The meagre answer called forth shouts of merriment, and the poor fellows belonging to the other ship were rather unhandsomely taunted with the scantiness of their Christmas fare.

"Look at that and weep, you hungry-faced rascals!" exclaimed one of our jolly blades, holding up the drumstick of a goose in one hand and that of a turkey in the other.

He was answered by the practical joke of having the two bones twisted from his hands and shyed in his face, according to the most approved tarpaulin manners.
This was the signal for a general _melee_, and the officers had enough to do to separate the contending hosts.
A few days before the next Christmas-day came round, when we were lying in the River Canton, my steward came to me and said,-- "The people, sir, have been talking for the last two or three weeks of hardly anything else but the 'row' at Deptford this time twelvemonth, when you gave them a feast on Christmas-day." "Well, what of that ?" "Oh, nothing, sir; I only thought you might like to know it.

There are plenty of ducks and geese at the Chinese village close to us." I seized the idea in a moment; and having, as before, consulted with the first lieutenant, I bade my steward prepare a good stock accordingly.

I took no further charge of the matter; nor did I expect to hear anything more of the dinner or its preparations.