you in that action?" replied I. "Yes, I was, and belonged to the _Captain_, Lord Nelson's ship." "Well, then suppose you tell me all about it." "Why, Mr Simple, d'ye see, I've no objection to spin you a yarn now and then," replied Swinburne; "but as Mr Chucks used to say, allow me to observe, in the most delicate manner in the world, that I perceive that the man who has charge of your hammock, and slings you a clean one now and then, has very often a good glass of grog for his _yarns_, and I do not see but that mine are as well worth a glass of grog as his." "So they are, Swinburne, and better too, and I promise you a good stiff one to-morrow evening." "That will do, sir: now then I'll tell you all about it, and more about it too than most can, for I know how the action was brought about." I hove the log, marked the board, and then sat down abaft on the signal chest with Swinburne, who commenced his narrative as follows:--