"I have summoned you, Jackson," began Captain Miles--speaking out distinctly as before, so that all hands could hear--"to inform you that Mr Marline and myself think you are the best man on board to fill the vacant post of second mate just vacated by Davis. I have been told of your recent altercation with that person when he was in authority over you; but, taking into consideration your previous good conduct and prompt obedience to the orders of myself and Mr Marline on all occasions, as well as your general proficiency as an able seaman, we have not allowed this little matter to affect our decision, and I have no doubt you will in future discharge your duty as ably as an officer of the ship as you have hitherto done as a foremast hand. You had better, therefore, move your chest aft and take the second cabin next to the steward's pantry, hitherto occupied by Davis, whom I have just disrated and sent to fill your place in the fo'c's'le. Men," added the captain, raising his voice a little higher, "you will please consider _Mister_ Jackson to be the second mate of the _Josephine_, and treat him respectfully as such." No one seemed more surprised at the ending of the affair than the newly- promoted foremast hand. Twirling his cap in his two hands and fidgeting first on one leg and then on the other, he looked the very picture of confusion. When he was told to come forwards, he expected no doubt to have been called to account for his insubordination, whereas here he was actually selected to fill Davis's billet! He couldn't make it out at all, and stared open mouth upwards at the poop unable to utter a word of thanks or anything. "Come up here, Mr Jackson," said Captain Miles kindly, seeing how dumbfounded he looked; wherefore, the modest fellow, actually blushing at the unexpected honour bestowed on him, mounted the poop-ladder in a much more gingerly fashion than he would have done if he had been told to take his trick at the wheel or exercise some sailor's job aft. However, as soon as he got alongside the captain and Mr Marline, they both shook hands with him, in order to give him a proper welcome to his new station, and the steward singing out a few minutes afterwards that dinner was ready, he was invited down into the cabin to "christen" his promotion, as it were, by partaking of that meal, in token of his being admitted to a social equality with his superior officers. I may add, too, that if his sudden rise in rank was unexpected, Jackson did not take long to settle down to his new duties, proving himself ere long a much better officer in every way than his predecessor. The men, too, were not in the least jealous of his being placed over them, but executed his orders with alacrity; for, he exercised his authority judiciously, remembering his former position--albeit he was ever a rigid and impartial disciplinarian. "After a storm comes a calm," says the old adage, but the reverse of this axiom holds equally good at sea.