'Just this moment, sir, as I came aft.'
'Very well, we'll see to that to-morrow. You bring the kettle aft as soon as it is ready. I say, Mr. Jem, is that fellow sober?'
'Yees, sir, he be sober as you be.'
'It's quite astonishing what a propensity the common sailors have to liquor. Forty odd years have I been in the service, and I've never found any difference. I only wish I had a guinea for every time that I have given a fellow seven-water grog during my servitude as first lieutenant, I wouldn't call the king my cousin. Well, if there's no hot water, we must take lukewarm; it won't do to heave-to. By the Lord Harry! who would have thought it?—I'm at number sixteen! Let me count—yes!—surely I must have made a mistake. A fact, by Heaven!' continued Mr. Appleboy, throwing the chalk down on the table. 'Only one more glass after this; that is, if I have counted right—I may have seen double.'
'Yes,' drawled Smith.
'Well, never mind. Let's go on with my story. It was either in the year ninety-three or ninety-four that I was in the Channel fleet; we were then abreast of Torbay——'
'Here be the hot water, sir,' cried Jem, putting the kettle down on the deck.
'Very well, boy. By the bye, has the jar of butter come on board?'
'Yes, but it broke all down the middle. I tied him up with a rope-yarn.'
'Who broke it, sir?'