While this state of things continues, it is impossible to keep a ship clean, and, in order to break up this habit, the culprits are obliged to wipe up whatever they have spilled, and then carry a swab about the deck until they can detect some one else equally unfortunate.

This is not a pleasant task; for, as soon as this rule is put in force, the men become very careful, and the luckless offender is sometimes obliged to walk the decks the entire day before he can detect any one in the act of violating it.
Frank, of course, did not understand this, and the mate had got him into the scrape for the purpose of getting the man who first had the swab, who was a particular friend of his, out of his unpleasant position.
"Come, youngster, drop that mess-kettle and pick up that swab," commanded the mate.
Frank knew he had no alternative; so he set his mess-kettle on deck out of the way, and picking up the swab, walked aft to the place where he had left Simpson.
"Hullo, there," exclaimed the latter, as Frank approached, "what's the matter with you ?" Frank related the whole circumstance, and Simpson could scarcely restrain his indignation.
"That bo'son's mate ought to be mast-headed for a whole week," he exclaimed.

"But I'll square yards with him some day.

I'm sorry you have got into this scrape, but it can't be helped.

I've seen many a good fellow, in my time, in the same fix.