It was given to him; and after the ship to which he had been appointed was paid off, he had been ordered to join H.M.sloop Harpy.

Jack's conversation with Mesty was interrupted by the voice of the boatswain, who was haranguing his boy.

"It's now ten minutes, sir, by my repeater," said the boatswain, "that I have sent for you"; and Mr Biggs pulled out a huge silver watch, almost as big as a Norfolk turnip.

A Jew had sold him the watch; the boatswain had heard of repeaters, and wished to have one.

Moses had only shown him watches with the hour and minute hands; he now produced one with a second hand, telling him it was a repeater.
"What makes it a repeater ?" inquired the boatswain.
"Common watches," said the cunning Jew, "only tell the minutes and hours; but all repeaters tell the seconds." The boatswain was satisfied--bought the watch, and, although many had told him it was no repeater, he insisted that it was, and would call it so.
"I swear," continued the boatswain, "it's ten minutes and twenty seconds by my repeater." "If you please, sir," said the boy, "I was changing my trousers when you sent for me, and then I had to stow away my bag again." "Silence, sir; I'd have you to know that when you are sent for by your officer, trousers or no trousers, it is your duty to come up directly." "Without trousers, sir ?" replied the boy.
"Yes, sir, without trousers; if the captain required me, I should come without my shirt.