He was encountered by many, but he only ran the faster the more they jeered, and, at last, arrived breathless at his goal, flew down the steps, jumped into the boat, and squatted on the stern sheets, much to the surprise of the officers and men, who thought him mad.

He stated in a few words that somebody had stolen his trousers during the night; and as it was already late, the boat shoved off the men as well as officers convulsed with laughter.
"Have any of you a pea-jacket ?" inquired the boatswain of the men--but the weather was so warm that none of them had brought a pea-jacket.

The boatswain looked round; he perceived that the officers were sitting on a boat-cloak.
"Whose boat-cloak is that ?" inquired the boatswain.
"Mine," replied Gascoigne.
"I trust, Mr Gascoigne, you will have the kindness to lend it to me to go up the side with." "Indeed I will not," replied Gascoigne, who would sooner have thrown it overboard and have lost it, than not beheld the anticipated fun: "recollect I asked you for a fishing-line, when we were becalmed off Cape St Vincent, and you sent word that you'd see me dead first.

Now I'll just see you the same before you have my boat-cloak." "Oh, Mr Gascoigne, I'll give you three lines, directly I get on board." "I dare say you will, but that won't do now.

'Tit for tat,' Mr Boatswain, and hang all favours," replied Gascoigne, who was steering the boat, having been sent on shore for the others.