“I’ve been a rough fellow, in my day; but you’ve taught me a lesson that all the parsons in the country couldn’t have got into my nuddle. By the way, Jack, do you know what I thought of you when we first come aboard the ship?” “I haven’t the least idea.” “Well, Jack, I thought you was one of them pious sort of lubbers that say long prayers, and go canting up and down the rigging, and shirk their duty whenever they get a chance,--one of them chaps that’s always preaching what they don’t practice.” “I don’t see where you got such an idea as that of me.” “Nor I nuther, Jack; but I did get it: and I was determined to make you show your hand, or pick a quarrel with you. We had some talk about you in mess No. 2, and I told the boys I meant to show you up. I was rather taken aback when you wouldn’t odd-and-even. You got the laugh on me, and I meant to sarve you out for it. You’re a good fellow, Jack; and, what’s more’n that, you’re just my idee of a good Christian.” “I’m glad your opinion of me has changed,” laughed Jack. “I’m sure I haven’t lost anything by being fair and just towards you. I’m a quartermaster now, and shall still wear my ‘eagle, anchor, and star.’” “Silence in the main-top!” shouted the officer of the deck at this interesting point in the conversation. The sharp rebuke of the officer of the deck was called forth by a disturbance in the main-top, where some extraordinary event appeared to have transpired. Some of the topmen were laughing, and some were swearing; and the aspect of the matter was, that a practical joke had just been perpetrated. The mizzen-top was at once deeply interested in the affairs of the main-top; and the quarter-watch were exceedingly curious to learn the particulars. Jack Somers, whose new rating had relieved him from duty as a topman, came down to learn the facts, which were communicated to him by Ben Blinks. The captain of the after-guard was an epicure, and had prepared, for his own especial use, a dish of dunderfunk,--a man-of-war delicacy which comes the nearest to what the Tremont House would serve up under the more pretentious title of “cracker-pudding” than any other dish that can be mentioned. It is made of “hard-tack,” pounded up, with “slush” and molasses stirred in, and baked brown in a tin dish. The captain of the after-guard had no relish for the gross viands of the mess-table; for he was a very nice young man. Indeed, all the after-guard are nice young men; being selected for their trim and dandy appearance, because their duty lies on the quarter-deck, to haul the main-braces, to handle the spanker-sheet, brails, and vangs, and similar work in that part of the ship where the officers “most do congregate.”