One morning I saw our valet treating a piece of sailcloth quite outrageously: he had spread it upon the deck, stood upon it, and brushed it clean with the ship's broom.

I recognised our tablecloth by the many spots of dirt and grease, and in the evening found the table bare.

But what was the consequence?
Scarcely had the tea-pot been placed on the table than it began to slip off; had not the watchful captain quickly caught it, it would have fallen to the ground and bathed our feet with its contents.

Nothing could stand on the polished table, and I sincerely pitied the captain that he had not another tablecloth.
My readers will imagine that what I have described would have been quite sufficient to make my stay in the vessel any thing but agreeable; but I discovered another circumstance, which even made it alarming.

This was nothing less than that our little vessel was constantly letting in a considerable quantity of water, which had to be pumped out every few hours.