"'No; but the commodore has, and it is just about his dinner time.'
"We then explained to him that he must go up to the cabin and tell the commodore that he had just been ordered to the ship; and, in accordance with his usual custom, the old gentleman would be certain to invite him to dinner.
"'He is very cross sometimes,' said we, 'but don't be at all afraid of him—he doesn't mean any thing. Talk to him as though he was your father.'
"'By gum, I kin do that,' said the Yankee, and off he walked, while we took up a position where we could hear and see all that passed.
"The commodore was seated at his desk, writing, and the countryman at once walked up to him, slapped him familiarly on the shoulder, and shouted:
"'Hullo, ole hoss! how de do? Shake hands with a feller, won't ye?'
"The commodore looked up in surprise, and ejaculated:
"'Eh! What do you want here? Get out of this. Away you go.'
"'O no, ole hoss, not by a long shot,' replied the Yankee, coolly seating himself in the nearest chair. 'Them ar young fellers down stairs told me to come up here and git some dinner; and, by gravy, I ain't goin' till I git it; so fetch it on.'