The story is so hackneyed by frequent repetition as to make its relation a weariness to the biographer, the more so that the trait of extreme rashness in youth is one by no means so rare as to be specially significant of Nelson's character.

It will be given in the words of his first biographers:-- "There is also an anecdote recollected by Admiral Lutwidge, which marked the filial attention of his gallant cockswain.
Among the gentlemen on the quarter-deck of the Carcass, who were not rated midshipmen, there was, besides young Nelson, a daring shipmate of his, to whom he had become attached.

One night, during the mid-watch, it was concerted between them that they should steal together from the ship, and endeavour to obtain a bear's skin.

The clearness of the nights in those high latitudes rendered the accomplishment of this object extremely difficult: they, however, seem to have taken advantage of the haze of an approaching fog, and thus to have escaped unnoticed.

Nelson in high spirits led the way over the frightful chasms in the ice, armed with a rusty musket.