The young wag told us this was soup: it turned out to be nothing more than oleaginous warm water.

Such as it was, nevertheless, we were fain to make a meal of it, our sentry being attentive enough to undo our bracelets.

The "kids" passed from mouth to mouth, and were soon emptied.
The next morning, when the sentry's back was turned, someone, whom we took for an English sailor, tossed over a few oranges, the rinds of which we afterward used for cups.
On the second day nothing happened worthy of record.

On the third, we were amused by the following scene.
A man, whom we supposed a boatswain's mate, from the silver whistle hanging from his neck, came below, driving before him a couple of blubbering boys, and followed by a whole troop of youngsters in tears.

The pair, it seemed, were sent down to be punished by command of an officer; the rest had accompanied them out of sympathy.
The boatswain's mate went to work without delay, seizing the poor little culprits by their loose frocks, and using a ratan without mercy.