CHAPTER XIII.
In which our hero begins to act and think for himself.
Whatever may have been Jack's thoughts, at all events they did not spoil his rest.

He possessed in himself all the materials of a true philosopher, but there was a great deal of weeding still required.
Joliffe's arguments, sensible as they were, had very little effect upon him; for, strange to say, it is much more easy to shake a man's opinions when he is wrong, than when he is right; proving that we are all of a very perverse nature.

"Well," thought Jack, "if I am to go to the mast-head, I am, that's all; but it does not prove that my arguments are not good, only that they will not be listened to"; and then Jack shut his eyes, and in a few minutes was fast asleep.
The master had reported to the first lieutenant, and the first lieutenant to the captain, when he came on board the next morning, the conduct of Mr Easy, who was sent for in the cabin, to hear if he had anything to offer in extenuation of his offence.

Jack made an oration, which lasted more than half an hour, in which all the arguments he had brought forward to Jolliffe in the preceding chapter were entered fully into.

Mr Jolliffe was then examined, and also Mr Smallsole was interrogated: after which the captain and the first lieutenant were left alone.
"Sawbridge," said Captain Wilson, "How true it is that any deviation from what is right invariably leads us into a scrape.