Said the soldier to the sailor, "That was very well done of you, my man, and right well deserves a glass of grog.

Say so to the gun-room steward as you pass; and tell him it is my orders to fill you out a stiff norwester." The soldier's offer was kindly meant, but rather clumsily timed, at least so thought Jack; for though he inclined his head in acknowledgment of the attention, and instinctively touched his hat, when spoken to by an officer, he made no reply, till out of the marine's hearing, when he laughed, or rather chuckled out to the people near him, "Does the good gentleman suppose I'll take a glass of grog for saving a boy's life ?" It is surely very odd that there should ever be such a thing as a sailor who cannot swim.

And it is still more marvellous that there should be found people who actually maintain that a sailor who cannot swim has a better chance than one who can.
This strange doctrine, as may well be supposed, derives but slender support from any well-established facts.

It is merely asserted that, on some occasions of shipwreck, the boldest swimmers have been lost in trying to reach the shore, when they might have been saved had they stayed by the ship.

This may be true enough in particular cases, and yet the general position grounded upon it utterly absurd.