As soon as I was off, O'Brien, who stood by Mr Falcon, said, "Peter was thinking of his dinner, poor fellow!" "I really quite forgot it," replied the first lieutenant, "there is so much to do.

He is a willing boy, and he shall dine in the gun-room when he comes back." And so I did--so I lost nothing by not expostulating, and gained more of the favour of the first lieutenant, who never forgot what he called _zeal_.

But the hardest trial of the whole, is to the midshipman who is sent with the boat to purchase the supplies for the cabin and gun-room on the day before the ship's sailing.

It was my misfortune to be ordered upon that service this time, and that very unexpectedly.

I had been ordered to dress myself to take the gig on shore for the captain's orders, and was walking the deck with my very best uniform and side arms, when the marine officer, who was the gun-room caterer, came up to the first lieutenant, and asked him for a boat.