,transcriber's note3 ,unusual spelling and punctuation has been transcribed as in the original book4 ,the reader will encounter 7,v#ab7 at various places in the text4 ,its meaning is inapparent1 but it appears in the original book and was not changed4 ,,from ,,lower ,,deck ,,to ,,pulpit by ,,rev4 ,,henry ,,cowling ,with ,portrait and ,illustrations ,london ,s4,w4 ,partridge ,co4 #h and #i ,paternoster ,row #aijb ,preface ,this little book is not written on my own initiative4 ,i have not so much as given a hint of my 'naval days1' either from the pulpit or in conversation4 ,but my friends have condemned me for being so reserved about the matter1 and for a long time have1 with persistent entreaties1 been urging me to tell the story of my life4 ,that they may now be satisfied1 and that ,i may be left quiet1 and1 above all1 that it may prove a blessing to all who read it1 is the sincere desire of ,,the ,,author ,contents ,,chapter ,i4 ,,early ,,days1 #i ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,joining ,,the ,,navy1 #ba ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,leaving ,,for ,,sea1 #cg ,,chapter ,,iv ,,three ,,years ,,on ,h4,m4,s4 ',,emerald' #db ,,chapter ,v4 ,,homeward ,,bound1 #gh ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,leaving ,,the ,,navy1 #ia ,,chapter ,i ,,early ,,days4 ,kingsand1 though but a village in size1 has a history of its own4 ,situated about five miles from ,plymouth1 on the ,cornish coast1 and being a fishing port1 the inhabitants are on intimate terms with the sea4 ,in the summer months one may observe many an indication of this relationship or intimacy'4 ,youngsters run about the beach and the village barefooted1 most of them wearing the orthodox blue jersey1 whilst young women1 and even older ones1 love to sit on the rocks near the sea and work away with their sewing or knitting1 and1 ,i must not forget to add1 with their tongues also4 ,strange and startling are the stories one may hear which have been handed down from one generation to another concerning the smuggling days of long1 long ago--and yet not so long ago1 for even at this time of day my mother often narrates hair breadth escapes of smugglers which happened in her girlhood4 ,in this village ,i was born on the #ith of ,april #ahgd4 ,in visiting ,kingsand from time to time1 ,i have often stood and gazed at the old house in which ,i was born--not that any recollections in connection with it survive in my memory1 for when ,i was only five weeks old1 my father1 who was in the navy1 received an appointment as a gunnery instructor in the ,royal ,naval ,reserve battery in the far north4 ,sometimes my mother indulges in a retrospect1 and ,i love to hear her tell of that ,may morning when1 she bade 'farewell' to her loved ones and dear old ,kingsand1 and how1 wrapping me in a large shawl1 she proceeded to ,cremyll1 a distance of three miles1 from whence we were transported across the harbour to ,plymouth in the ferry boat4 ,then came the long and tedious journey to ,maryport4 ,sweet mother6 how pathetic to me it all now seems4 ,we resided at ,maryport two years1 during which time my eldest sister was born4 ,often would my mother carry me into the battery1 and at the sight of the large guns1 and the queer looking helmets hanging on the walls1 my little smile would be converted into vehement crying4 ,how little ,i dreamed then of my familiarity with them in after years6 ,but ,i must not anticipate4 ,after completing our stay here1 my parents returned to ,kingsand1 but only for a brief period4 ,it was at1 this period that ,i met with my first accident4 ,crawling away from the front door ,i made all possible speed to a large tank of water close by4 ,in looking upon it from an elevated bank of ground1 ,i overbalanced myself and fell headlong into it4 ,when rescued1 my nose was bleeding profusely4 ,it was a lesson to me1 for during the few subsequent weeks we remained in ,kingsand ,i remembered my 'dive1' and gave the tank a wide margin4 ,we soon removed to ,millbrook1 a large village situated a mile and a half from ,kingsand4 ,in those days the quay at ,millbrook was picturesque with groups of watermen who gained an honest livelihood by ferrying passengers to ,devonport and back4 ,but former things have passed away2 and now two sets of steamers1 well adapted for shallow water 7for the landing-piers at ,millbrook are governed by the ebb1 and flood tide71 have almost entirely dispensed with passenger-boats1 and the trip from ,millbrook to ,devonport1 or vice versa1 costs the modest sum of one penny4 ,people on the town side of the harbour take advantage of this1 for on public holidays thousands of towns-people may be seen wending their way through the main streets of ,millbrook1 bound for the famous ,whitsands1 there to spend the day on the seashore4 ,never let anyone despise ,millbrook1 for1 socially speaking1 it may be regarded as an adjunct of ,devonport4 ,there is an interchange of passengers every day1 and several hundred yardmen1 who work in ,his ,majesty's naval dockyard1 together with many naval men1 leave ,millbrook every morning4 ,added to these1 there are housewives1 and their name is legion1 who cross the harbour on ,saturdays for the purpose of shopping1 for they are cute enough to realise that their steamer fare can be cleared on two pounds of sugar-that is to say1 the same article would cost a penny extra at home4 ,in addition1 then1 to the profits gained on other articles which they purchase--for their baskets are of no mean size--the pleasant cruise across the harbour costs practically nothing4 ,as a result of this steamer traffic1 trade has dwindled considerably in ,millbrook4 ,i speak of ,millbrook as an adjunct of ,devonport4 ,perhaps some will object to this1 as both places are located in separate counties1 the former in ,cornwall1 the latter in ,devon2 others1 who may be somewhat narrow in thought1 may think this view of mine reduces ,devonport in the scale of townships4 ,however1 as the ties between the two places are so strong that even water cannot separate them1 ,i hope to be forgiven if my estimation of the village as an adjunct be incorrect4 ,the village itself is a pleasant place and lovely to behold4 ,like a nest built in the heart of a thick tree1 so ,millbrook lies within the heart of a beautiful valley4 ,it is bounded by the ,maker ,heights on the right1 and the high cliffs on the left and in the bend4 ,hard by are ,mount ,edgcumbe ,park1 and the ,hamoaze in full view4 ,enough3 ,i will say no more as to the description of it1 lest my readers may think me vain4 ,but ,i cannot refrain from asking in this connection3 ,who would not be proud of being a ,millbrooker8 ,my conscious experience of life began in ,millbrook4 ,well do ,i remember the morning when with a company of other little boys ,i was marched away from the girls' school where ,i had hitherto been as a young scholar1 to the boys'4 ,then followed the long and tedious years of school-life4 ,did ,i like my school-days at ,millbrook8 ,to this question ,i must give an emphatic ,no4 ,one day my companion and ,i showed this dislike in a very practical manner4 ,it was the custom to take our books to school in the morning1 and to bring them away at the expiration of the day's teaching4 ,on the day in question we departed from this rule by bringing away our books at noon1 our object being to spend the afternoon in taking a walk on the country road4 ,when the bell rang at #b p4m4 for the purpose of resuming work1 we made off in an opposite direction to the school4 ,we considered it would not be wise to carry our slates and books in our hand1 and therefore by way of protection1 we stuffed them under our waistcoats4 ,this gave us the appearance of an abnormal size1 and a curious shape1 at least ,i thought so2 for everyone we met looked upon us with an air of suspicion4 ,i have often wondered since1 whether or not this suspicion grew out of experience in the life of many whom we passed that day-whether or not they really knew what we were doing4 ,certainly we did not know what we were doing1 for we entered the village at #c4cj p4m4 7school-time was over at #d p4m47 half an hour too soon4 ,how is it you are out of school so early8 asked our respective mothers4 ,what a dilemma we were in6 ,suffice it to say1 that my mother said she was not sure but what she should report this matter to my father4 ,did she8 ,no2 ere my father returned at even1 ,i resorted to a happy way ,i had of rendering house-hold assistance1 such as putting coal on the fire1 etc41 which ,i knew would go a long way to dull the memory of my afternoon's walk in my mother's mind4 ,in the evening when father came home he asked the question as was his wont3 ,how has ,henry been to-day8 ,as good as gold1 replied mother4 ,what about my companion8 ,how fared it with him8 ,he is able to inform you best on that point1 for he learned by experience on that occasion the awful sting of a leather strap4 ,never since in his lifetime has he been half an hour before time4 ,who can tell the injury a leather strap may do6 ,from my very earliest days the desire to become a preacher was ever present with me1 which desire became intensified as the years sped by4 ,as a strong manifestation of this fact1 ,i was often found in the garden addressing the cabbages1 which in my youthful fancy represented the congregation1 and on ,sunday evenings when my parents were at chapel1 a habit of mine was to rear a chair upside down against the wall1 get within the bars of my chair-pulpit1 and address my two sisters4 ,strange to say1 running parallel to this habit of preaching was a fond love for the water1 and it may be said in a literal sense that ,i was as fond of it as a duck4 ,i am told that when an infant under the care of any person other than my mother1 nothing in the world would quiet me except a bowl of water and a sponge to play with4 ,naturally this liking developed1 as you will see4 ,separated by a thick wall from the ,millbrook lake is a large mill-pond1 which1 when emptied of water1 is very muddy4 ,how we1 as schoolboys1 delighted to roll in this mud 7for what is dirty to a school-boy87 and then jump over the other side of the wall and swim in the wake of the paddle-wheel steamer6 ,on one occasion1 the ,vicar1 who from the vicarage could watch our habits1 observed that during the day ,i had bathed nine times1 which thing1 he gave my parents to understand1 was very weakening4 ,twice a day1 said he1 is often enough4 ,i think so too1 now1 but did not then4 ,on ,saturdays a party of us boys would wend our way to the ,whitsands for the purpose of bathing in the open sea4 ,this we regarded as something totally different from that of our daily bathings in the lake2 and in point of fact it was1 for the water was purer and fresher1 and soft golden sands took the place of mud strewed with broken pieces of glass and other refuse4 ,oh6 how we loved to rush headlong through the giant waves which came bounding in from seaward4 ,how much better was this than learning a proposition of ,euclid6 ,the boy who swam furthest out to sea was looked upon as the hero of the hour1 indeed through the whole week1 until ,saturday came again1 when some other boy would endeavour to swim beyond the limit of the previous week4 ,in this way we instituted a competition between ourselves in the art of swimming4 ,one ,saturday the scene changed1 for after the delight of bathing came misery2 after joy came pain4 ,it is ever so4 ,the shadow is always with the light4 ,after dressing ourselves1 we made a hasty retreat over the rocks1 as it had now begun to rain1 when lo6 my foot was caught in a crevice4 ,i wriggled it to and fro1 with the hope of extricating it1 but in vain4 ,the other boys were now a long distance ,in front1 and there with my foot jammed between the rocks was ,i1 like a rabbit caught in the gin1 shouting ,mother6 ,mother6 though she were four miles away4 ,if ever ,i needed a trumpet voice1 it was then4 ,at length by the help of a friend who came to relieve me1 ,i was set at liberty4 ,for many years after this incident1 my ankle-bone remained swollen--a memento of that ,saturday afternoon4 ,but ,i must pass on4 ,i was now nine years of age and organist in the ,wesleyan ,sunday ,school1 having for the past two years studied music under my father4 ,added to this1 ,i formed part of the ,wesleyan church choir4 ,sunday therefore to me was a very busy day1 made exceptionally so1 as apart from church and school work1 the intervals were filled up with music and singing at home1 in which all the family joined4 ,our house was indeed a house of song4 ,it was now determined by my parents that ,i be sent to a ,devonport school1 as ,i had passed out of the seven standards in the school at home4 ,accordingly a contract was entered into between the schoolmaster and my father1 forms were duly filled in1 and ,i was to begin my schooling on the following ,monday4 ,this ,i looked forward to with the utmost pleasure3 one reason being1 and not the least1 that it meant two trips in the steamer every day2 but judge of my grief when on the ,sunday it became apparent that ,i had the measles4 ,so the next morning1 ,instead of going off in the steamer to school1 ,i was kept in bed1 and for seven weeks was confined at home4 ,when well enough to go out again1 ,i1 with two other boys1 decided to join the ,navy 7,i was now twelve years old74 ,we sauntered along the road until we reached the pier1 and there1 right before us1 stood the leviathan training ship--,h4,m4,s4 ',impregnable4' ,my little heart quailed within me at the very sight of her1 a great fear overshadowed me1 and ,i lost no time in returning to ,millbrook4 ,on my return journey ,i was half sorrowful and yet half glad that ,i did not go on board--a strange feeling4 ,the two other boys1 who were many years my senior1 did not pass the medical examination1 and consequently were rejected for the service4 ,steps were taken again with a view to my schooling at ,devonport2 this time ,i went1 and these school-days ,i recall with pleasure1 though they were fraught with a powerful temptation1 which ,i shall presently describe4 ,i have a vivid recollection of the first day4 ,steaming up the lake at very low water1 and being somewhat foggy1 our boat stuck on the mud4 ,worst of all1 it was ebb tide1 and here we had to wait for the return of the in flowing tide4 ,we schoolboys gathered together in the engine-room and did our home-lessons4 ,in a few hours we floated and very soon reached the landing place1 and we arrived at home about midnight4 ,that was the first and last time ,i ever did my lessons afloat1 or rather on the mud4 ,the object my parents had in sending me across the harbour to school was that ,i might receive an efficient training to enable me to pass the ,dock-yard ,civil ,service examination which1 by the way1 is locally considered the highest distinction a boy can attain1 providing he be qualified to pass the examiner4 ,no romance is connected with these days1 save that on one occasion my companion asked me to accompany him to ,devonport ,park to watch a football match instead of attending school in the afternoon4 ,remembering the leather strap to which ,i have already referred1 and thinking that with this new schoolmaster ,i might have a second taste of what my poor friend received on that memorable day1 though not with a strap1 yet with something just as sweet1 ,i considered it wise not to visit the park4 ,but this boy used much persuasion1 and in a short time we stood in the park watching the game1 which proved not so interesting as he had anticipated4 ,shall we go to school8 he asked4 ,we shall have time to get there before it opens4 ,no1 ,i replied2 you have persuaded me to come here1 and now ,i shall stay4 ,we both did4 ,i never played truant again after this day4 ,did the schoolmaster become acquainted with this breach of discipline8 ,no2 or ,i am afraid he would not have given me such a testimonial as ,i now hold in my possession4 ,at this juncture ,i became a member of the drum and fife band1 under the supervision of the ,millbrook ,band of ,hope ,committee4 ,never shall ,i forget our bandmaster4 ,he was a strict disciplinarian4 ,no looseness was allowed in our playing2 thoroughness was stamped on every tune we played4 ,on practice nights he took each of the boys aside1 and one by one each had to play the music as set--every note must be clear and distinct4 ,occasionally our band would march through the village1 the drum major with his staff leading4 ,those days of memory1 so near and yet so far6 ,then came the ,sunday when he was lowered in the dark1 cold grave1 and we solemnly played whilst encircled around it-- ,goodnight1 beloved1 not farewell6 ,he went home to ,music-,land1 where they praise ,him day and night4 ,one day we shall all meet again1 and together with him we will tune our song to harps of gold4 ,,chapter ,,ii ,,joining ,,the ,,navy ,now about the temptation already hinted at1 and all that followed in its train4 ,the steamer in which ,i crossed the harbour twice daily1 passed quite close to the ',impregnable1' and thus gave me ample opportunity to scan her vast dimensions1 and to gaze in wonder at her tall masts4 ,but best of all was to see the sailor-boys on the forecastle1 in the rigging1 and manning the boats which were fastened to her lower booms4 ,at the sight of all this my little life seemed to be thrilled1 and oh1 how ,i longed to become a sailor boy6 ,i would give all the gold in the ,mint did ,i possess it1 in exchange for the realisation of my yearning desire4 ,how nice to pull the ropes1 to climb the rigging1 but1 above all1 to wear a sailor's uniform4 ,thoughts such as these haunted my mind constantly1 and this daily allurement only helped to swell the number4 ,full well ,i knew my parents would not consent my joining the navy4 ,still1 one day ,i ventured to broach the subject to my mother1 who replied ,that she could not bear to hear of such a thing4 ,the craving still grew1 and my parents1 clearly understanding the bend of my inclination1 made a compromise1 steeped in love4 ,this was it3 ,seeing you have such a desire for the sea1 we have been praying much about the matter1 and after due consideration1 conclude it will be far better for you to join the service as a young man1 not as a poor1 helpless boy4 ,you shall have the trade of a shipwright--7the same1 trade as the one ,i should have been apprenticed to in the dockyard1 had ,i desired to pas the necessary qualification1 but as a matter of fact1 this desire for the sea swallowed up every other7--and when out of your time you will be in a different position to enter6 ,all this my uncle1 who himself had been in the navy1 corroborated by saying3 ,i should not put a dog before the mast--poor boys are huffed and cuffed shamefully2 but when a young man has a trade1 and then joins1 his treatment1 by reason of his manhood and trade1 is totally different4 ,after all this advice my enthusiasm cooled down1 only to reappear in a short time with greater fervour4 ,in the meantime1 ,i was apprenticed to a shipbuilding trade1 and although seven years was the required time to learn it1 ,i gathered it all up in one week4 ,wonderful6 wonderful6 for in that short time ,i was taught how to fill up a hole with putty1 and this is the extent of my practical knowledge of a shipwright's task to-day4 ,do you mean that you only stayed a week8 you ask4 ,that is all4 ,and my mother had kept1 until within a few months ago1 the little white smock-frock1 which ,i wore in my work1 as a reminder in calico of my shipbuilding days4 ,during this week ,i met with still further enticements to become a sailor boy4 ,the building yard being in close proximity to the ',impregnable'1 ,i could hear the brass band every morning1 and what is so enticing as music8 ,then1 again1 hundreds of boys came ashore in large pinnaces1 landing within a few yards from me1 each carrying a rifle4 ,this was more than ,i could bear by way of temptation1 and impressing my parents how very much ,i should abhor seven years in the shipbuilding yard1 intimating that nothing would satisfy me but to be a sailor-boy1 they1 within the course of a few weeks1 very reluctantly yielded to my burning request4 ,having passed all necessary requirements1 ,i joined the navy on my fourteenth birthday4 ,it was ,monday morning1 and after eating my breakfast1 ,i rose and wished my mother and sisters 'good-bye4' ,sorrow filled their hearts and tears their eyes--not so much because ,i was leaving home for a long time1 as ,i should see them again before the week expired1 but even this parting was considered long1 for hitherto ,i had not slept one night away from home4 ,i say not so much because of this fact1 as that they were doubtful as to whether ,i was taking the right step or not4 ,my parents impressed upon me that even now it was not too late to change my mind1 even though my papers were all signed4 ,i can remember how eagerly my mother pleaded to burn them1 coaxing me to sit down and have another cup of tea1 and to forget all about the navy in the drinking of it4 ,truth to tell my enthusiasm was fast dwindling away1 but enough was left at that moment to wish another 'farewell1' and to pass down the street ,with my father who walked with me to the pier and watched the boat bear me to the ship ,would to ,god ,i had never left home on that morning1 was an expression often on my lips during my career in the navy4 ,my mother's tears had been shed on the fire of my passion--it was now becoming quenched1 but not until it was too late did it become extinguished--that is1 when ,i had boarded the ship and given up my papers to the authorities4 ,so my readers will understand that it was with a heavy heart1 yea and with a great deal of reluctancy1 that ,i entered the navy--that despite the great flame of enthusiasm that had been burning in my young life1 it dwindled away almost to the point of being extinguished on this memorable morning2 yet something within urged me quietly on and on till that which was done could not be undone4 ,i was now sent to ,h4,m4,s ',circe1' the outfitting ship for young recruits1 to get my uniform4 ,on reaching the top of the companion ladder a ship's corporal 7i4e4 a naval policeman7 approached me and asked1 ,had ,i any money or jewellery8 ,if so1 it must be kept in his custody until such time as ,i should be prepared to join the mother-ship1 the ',impregnable4' ,i handed him the eight pence which ,i carried in my pocket4 ,after being ordered to read from a board certain rules and digest them1 then came the bath1 followed by the dinner1 which latter consisted of a piece of fat pork 7called 'dobs1' ,i afterward learned1 in the training-ship7 and a thick piece of bread1 neither of which tempted my appetite4 ,i ate nothing that day1 and when a fortnight later my civilian's suit was sent home1 the sausage rolls which ,i carried on board with me were discovered in my pocket4 ,i cannot hope to describe the feelings through which ,i passed on this first day4 ,my poor little heart nearly broke--it was my first lesson in the school of sorrowful tears4 ,oh that ,i had listened to my parents' advice this morning1 was what ,i whispered to myself a hundred times before closing my eyes in sleep that night4 ,the day wore away slowly--oh1 so slowly6 ,i became homesick1 and ran from one port-hole to the other watching the ,millbrook steamers pass to and fro1 endeavouring thereby to persuade myself into the belief that after all ,i was in touch with home4 ,this gave me a kind of satisfaction1 as it seemed to sever my thoughts1 or rather to loose them1 from the floating cage1 and link them and my love to home1 yea1 and even to the passing steamers4 ,just as when a traveller in a foreign land meets with a friend of his native town1 and is filled with delight and fond memories of the home-land by such an event1 in like manner did ,i regard those steamers--they were connecting links uniting my heart to my home4 ,nor is this comparison overdrawn1 for my readers must bear in mind that ,i was only a little boy4 ,and how very natural homesickness was1 amidst such strange surroundings1 and1 with no liberty1 only they who have passed through a similar experience know4 ,then came the hour for 'turning in4' ,as ,i lay in the hammock that night ,i could not but contrast this birthday with my last4 ,the last represented sunshine1 joy1 merry laughter and freedom2 this1 darkness sorrow1 tears and confinement4 ,the tears began to flow1 and ,i wept myself to sleep4 ,more than once during my subsequent visits to ,devonport have ,i stood on ,mutton ,cove pier gazing intently on groups of boys gathered thereon waiting for the ship's boat to bear them over to the ',impregnable' with a view of joining the navy4 ,standing there1 my sympathy has gone out toward them as a flood and ,i have prayed that their first night's experience afloat might not be a repetition of mine4 ,the three days on this outfitting ship were spent in marking my name on the clothes which constituted my kit1 pumping water for the cooks' galley1 helping to scrub the decks and wringing out swabs4 ,on the ,thursday1 ,i1 with other novices1 was sent to the ',impregnable' to commence my training in seamanship and gunnery4 ,every ,thursday half a day's leave is given to the boys1 and we were granted this privilege4 ,how glad and thankful ,i felt6 ,after landing1 ,i hastened home with all possible speed4 ,the sight of me in my uniform overcame my mother's feelings1 and oh6 how bitterly she wept1 and how often did she ask me that afternoon whether ,i thought ,i should like the service or not4 ,i comforted her as best as ,i could upon wishing her 'good-bye' by saying ,i should be ashore again on the following ,sunday1 and with a heart as heavy as lead ,i trudged back to the ship4 ,let me at this point give my readers an outline of the routine on the training-ship4 ',all hands' rise at #e a4m41 lash up their hammocks and carry them to the upper deck for storage4 ,one half of the boys of the watch take a bath and are inspected before dressing by the instructors4 ,all the other boys in the ship scrub decks4 ,breakfast is piped at #g a4m4 ,at #h a4m4 the topgallant mast is hoisted1 and the upper yards are crossed4 ,eight bells are struck1 the national anthem is played1 and the yards are ordered to be swayed across' at one and the same time4 ,there is discipline6 ,decks are swept1 the mess deck receiving special attention1 the cooks of the messes 7and every boy has to take his week in rotation7 polish the utensils1 so that they shine as bright as silver1 and the watch on deck coils the ropes and polishes the brass work4 ,at #h4de the bugler sounds the 'general assembly4' ,each watch falls in for inspection on its respective side of the deck--that is1 the starboard watch on the right side1 the port watch on the left4 ,this being done1 the band assembles on the poop1 and the officers' call is sounded1 in response to which they troop up from quarterdeck hatchways4 ,attention6 shouts the instructor1 at the same time saluting the inspecting officer4 ,every boy stands as erect as possible ,then begins the inspection4 ,nothing escapes the eye these officers4 ,woe betide the boy whose duck suit is not spotlessly clean1 or who has a button off his trousers1 or whose suit is in need of a few stitches4 ,he is severely reprimanded--the instructor makes a note of it in his book2 and should this be repeated1 the boy is put in the ,commander's report and receives six cuts with the cane4 ,each officer reports to the ,commander when he has inspected his division of boys1 and then the bell is tolled for morning prayers1 which are said by the chaplain4 ,all ,roman ,catholics are weeded out of the two watches1 and are marched forward under the forecastle during prayer-time4 ,now1 should it be ,monday morning1 sail drill is engaged in until noon1 but only on this day1 whilst on other mornings one watch attends school1 and the other1 gunnery and seamanship classes4 ,the advanced gunnery classes receive their training ashore in the drill field4 ,seamanship classes are held on the lower deck1 and every boy has to pass out of one instruction before being admitted to the other4 ,in these lower-deck instructions the first is the lashing up of the hammock and in the laying out of the kit in the uniform manner2 then follow the 'bends and hitches' class1 the reading of the semaphore1 knots and splices1 and so on4 ,i may ,say that boat sailing and swimming and heaving the lead are also included under the seamanship course4 ,to most of the local boys1 swimming exercise was as play1 and accordingly they received ,v4,g4 7very good7 on the instructor's class book on passing-out day4 ,to pass out1 the boy must be an efficient swimmer1 and able to swim in a duck suit a considerable distance4 ,boys on the other hand who had been brought up as strangers to the sea1 regard this instruction with much fear1 and it becomes a terror to them4 ,all these exercises passed through1 which in most cases require a year1 the boy then receives the rate of a first class boy as distinguished from a second class4 ,but to return to the routine4 ,at #aa4cj a4m4 school and instructions are ended1 the bugle call for drill aloft is sounded1 and then there is a mighty tumult4 ,hundreds of boys are running along the decks and up the ladders1 and as though they were not smart enough1 ship's corporals make use of their canes very freely4 ,at #aa4de1 in the midst of drill1 the bugler sounds3 ',cooks4' ,cooks of messes repair to the galley1 fetch the dinner and lay it out under the supervision of the caterer of the mess1 who is generally a senior boy4 ,at #ab a4m4 dinner is 'piped1' and every boy sits at the table according to his seniority--that is to say1 if one has been in the ship six months1 sitting next to him would be the boy who had joined the mess after him in the order of time4 ,it will thus be readily seen that every boy has his own seat at the mess-table4 ,but lest partiality should creep in amongst the boys in the messes so that ,a would have a far better dinner than ,b2 and poor ,c all bone on his plate1 or1 as they say1 two spuds and a joner1 this order is very often reversed1 and this means that the caterer finds himself at the end of the stool with the dinner of the youngest boy before him to eat1 and it also means that this last recruit in the mess finds himself possessor of the caterer's plate of dinner4 ,at #a p4m4 instructions are resumed1 and concluded at #c4cj p4m4 ,the boatswain's mate then pipes1 ,hands shift in night clothing4 ,the uniform of the day is then taken off1 and each boy wears a blue serge suit4 ,at the call of the bugle the boys fall in on the upper deck with the clothes for washing4 ,these are inspected by the instructors for the purpose of seeing that each boy has stops in his clothes--that is1 two sets of string in each garment for hanging on the line4 ,this inspection of stops being over1 then follows the shrill cry1 ,hands scrub and wash clothes4 ,i cannot hope to describe the scamper there is at this moment for the tubs of water1 and the reason for it is this--that the tubs are limited1 perhaps three allowed to each mess of twenty boys1 and considering the washing has to be done in a short time1 the reader will understand the cause of this dreadful war4 ,and it happens every day with the exception of ,thursdays and ,saturdays1 when no washing is done4 ,the articles for washing on the various days are as follows-- ,monday1 a duck suit2 ,tuesday1 a day shirt1 night shirt and flannel2 ,wednesday1 a duck suit2 ,friday1 hammock or bedcover4 ,clothes being hung up1 the upper deck is washed down and tea is 'piped4' ,after this meal the boys have an hour or so to themselves--the schoolroom is opened for reading and draught-playing1 etc4 ,at #g4de the pipe is sounded3 ,stand by for hammocks4 ,all run 7for no walking is allowed in the service when responding to duty's call7 to the upper deck1 where each boy gets his hammock1 carries it below deck1 and hangs it on the hammock hooks4 ,the bugle call1 ,turn in1 is sounded an hour later1 followed in five minutes with the bugle note3 ,still4 ,not a sound is heard1 for it is prayer-time4 ,after prayers1 which every boy is supposed to say in his hammock1 the officer in command1 with other subordinates1 goes the 'rounds' to see that all is safe for the night4 ,thus ends the day's routine on the training ship4 ,very often1 however1 there is a departure from it1 which takes place at noon1 the occasion being the punishment of a boy or boys4 ,all the crew assemble on the quarterdeck1 the offender midships4 ,the ,commander reads the charge1 which concludes usually3--,i hereby judge him to receive twelve strokes with the cane4 ,the poor boy is lashed arms and legs to a wooden horse1 the master-at-arms counting the strokes as the ship's corporal lays them on4 ,the cane with which he punishes the boy is a very stout one1 each end being covered with wax-string1 and is reversed every fourth stroke4 ,this caning is a punishment1 and is meted out to boys who are caught smoking1 to boys who may be untidy or to those who break their leave a short time4 ,the other punishment is that of the birch--again the boy is lashed to the horse1 and this time no garment intervenes4 ,the ship's doctor stands by with water in case of fainting1 as generally the boy receives twenty-four strokes4 ,to witness such a proceeding was to make me tremble4 ,here and there the ends of the birch would be scattered1 and the blood flowing freely4 ,of course the birch is not in such frequent demand as the cane2 only the boy who is insolent to his instructor1 or who breaks a day's leave1 or worse still1 if he be committed for theft1 is birched4 ,in the case of the thief he has to wear a badge with the word ',t ,h ,i ,e ,f' printed in large1 black letters on it1 in front and behind for six months or even longer4 ,during this time he is cut off from the company of other boys1 and partakes of his food in the 'thieves' mess4 ,now before leaving this subject1 ,i may tell my readers that all local boys are styles ',cossacks'2 consequently ,i was one4 ,the ,cossacks were allowed to have a night's leave every alternate ,saturday1 provided the parents of the boy wrote a request to the ,commander for it4 ,the ,cossacks generally brought aboard with them from their homes a large handkerchief full of good things1 and they were met by the non-,cossacks in the gang-way ladder with this expression3--,tally you your tack and plush1 which being interpreted1 is3 ,let me have your allowance of bread and tea4 ,it was understood that all ,cossacks would have their tea ashore1 and therefore would not require the naval tea when returning on board4 ,hence readers will now understand why it is the boys who hail from ,london and the provinces grow so stout in the training ship--it is because they eat1 in addition to their own allowance1 the ,cossacks' share4 ,boys who were noted for being smart and clean wore a gold badge as a token of the same4 ,the advantages reaped from this badge were two in number 7,v#ab73 an extra half day's leave on ,saturday1 and one penny a week additional pay4 ,there were two other sets of boys who were entitled to the first of these privileges 7,v#ab73 the advanced scholars in school1 and members of the drum and fife band4 ,accordingly1 on ,saturdays during the dinner-hour the boatswain's mate would pipe3 ,leave for badge-boy1 advanced class1 and drum and fife band2 ,as ,i was a badge boy1 and an advanced scholar1 and a flute-player1 ,i nestled under the wing of this threefold privilege1 and used to think in my boyish pride1 ,who indeed has more right to go ashore than ,i8 ,before any boy is supposed to be ready for sea1 he has to undergo in addition to the ',impregnable' studies1 a course of gunnery1 and from ten to twelve weeks on a training brig4 ,i underwent my gunnery course in ,h4,m4,s4 ',foudroyant1' one of ,nelson's flagships1 which lay at that time in close proximity to the ',impregnable1' and ,i returned every evening to the mother-ship4 ,the two brigs which trained her boys were the ',nautilus' and the ',pilot4' ,i was drafted to the latter for three months4 ,speaking generally1 daily sea trips were taken--that is to say1 that after making sail and slipping the buoy1 we would leave ,plymouth ,sound for the ,channel1 drill all day1 and return to our mooring in the evening1 weary and fatigued1 although1 even then1 we had to scrub and wash clothes4 ,on two occasions we took longer trips1 first to ,dartmouth1 and then to ,portsmouth4 ,fearful was the weather we experienced sailing to the latter port--fearful1 ,i mean1 to my boyish experience1 though ,i must say that even an old salt was heard to pronounce it a very stormy voyage4 ,i met with an accident on board the ',pilot4' ,one night whilst at anchor ,i was ordered to row the dinghy ashore4 ,it was very wet and dark1 and in the act of climbing down the painter which attached the boat to the boom1 it was so slippery that ,i lost my grip and fell4 ,my shoeless feet came in contact with the boat's crutch 7an instrument with two arms into which the oar fits72 my right foot bled profusely1 as one of these arms had pierced the flesh deeply4 ,i managed to get on board to the sick berth1 and after the steward's treatment it ceased bleeding4 ,whilst in the act of lashing up my hammock the next morning ,i fell to the deck1 so weak had ,i become by the loss of so much blood on the previous night4 ,the discipline on board this brig1 as on the ',impregnable1' was rigid in the extreme4 ,on the upper deck at drill time would stand the ship's corporal with his cane1 and woe betide any boy who was not putting his weight on the rope1 or who was not doubling along the deck4 ,it may be of interest to remark here1 that neither in the ',impregnable' nor the ',pilot' did ,i know the queer experience of being lashed to the horse4 ,this was due not so much because ,i did not deserve it1 as that ,i was fortunate enough to escape detection4 ,to appreciate the above remark the reader must realise the trivial offences for which a poor boy is caned1 and in the light of this reflection he will wonder that any sailor boy should be a stranger to the cane during his training4 ,through all my naval career ,i was a sufferer to sea-sickness1 which began on this brig4 ,no sooner had we passed the ,plymouth ,breakwater ,lighthouse1 when the brig would begin rolling1 and ,i would repair to the lee-scupper4 ,in connection with this part of my story ,i must not omit to say a kind word for the captain4 ,when many of us poor boys lay strewn along the deck like stricken sheep1 he1 in passing from the forecastle to poop1 would not disturb us4 ,this in itself may not appear much1 but in reality it was a great kindness1 and one over which ,i love to ponder4 ,it was the act of a gentleman1 to say the least of it1 and ,i cannot but believe that sympathy prompted it1 and in this sense it was ,christlike4 ,inasmuch1 said the great ,storm ,walker who quieted storm-tossed ,galilee as ye do it unto one of the least of these ,my little ones1 ye do it unto ,me4 ,very near the line of punishment did ,i approach when on this brig4 ,working one day on the foretopsail yard1 my knife1 which by some means had become detached from my lanyard1 fell on the forecastle4 ,fortunately it struck no one1 and ,i was reprimanded only4 ,the course of training being completed1 ,i was sent back to the ',impregnable' on draft for sea4 ,within a few days an order was received stating that a large company of boys were required for the ,north ,american and ,west ,indian ,station1 and ,i was numbered amongst them4 ,,chapter ,,iii ,,leaving ,,for ,,sea ,a few days prior to our departure1 ,miss ,weston kindly invited the draft ashore to her ,sailors' ,rest to tea1 and presented each of us with a ,bible1 and gave us all a tender farewell4 ,never will time erase from my mind the memory of the parting with my loved ones2 it pains me now even as ,i dwell upon it4 ,it was ,sunday afternoon1 and two days prior to my sailing for ,bermuda1 when the heartrending parting took place4 ,love can never say its last 'good-bye1' and especially is this true of a mother's love4 ,what thoughts were passing through her mind that ,sunday afternoon8 ,god knows fully4 ,but surely they were tinged with this reflection3 ,would she ever see me again8 ,a shadow deep and dark had recently fallen across the home4 ,during my ',foudroyant' days a messenger came on board with the sad news that my dear sister had been almost burnt to death4 ,i will not dwell on the sadness of the awful tragedy1 save to remark that she died through the cause of the terrible burns three days after the accident4 ,the effect this had upon my mother is almost beyond expression4 ,her nerves were shattered and she became a physical wreck1 and to this day she has never recovered from the shock4 ,judge then1 her sorrow on the ,sunday afternoon1 when ,i was bidding 'farewell1' and within a short time of that overwhelming experience4 ,i was now going thousands of miles away for three years1 severed from paternal counsel and maternal affection1 and on this occasion she was drinking the dregs of her cup of grief4 ,again1 amidst choking sobs and scalding tears1 ,i uttered the last 'good-bye4' ,the time had come for leaving1 and ,i must depart4 ,with two ,sunday ,school scholars1 one on either side 7for ,i had been to my ,sunday ,school in the afternoon for the last time71 loaded with large parcels of food1 we passed down the street4 ,how easy to write it down--how heartbreaking the experience6 ,the great troopship's anchor was weighed on the ,tuesday evening at #e p4m41 and we proceeded to sea4 ,it was the month of ,october1 and ere the evening shadows had stretched upon land and sea1 ,i had gazed upon ,maker church tower1 at whose base my dear sister lay interred1 until my eyes were strained4 ,at last it disappeared from view1 and the ',himalaya' was far1 far at sea4 ,she made a good passage to ,madeira1 arriving there on the following ,sunday morning1 and after coaling1 we proceeded on the evening of the same day to ,bermuda4 ,in the first watch of the night the cry was heard3 ,man overboard6 ,away lifeboat6 ,the lifebelt was let slip immediately by the sentinel1 the engines were reversed1 and the lifeboat with its crew lowered quickly from the davits4 ,the lifeboat was one of an improved pattern1 fitted with accessories1 such as two calcium lights which burn for thirty minutes1 and a whistle1 the latter being useful to the drowning man in a fog or in darkness to indicate his-whereabouts4 ,fortunately the poor man had seized the lifebelt4 ,it was a dark night1 but astern the crew of the lifeboat could observe the calcium lights burning4 ,the boat's head was put in that direction1 and in a short time the sailor was rescued and rowed back to the ship4 ,did this seaman accidentally fall from the rigging1 or lose his grasp in any manner8 ,no2 it is the same old story4 ,drink was the cause of the accident4 ,he had indulged himself in ,madeira wine1 which befooled him to such a degree that he deliberately threw himself overboard1 the ship steaming eighteen knots an hour at the time4 ,he was confined in a cell the remainder of the voyage1 and on arrival at ,bermuda was sentenced to a court-martial4 ,my spare time on the outward voyage was occupied in reading ',daniel ,quorm1' one of ,mark ,guy ,pearse's books1 and in attending religious meetings in the evening in the sail-maker's room4 ,there were several relief crews on board for the various ships of the station2 hence there were many ,christians1 and these evening gatherings were blessed by ,god1 and made profitable to all4 ,we had on board one whose destination was the prison at ,bermuda1 not to become a prisoner1 by the way1 but a warder4 ,this man1 at #d a4m4 every morning1 would ferret out all the boys in the ship1 sending them to the upper deck to undergo a salt water bath1 which to us all1 at that untimely hour1 was a very trying ordeal4 ,nine days after our departure from ,madeira1 we sighted ,bermuda4 ,so calm had been the voyage that ,i was not troubled by sickness4 ,a dusky pilot came on board1 and conned the ship onward through the ,narrows1 and within a few hours we were securely fastened in the camber at the dockyard4 ,then came the dispersion4 ,many ships of the fleet whose commission was now drawing nigh to a close1 were flying their paying-off pennant1 the crews of which were full of gladness at the ',himalaya's' arrival1 with reliefs1 and1 moreover1 she was their homeward-bound ship4 ,we boys were despatched to ,h4,m4,s4 ',terror1' a receiving ship at ,bermuda4 ,here we were kept three weeks1 during which time the other ships of the fleet steamed in from sea4 ,one day the ',emerald' hove in sight4 ,all took an especial interest in this ship1 as we had learned she was the worst ship in the fleet for boys--quite a 'waker-up4' ,certain it was that some of us would be told off for her4 ,the dreaded morning came at last1 and on the quarterdeck of the ',terror' we assembled to await our destiny4 ,boys whose names ,i now mention1 said the officer1 will join the ',bellerophon1' the flagship of the fleet4 ,then followed a long list of names4 ,these ',bellerophon' boys realised at the time it was better to be fortunate than rich4 ,in proceeding1 the officer said3--,eight boys will join the ',emerald4' ,there was a silence that could be felt at this expression1 and all1 excepting those who had been told off1 looked downcast and fearful4 ,their names are1 he continued1 so-and-so1 so-and-so 4 4 4 4 and ,cowling4 ,and the lot fell upon ,jonah4 ,it took me many hours to recover from this blow1 but the whole of us received the sympathy of all the other boys1 who regarded us as embryo martyrs4 ,next day we eight were taken on board the ',emerald' in her steam-launch1 which came to fetch us4 ,on boarding the ship1 ,i1 in looking round to observe what kind of man it was who wielded the cane1 fell headlong down the hatchway with my bag of clothes4 ,this ,i thought was an admirable introduction4 ,,chapter ,,iv ,,three ,,years ,,on ,h4,m4,s4 ',,emerald' ,i was ordered to join mess ,no4 #g1 to which belonged twenty seamen of different ratings4 ,according to naval etiquette1 the boy1 together with a different seaman each day1 who is termed cook of the mess1 has to prepare the dinner1 fetch the victuals1 clean the utensils and take the dinner of any absentee to the galley to keep warm4 ,in addition to these domestic duties1 he has his work in the watch to which he belongs4 ,the ,first ,west ,indian ,cruise ,refitting work was finished1 and in the month of ,january #ahij we left ,bermuda for the ,west ,indies4 ,this was my first sea trip on the ',emerald1' as ,i had joined her a few days prior to ,christmas #ahhi4 ,we visited most of the islands in the ,indies1 and1 on the whole1 it was an eventful cruise4 ,it would be a transgression of space on my part to enter into all the details of it1 such as narrating occasions when we were caught in sudden squalls and how our gallant ship acted under stress of weather1 though on one occasion a large cutter was washed away from the davits4 ,however1 ,i will narrate in brief one or two incidents4 ,one night whilst lying at anchor off ,dominica1 the searchlight was used by way of practice4 ,it was directed toward shore1 and whilst traversing it from right to left1 the beams of light enveloped a negro on the beach1 who stood bewildered1 transfixed4 ,after a moment's hesitation he bounded away like a hare1 the rays of light still following him1 caused by manoeuvring the instrument on board4 ,breathless he halted1 and then in a most terrified manner he turned about and ran in the opposite direction4 ,for a minute the searchlight was not moved1 and the man was in the safety of darkness4 ,judge of his dismay when again the light was played upon him1 whilst he was resting from his rapid wanderings up and down the beach4 ,needless to say1 it had the same effect4 ,little did the negro dream what fun he was causing amongst the bluejackets on our forecastle4 ,really1 it was a shame to torment him so4 ,at another island ,i went ashore with a party of seamen1 and entered a plantation1 where we freely helped ourselves to bunches of bananas1 cocoanuts and other fruit4 ,we were under the impression that fruit of this kind was common property1 even as blackberries are in this our own land1 and this explains the weight of our heavy burdens on our return journey4 ,but this impression was soon to be banished from our mind1 for presently we came in contact with a gentleman1 who1 understanding whence we had come1 put a price on all our fruit4 ,the burdens in consequence became considerably lightened4 ,i had to satisfy myself with a few cocoanuts which cost a penny each1 and was compelled to leave behind my much loved bananas4 ,at ,barbadoes each watch was granted forty-eight hours' leave4 ,in company with others ,i landed to visit the sugar-cane plantations4 ,these canes were being cut down by the thousand1 and carted to the mill1 where between two immense rollers the juice was extracted4 ,our guide passed round to each of us a cup of this juice to taste4 ,he then instructed us as to the different processes by which sugar is made1 and gave us the opportunity to see the large tanks in which it was stowed4 ,in these huge tanks was to be found sugar from the highest degree of refinement down to the lowest degree of inferiority4 ,but the sight which struck me most of all was the treacle-pit4 ,i might enlarge upon the last sentence1 but ,i forbear4 ,in one harbour there was a sailing match1 the competition being between the boats of the fleet4 ,the second cutter of our ship1 of which ,i was one of the crew1 entered for the race4 ,with the halyards1 the sail was hoisted to the uppermost point1 and the sheets pulled taut aft4 ,with a fresh breeze away we scudded4 ,the boat1 was soon on her beam ends1 taking in large quantities of water1 which we bailed out with our caps2 still1 this did not matter1 as she was bounding through the water like a wild thing4 ,crash6 ,crash6 ,went the mast1 and the boat was nearly capsized4 ,the midshipman who steered her had endeavoured to weather a schooner lying at anchor1 but failed1 colliding with her jib-boom4 ,the mast was lashed in a temporary manner1 and we proceeded1 but not far1 when a sudden gust of wind disabled us4 ,we were signalled back to the ship and disqualified for further racing4 ,the cruise being over1 we returned to ,bermuda with the fleet1 and after taking in stores1 left for the ,newfoundland fisheries4 ,two other ships accompanied the ',emerald' 7,v#ab7--the ',pelican' and ',buzzard4' ,on this cruise1 our captain being senior to the other two1 we stood in the relationship of flagship to them1 and flew the ,commodore's flag until such time as we should again meet the ,admiral's ship1 when it would be struck4 ,before making any observations upon some incidents of this cruise1 ,i will give the reader in barest outline a sketch of life on board a naval sea-going ship4 ,at sea each man gets four and six hours' rest each alternate night--that is1 if he keeps the first watch of the night1 #h to #ab p4m41 his resting hours are from #ab to #d4 ,at #d he has to rise again and scrub decks1 whereas if he is in his hammock from #h to #ab1 then he keeps the middle watch1 returning to his rest at #d4 ,let us imagine the ship at sea4 ,it is midnight4 ,the bell is struck4 ,immediately is heard a deep bass voice to and fro the lower deck-- ,all the starboard watch6 ,heave out6 heave out6 heave out6 ,show a leg6 show a leg6 ,all the starboard ,watch6 ,show a leg6 which means ,turn out of your hammock4 ,at five minutes past midnight1 a tinkle of a bell is heard1 followed by the same deep voice calling ,watch to muster6 ,every seaman has to run to the quarterdeck1 and on the midshipman calling his name1 has to give in his number4 ,this being done the boatswain's mate pipes1 ,sea-boats' crew and relieves fall in4 ,in answer to this call the crew of the lifeboat and certain men of the watch who have special duties to perform1 called 'tricks1' during the next four hours1 present themselves before the quarter-master1 who1 being satisfied that the correct number there1 dismisses them4 ,two look-out men are required for each hour of the watch1 four for steering1 the weather and lee helmsman being relieved every two hours1 eight for the chains4 ,the uniform time for heaving the lead1 by which is ascertained the depth of water1 is one hour1 but as circumstances alter cases1 it was found necessary on our fishery cruises to reduce the time one-half4 ,so intense was the cold that each man upon entering the chain would bathe his hands in warm grease1 provided for the purpose of enabling him to heave the lead4 ,here is a little story in connection with this 'trick4' ,two men agreed one night to toss up a penny and to decide thereby as to which of them should do the full hour1 in order that one of them might be relieved from his work--for1 be it said1 unless there are yards to trim1 or sails to furl or set1 the watch on deck can lie down to rest1 but under no circumstance is any seaman allowed to go below until the four hours are expired4 ,however1 after a little parleying1 they came to the conclusion that each would do his own 'trick4' ,accordingly one did his duty1 and was awaiting1 to be relieved by the other1 but not a trace of him could be discovered for some time1 until at length he was found sleeping behind a large gun4 ,this man then told his mate1 by way of explanation1 that he had had a dream in which he dreamt they both tossed up and he had won1 and that therefore the one wanting relief was to do the hour's trick4 ,when daylight dawns the 'look-out' is transferred from the topgallant forecastle to the forecross trees1 or1 if sail is set1 to the foretopsail yard4 ,many an hour have ,i spent1 from time to time1 on the topsail yard1 often sick and giddy1 when the ship has been rolling and dipping4 ,thoughts of home would gather in my mind1 and there aloft1 where no human eye could see1 have ,i cried aloud1 giving vent to my pent-up feelings4 ,sick1 ,i say1 yes1 and bareheaded1 using my cap for a sanitary purpose1 rather than get into trouble by being sick overt the sails4 ,at #i a4m4 is the inspection of uniform1 followed by prayers4 ,should it be ,tuesday or ,thursday1 rifles and cutlasses are inspected1 and each man is supposed to wear his boots4 ,this to many is hateful4 ,in my watch was a man named ,timothy ,hennesy1 who on 'small-arm' days would bind with spun-yarn his big toe1 thereby giving the inspecting officer the impression he had hurt it1 and was in consequence excused from wearing his boots4 ,following this inspection1 one watch goes below to make or mend their clothes1 and the other remains on deck until noon4 ,dinner is piped1 but it is not very tempting to one's appetite4 ,salt pork or beef with preserved potatoes form the menu4 ,spending the greater part of the three years at sea1 our share of salt food was abundant1 and in order to prevent scurvy1 lime-juice was distributed4 ,after this meal the watches change again1 the forenoon watch below going on deck until #d p4m41 the other remaining below4 ,i once endeavoured to make me a flannel4 ,the stitches ,i must confess1 were long and irregular2 but worse than that1 when attaching the sleeves to the main part1 ,i misplaced end for end1 so that when ,i came to try on this novel garment the wide part hung in bights around my wrist1 the narrow part fitting tightly round my arm4 ,so much for my reversed sleeves4 ,no more sowing engaged my time in the watch below4 ,at #d p4m4 tea is piped4 ,it consists of a basin of tea minus milk1 and a small allowance of hard biscuit4 ,food being so scanty in the navy1 the sailors apply this appellation to their mess1 ',the ,drum1' thus signifying that as far as food is concerned the mess is as empty as a drum4 ,which drum do you belong to8 they ask4 ,half an hour being allowed for tea1 then another inspection of the crew in night clothing takes place4 ,sail drill is then engaged in for a couple of hours1 and the routine of the day is brought to an end by the washing of clothes4 ,at twilight the look-out man is called down from the mast-head1 and takes up his position on the forecastle1 the bow lights being lit at the same time4 ,hammocks are hung up at #g4cj p4m41 and supper is indulged in1 which the messes buy at the canteen1 none being provided by the ,admiralty4 ,the life of a sailor boy is a very unpleasant one in a seagoing ship4 ,early in the morning he has to take his hammock on deck to undergo the inspection of the ship's corporal1 who1 before the boy is allowed to stow it1 satisfies himself it is lashed up in the uniform manner4 ,then follows the inspection of knees and elbows1 and should any boy not be clean1 the others are deputed to scrub him4 ,next comes the climbing of the mast-head4 ,these are but three of the many inconveniences he has to suffer until such time as he is rated ,o4,d4 or ordinary seaman4 ,every one knows that discipline and cleanliness go hand in hand on board our men-of-war4 ,in fact the latter is carried to an absurd extreme4 ,from four to six in the early morning1 it is almost impossible watch below to snatch a little sleep1 as immediately over their heads are men scrubbing1 or holystoning the upper deck4 ,i fail to see that cleanliness is next to godliness under such circumstances4 ,saturday is essentially a cleaning day1 and nothing is overlooked4 ,decks are made as white and clean as possible1 cables are whitewashed1 guns are burnished2 in short1 everything appears brand new4 ,the captain's inspection takes place every ,sunday morning4 ,so particular was our captain that he would never hesitate to descend into magazines to inspect every little corner1 although the whitewash on the sides of these small rooms rubbed against his uniform at each movement4 ,it was ever a great load removed from the mind of the petty officer who had charge of flats and certain parts of the deck when his inspection was over4 ,but if fault had been found great was their fear4 ,the payment of the crew1 as in all ships1 took place on the first day of each month4 ,hands to muster for payment1 soap and tobacco6 would shout the boatswain's mate4 ,any man was at liberty to forego the last two items1 or the whole three for that matter4 ,as a rule1 however1 most of the crew took up their money and bar of soap--two very needful requisites1 the non-smokers preferring their two shillings in lieu of the two pounds of tobacco the value of which was deducted from the next month's payment4 ,the ,first ,newfoundland ,cruise ,now for the first fishery cruise4 ,halifax was our next port of call after leaving ,bermuda4 ,halifax seemed dear to us after we had paid our first visit there1 the reason being rather a curious one4 ,bum-boat men were wont to visit the ships with large quantities of sausages1 which were quickly bought up1 being regarded as a luxury4 ,i have seen the cook's galley crowded with seamen frying these sausages1 and on several occasions a sentry was placed to prevent a crush4 ,halifax6 ,sausages6 ,the two names were synonymous to our crew1 and even to-day ,i cannot partake of sausages without my thoughts wandering off to ,halifax4 ,who can tell the laws of mental association6 ,it was here that ,i first saw the present ,prince of ,wales1 who then was in command of the gun-boat ',thrush4' ,ere leaving this port each man of the three fishery ships was served out with a pair of sea-boots and warm underclothing1 in preparation for the intense cold we should feel on the ,newfoundland and ,labrador coasts4 ,i understand the ,canadian ,government were responsible for this1 kindly distribution4 ,we left for ,st4 ,john's1 ,newfoundland1 and this port was our headquarters for the next few months4 ,in cruising around the island from time to time1 the most awe-inspiring sights were the ice-bergs and ice-fields which we passed day by day4 ,forteau ,bay1 the place where the gun-boat ',lily' was wrecked1 was pointed out to me4 ,sad to relate1 we lost a shipmate on this voyage4 ,scudding along one morning under a fair wind with all sail set1 and the crew cleaning guns1 suddenly there arose the cry ,man overboard6 ,away lifeboat6 ,the order was ,heave to6 ,the poor fellow1 however1 had sunk beneath the sea almost instantly4 ,the water being so bitterly cold it was supposed the cramp seized him4 ,he1 at the time of the accident1 was outside the ship cleaning the muzzle of a gun1 when she gave a lurch which overbalanced him into the sea4 ,no frivolity was there that day1 or for the ensuing week1 amongst the crew4 ,the unhappy event had a moral effect upon us all1 and a deep solemnity prevailed4 ,leaving the fisheries1 bound for ,bermuda1 we called at ,halifax to return loan-stores1 such as our boots and warm clothing4 ,arriving at ,bermuda1 our ship was put in the floating dock and overhauled preparatory to our second visit to the ,west ,indies4 ,here again we spent our second ,christmas4 ,just a word about it4 ,christmas day in the navy is recognised as the day of days4 ,even the ordinary routine is reversed1 so that instead of the seamen pumping water1 and sweeping decks1 and similar duties1 the petty officers do it4 ,then1 ,i may say1 nothing is overlooked in the way of choice victuals4 ,each man1 as ,christmas approaches1 contributes to the caterer of his mess1 so that no luxury may be lacking on ,christmas day4 ,added to this1 the canteen allowed each man six shillings1 and this of course meant several pounds to each mess4 ,stint is a foreign word to most naval men1 and ,christmas-tide is a demonstration of this fact4 ,messes emulate each other as to decorations4 ,many crafty and dexterous men are there in all our ships who take a delight in this kind of work3 they also vie with each other as to the quality of their plum puddings4 ,time would fail to tell you the ingredients with which they are made4 ,this ,i know1 that if one 'duff' should contain an extra ingredient to any other1 that same 'duff' is pronounced the best4 ,the number of ingredients1 then1 forms the standard of judgment for naval plum puddings4 ,on this occasion a ,dutch ship was lying near to the ',emerald4' ,most of the crew paid a visit on board1 and having an abundance of good things1 we welcomed them to enjoy them with us4 ,to be sure no objection was raised on their part4 ,having thoroughly enjoyed their dinner1 they exclaimed in broken ,english3 ,good ,engish ,navy1 we should dike to be in you navy to have food dike dis--we git no good dhings dike dese4 ,poor souls6 evidently they understood we had at all times a similar mid-day meal1 but this belief would have been contradicted by experience had they sat to dinner with us within three days4 ,the ,dutch sailors grew fond of us1 and we of them1 and this bond of social friendship was created on ,christmas day1 which ,i think was rather unique1 as it fulfilled the spirit of the words3-- ,peace on earth1 goodwill to men4 ,on the fisheries the captain had met with an accident1 and was granted six weeks' leave at ,bermuda4 ,it being noised abroad that both he and his lady were coming on board at ,christmas to inspect the decorations1 special interest therefore was taken in the same1 and the decorators excelled themselves in their art1 far beyond the limit of the previous year's display4 ,no pains were spared1 no time begrudged to make everything as beauteous as possible4 ,i have a secret notion that although the captain had not been on board for several weeks1 being an invalid ashore1 that such lovely decorations were not altogether a manifestation of sympathy on the part of the crew toward him1 but rather the motive power1 or the cause1 of which the decorations were the effect1 lay in the fact that his lady was accompanying him4 ,that explains it4 ,a word to the wise is sufficient4 ,the idlers' mess 7all tradesmen in the navy are termed idlers with the exception of carpenters7 made an artificial fountain4 ,it was surrounded with huge stones and dripping moss1 and several spouts were in full play4 ,it was most certainly a work of skill4 ,all hands were on the watch for the approach of the steam launch bearing the two distinguished visitors4 ,presently she hove in sight1 and also another from the ',bellerophon' bringing the ,admiral of the ,fleet4 ,in a short time the three were inspecting the lower deck4 ,in each mess stood the cook1 holding on a plate a piece of plum pudding for them to taste4 ,as they entered each compartment pop-guns were fired as a salute4 ,over one mess were inscribed these words3-- ,sir ,baldwin's proved a noble man ,around the coast of ,newfoundland1 ,and we hope the ,queen will make him ,k4,c4,b4 ,when the inspection was over the boatswain's mate piped--,clear lower deck3 hands cheer ,captain and his lady1 and ere the two had reached the upper deck1 the drum and fife band played ,for he's a jolly good fellow4 ,three cheers for the captain and his lady were heartily shouted by the crew4 ,so overcome by these expressions of loyalty was the captain that he gave orders to the master-at-arms to inform the ship's company that words failed him to give an adequate reply4 ,the ,second ,west ,indian ,cruise ,on the #dth of the next month we departed for our second ,west ,indian cruise with the fleet4 ,i may here remark that we had three men on board who bore the names of ,shrodnisky1 ,taglabeau1 and ,dobrisky1 their nationality being ,russian1 ,french1 and ,dutch respectively4 ,the former had the honour of being the ship's organist1 but for some reason now resigned4 ,the chaplain understanding ,i could play1 sent for me1 and asked if ,i would accept the post of organist and commence the duty on the following ,sunday4 ,i was very glad and thankful of such an opportunity presented to me1 and replied in the affirmative1 not entirely because it meant fivepence a day extra to my service pay1 though of course this was a consideration1 but mainly for the reason that it would afford me privileges for musical culture4 ,the ,sunday came1 and ,i must have played the instrument satisfactorily1 as at the conclusion of the service the captain congratulated me1 intimating also that free access to his cabin1 in which the organ was kept1 should be afforded me whenever he was staying ashore at any port on the station4 ,i thanked him1 and seized such opportunities as they presented themselves for the purpose of practising4 ,it may be of interest to remark that when church was 'rigged1' capstan bars supported by a bucket at each end constituted the extempore pew4 ,i have often wished that such arrangements might be made in some places of worship4 ,it would ensure a wide-awake congregation1 for the seats would then be three inches in width without a back4 ,on this second visit to the ,west-,indies we had many poor ,sundays-- poor1 ,i mean1 from a sailor's point of view4 ,the organ was often lashed1 and ,i had enough to do to keep my balance1 the crew on such occasions clinging to fixtures such as hatchways and stanchions with one hand1 and holding the hymn-book in the other1 singing heartily3-- ,eternal ,father6 strong to save1 ,whose arm hath bound the restless wave4 ,but some may ask1 ,had the desire to become a preacher diminished8 ,not at all2 it was always present with me1 and truth to tell1 ,i was ever informing those around me1 and even civilian friends ashore1 that on reaching ,england ,i should enter the ministry1 though at that time of day ,i knew not how my freedom was to be brought about4 ,but confident ,i was that this passion for preaching was not implanted within me to be quenched by adverse circumstances1 and often would this verse appeal to me forcibly3 ,o rest in the ,lord2 wait patiently for ,him1 and ,he shall give thee thy heart's desire4 ,sometimes a religious meeting was held in the cell flat1 conducted by the chaplain and a lieutenant1 and my attendance at these meetings helped me to form a slight acquaintance with the latter4 ,on ,sunday afternoon he sent for me1 saying that in the evening he was going ashore to take the service in a large church1 and asked if ,i would accompany him and address the congregation4 ,i went to my mess1 and there in quietude--for on ,sunday afternoons sailors indulge in a nap1 and it was invariably so on the ',emerald1' some asleep on the lockers1 others under the mess-table1 the ditty box of each man being the pillow--,i prepared my discourse4 ,the church was crowded that evening1 and following the lieutenant's address1 a hymn was sung1 and it was singing6 ,i have heard none like it since4 ,i now preached to this multitude1 and how attentive they were6 ,that was many years ago1 and ,i like to think that my first sermon was preached to a negro audience in the ,west ,indies at the age of sixteen4 ,the subject was ,joseph as a type of ,christ4 ,on this second ,west ,indian cruise the ships of the fleet took part in a sailing match from ,st4 ,lucia to ,jamaica1 the ',bellerophon' departing a day or two in advance of the other ships4 ,when clear of ,st4 ,lucia the screws were lifted1 as no steaming was allowed1 though ,i think the flagship used both steam and sail4 ,be that as it may1 no other ship did4 ,this match was a great competition1 each commander doing his utmost to trim the sails to the best advantage4 ,the ',pelican's' commander ordered all the heavy shot to be brought astern of his vessel1 and all manner of schemes were resorted to to increase the speed4 ,on the fifth day at sea we sighted the ',bellerophon' on the horizon1 and in a few hours overhauled her1 thus gaining the position of the leading ship1 which was maintained until we reached ,jamaica4 ,as the ',emerald' passed her that day the brass band assembled on the poop to play ,see the ,conquering ,hero comes4 ,the last ship to pass her was the ',canada1' the band playing--,where have you been all the day8 which undoubtedly they thought very appropriate4 ,the second best ship in the fleet for sailing was the ',pelican1' and for days she kept very close to the ',emerald1' but never overtook her4 ,as ,i now write1 there hangs before me on the wall a picture illustrating this race1 bearing this inscription3-- ,h4,m4,s4 ',emerald'--#ab guns4 ,from ,st4 ,lucia to ,jamaica1 ,january #ai1 #ahia4 ,the fleet racing1 the ',emerald' beating every other ship4 ,band of ,admiral's ship playing-- ,see the ,conquering ,hero comes4 ,at length the fleet reached ,jamaica4 ,two ships 7,v#ab71 the ',bellerophon' and ',thrush1' proceeded up ,kingston harbour1 and on the night upon which the ,great ,exhibition was opened--and ,i think ,prince ,george1 the commander of the ',thrush1' opened it--all the fleet was decorated aloft with incandescent lights--a truly grand sight4 ,two ,russian ships were present1 and their decorations surpassed our ,english display4 ,one of them had the initial ,p shining between the foremast and mainmast1 and ,g between the main mast and mizenmast4 ,this was in honour of ,prince ,george4 ,just another incident in connection with this cruise4 ,our ship lay anchored off ,curaoa1 and one morning whilst hoisting the foretopgallant mast1 the mast' rope entwined round the foot of a seaman1 causing him to fall from the topsail yard to the topgallant forecastle4 ,he lived but a short time afterward4 ,a coffin was made and covered in blue cloth--the custom of the service--and we followed him ashore to the grave4 ,there was in harbour at the same time a ,dutch ship--in fact1 the very ship whose crew we had invited on board at ,bermuda on ,christmas day4 ,the ,dutchmen landed1 bringing on shore with them three beautiful wreaths1 thus manifesting their sympathy and respect4 ,at the graveside many of them begged to be allowed to throw in the grave a shovelful of earth1 a still further proof1 ,i take it1 of their kindly feeling toward the ',emerald's' crew in their loss of a shipmate4 ,the fleet returned to headquarters4 ,we prepared for the fishery cruise1 believing it to be our last4 ,the flag-ship had now received orders to leave for ,england as soon as the ',blake' should arrive4 ,one morning it was reported that the flag-ship's relief was coming up the ,narrows4 ,we had heard of this wonderful ship1 of her heavy armament1 and the electric lighting system on all her decks4 ,what wonder1 then1 that we were anxious to behold her8 ,as she drew nearer every eye was upon her1 with the exception1 however1 of one man1 who evidently took no interest in her arrival4 ,he and ,i were together in a boat1 and whilst ,i was gazing on the ',blake1' he leaned over the side of the boat1 and seized something that was floating along4 ,he pulled it out of the water1 and threw it on my foot4 ,in less than a minute ,i was in an agony of pain1 my foot swelled and burned with fiery heat1 and ,i jumped about like a madman4 ,i was taken to the sick berth1 and the doctor treated it with oil and flour1 which gave me a little ease4 ,now this1 that my companion threw on my foot1 was a fish known as a ,portuguese man-of-war--at least1 that is the name by which naval men know it4 ,when floating on the water it resembles a glass bottle1 but under the surface it has long fangs several inches in length1 and it was these which stung me4 ,he was very sorry that he did such a stupid act1 but ,i suppose having read or heard about this class of fish1 he thought he would put to an experimental test the power of its sting1 and chose my foot for that purpose4 ,the ,second ,newfoundland ,cruise4 ,the ',bellerophon' left for ,plymouth the day after4 ,whilst all the crews cheered her from aloft she steamed amongst the ships1 her band playing meantime ',auld ,lang ,syne' and ',home ,sweet ,home4' ,there was more than one on the ',emerald' who desired to be on the flag-ship that day4 ,we left ,bermuda shortly after the ',bellerophon' for another fishery cruise1 calling at the ,port of ,sausages for warm clothing-- yes1 and for more sausages4 ,at this time ,i was rated an ,o4,d41 which meant that ,i was regarded as a man4 ,the dish-cloth was hung up in the mess as an outward and visible sign that we had parted company--for ,i may say until a boy is rated ordinary seaman1 he is a slave to domestic work in his mess4 ,another change was made with this rating-- ,i was transferred from the quarter-deck part of the ship to a flying-jib stower4 ,a word of explanation here4 ,the flying-boom is the furthermost pole projecting from the ship's bow1 and the sail which is furled upon it is called the flying jib4 ,many narrow escapes had ,i on the flying-boom1 having to cling to it for dear life when the ship dipped in the trough of the sea1 causing me to be drenched through and through2 then like a fearless bird she would rise quickly toward the sky1 only to descend just as rapidly in the hollow of the next oncoming wave4 ,giddy1 sick1 and faint have ,i furled with my mate the flying jib1 pinched with the cold and wet4 ,it is impossible for me to put down on paper what the bitterness of my life then was--it cannot be reduced to writing4 ,often ,i found relief by stealing away to the topgallant forecastle1 and on the wash-deck locker lay with my face buried in my arms and sob1 praying to ,god to deliver me4 ,a very monotonous cruise was this one4 ,anticipating as much1 ,i bought a melodeon at ,halifax1 and in my evening watch below would play some of ,sankey's hymns4 ,the men were only too glad to sing1 and presently the whole mess deck would ring with bright and hearty singing4 ,this was as a tonic to me then1 and is now1 for nothing1 to my mind1 is so inspiring as music accompanied with powerful song4 ,what was our surprise one day when steaming into ,st4 ,john's harbour to find the city devastated by fire1 which in some parts was still smouldering6 ,it appeared that the fire had broken out a day or two previous to our arrival1 and that it swept through the city in a maddening rush1 accelerated by the high winds1 and the dearth of water whereby to extinguish it4 ,the heat1 whilst the fire was raging1 was so intense that all craft in the harbour had to put to sea in order to escape their sails being singed4 ,rich men's safes were taken to the water and cast in1 and our divers were given the task of finding them again subsequently4 ,we had looked forward to forty-eight hours' leave1 but it was out of the question now4 ,the ,governor of the colony being absent from the capital1 our captain took pre-eminence1 and placed the inhabitants under martial law4 ,public houses were closed1 and we patrolled the city night and day with blank and ball cartridges1 for it was thought a panic might ensue1 or worse still1 that evil-disposed persons might set fire to the other side of the harbour1 where were stored thousands of tons of cod-liver oil4 ,a strict watch was kept afloat also1 our steam-launch patrolling the harbour all night with an armed crew4 ,what about the dangerous ruins--should they be left standing8 ,a party of bluejackets went ashore with charges of dynamite to blow them down4 ,in the execution of their duty one of them found a part of the silver communion plate which belonged to the ,english cathedral buried in the debris4 ,he brought it on board1 and a skilled tradesman converted it into various articles4 ,i bought a ring which was made out of it1 but unfortunately lost it overboard4 ,as to places of worship1 ,i think the only two which remained intact were the barracks of the ,salvation ,army4 ,as a relic of that great fire1 ,i have in my possession the stamp with which the books and papers in the ,atheneum reading room were marked4 ,there were landed from our ship quantities of stores1 such as canvas to shelter the homeless people1 and barrels of salt provisions as their victuals4 ,the inhabitants after a while becoming somewhat reconciled to their misfortune1 we left ,st4 ,john's to see it no more1 or so we then understood4 ,we sailed for ,bermuda1 calling on the way at ,halifax4 ,just another cruise to the ,west ,indies1 boys1 and then to dear old ,england1 was the comforting assurance with which we often hailed one another4 ,as on two previous occasions1 so now again1 we spent our ,christmas at ,bermuda with the fleet4 ,the decorations on this our third ,christmas-tide were not to be compared with the preceding year--a significant sign that there had been more scope for harmonious feeling between officers and men during the last twelve months4 ,never mind1 lads1 we shall spend next ,christmas at home1 was the word of consolation passed from one mess to another4 ,it was customary when the fleet was thus assembled to hold battalion-days--that is to say1 that all the various crews would land with their rifles and cutlasses1 and a field gun from each ship4 ,headed by the flag-ship's band1 we would be marched to a plain1 and there engage in infantry drill as a battalion4 ,meantime the guns' crews were competing with each other as to their qualifications for smartness4 ,the guns would be taken to pieces1 unlimbered1 and scattered on the ground1 and the wheels of the gun-carriage wheeled away a considerable distance4 ,on the order being given to ,limber up1 and fire6 the crew which mounted its gun and fired the first shot earned the laurels4 ,on one occasion the gun's crew of the ',bellerophon' gained the honour1 but unfortunately1 through the neglect of one to serve the vent1 the poor fellow lost his right arm1 which was blown into atoms4 ,i am pleased to add that every man and officer in the fleet freely gave him a day's payment1 which in its totality amounted to nearly a thousand pounds4 ,it was during this stay at ,bermuda that ,i was nearly shot dead4 ,with others1 ,i had landed to do my annual firing1 which is required of every man in the navy4 ,we had to fire ten shots from each firing point1 which were separated a hundred yards apart from each other4 ,there were six firing points1 and therefore the limit for firing at the target was six hundred yards4 ,i had fired my ten shots from the first point1 and now had receded to the two hundred yards range4 ,we fired in couples4 ,i had made eight bull's eyes on the target1 which delighted me1 and after discharging my tenth shot my shipmate had still to fire his4 ,he held the rifle in the firing position1 and was in the act of pulling the trigger1 when ,i passed within two inches of his muzzle4 ,i just cleared it when the bullet was fired4 ,it would have been my fault wholly and solely had an accident happened1 as ,i ought to have dropped to the rear1 instead of passing to the front4 ,how can ,i doubt ,providence in the light of this incident8 ,it was ,god who made the trigger hard to pull that day1 and ,i am positive that had it been an easy pull-off1 the bullet would have passed through my head1 as my mate fired from the kneeling position4 ,at ,halifax all men who had no tunic were ordered to get one4 ,a tailor came on board and took the measurement of such men1 taking on shore the cloth to make the tunics4 ,twenty-six shillings were deducted from my payment1 this being the price of my tunic1 as ,i belonged to the class who were deficient of this article of uniform4 ,strange to say1 a notice was hung up on the board a few weeks later1 stating that tunics would henceforth be abolished in ,her ,majesty's navy4 ,then followed abundant complaint4 ,this is a hoax1 said one4 ,better far had we spent the twenty-six shillings in sausages1 remarked another4 ,at the time this notice appeared1 ,i had not even tried on my tunic1 and by way of comfort1 it was pointed out by the officials that the tunics might be exchanged for fruit in the ,west ,indies4 ,this did not appeal very strongly to any4 ,for a long time a pet goat was kept on board4 7,by the way1 ,i may say it was more of a pest than a pet47 ,it was the most curious animal that ever ,i had seen4 ,it took a walk around the lower deck almost every night1 making a dreadful noise which1 of course1 proved the means of awaking many sailors4 ,the mess deck in the morning was usually strewn with boots and shoes1 and the general cry was--,where are my shoes8 for you may be sure that he who threw such weapons at the goat would not throw his own4 ,hence1 if a man were looking for his shoes in the morning1 it was a sure sign that he had not been annoyed by the goat's lower-deck visit during the night1 or in other words1 that he was a very sound sleeper4 ,to the carpenters1 however1 the goat was useful1 as it had a habit of eating the shavings which fell from their benches4 ,that1 to my mind1 was the one redeeming feature of this goat4 ,while we were at ,bermuda it died4 ,scores of men went to its funeral4 ,we managed to get a trolly and laid ',billy' upon it4 ,the procession was formed1 and away we marched through the dockyard4 ,some of us were glad that we should see its face no more1 others were rather sorrowful1 and expressed their sorrow by wrapping around the goat their tunics4 ,never was a goat buried with such honours4 ,i cannot tell you how many new tunics were buried with it1 but there were many1 and when it is remembered that the cost of each was twenty-six shillings one is right in concluding it was rather an expensive funeral4 ,the ,third ,west ,indian ,cruise4 ,away to the ,west ,indies for the third and last time4 ,we caught a large shark during this trip4 ,laying at anchor one afternoon in water which was infested by this class of fish1 suddenly someone shouted1 ,there's a shark caught astern6 ,all hands hurried aft on the poop to see this sight4 ,the bait1 consisting of a large piece of pork1 had invited this monster1 which was now writhing in pain in the water4 ,the gunnery instructor shot it1 and with a jigger we hauled it aboard4 ,it was then cut open1 and a dexterous marine took out its back-bone1 which he cleaned and varnished1 and passing a steel rod through the various parts made an admirable walking-stick4 ,rowing ashore in the cutter one morning ,i espied on the landing steps of the pier at ,jamaica a large octopus4 ,it had been left high and dry1 and was therefore like a fish out of water4 ,understanding it was a deadly enemy1 ,i seized a long boat-hook1 with which ,i pierced it to death2 then drawing near1 ,i examined it thoroughly1 and counted its suckers4 ,i was at this time put in charge of the small-arm magazine1 and whenever the ship was in mock-action--usually on ,friday mornings--it was my duty to descend into the magazine1 and hook on boxes of ammunition1 which were pulled up by marines to the lower deck4 ,carriers would then run away to the upper deck with them1 from which place they would be hoisted aloft1 for the sharp-shooters in the fore and main tops4 ,the duty of the men aloft in the time of war would be to shoot the officers on board the enemy's ships4 ,occasionally the bugle would sound ',action' by night4 ,no specified night was set apart for this evolution1 hence it always came as a surprise4 ,coming events cast their shadow before1 but this is not applicable to ',action' by night at sea2 it is left entirely to the captain's pleasure4 ,the response to the bugle call is a sight never to be forgotten4 ,every man dresses hurriedly--no1 that is the wrong word1 for ,i have known them in their haste put the leg of their trousers over their head in mistake for their jumpers1 and others1 including myself1 put their feet through the sleeves of the jumper1 mistaking them for trousers4 ,and what wonder such errors are made1 when at sea no light is allowed on the lower deck by night1 and all is like sevenfold darkness6 ,each man has to put three hitches around his hammock--seven are the uniform number--but the enemy is in sight1 therefore three hitches have to suffice to keep blanket and bedding together4 ,the hammock is then unhooked1 and if the bluejacket belongs to the former part of the ship1 he has to bear it away for storage on the topgallant forecastle2 if to the after-part1 he carries it away to the poop4 ,the reason for the hammocks being stowed on these two places1 is to provide a breakwater for the enemy's shots4 ,every man rushes away to his respective station4 ,sharpshooters seize their rifles and climb the rigging2 captains of broadside guns and guns' crews repair to their guns and cast off the securing chains2 magazine men with a lantern descend the magazines4 ,one who had never seen this sight would find it difficult to believe with what rapidity the movement is carried out4 ,two minutes after the bugle has sounded1 some such order as this is given from the officers' bridge4 ,enemy off the port bow6 make ready with shrapnell shell4 ,distance three thousand yards4 ,elevation twenty degrees4 ,the gun loaded1 the breech-block closed1 every captain of his gun stands to the rear with the lanyard in his hand awaiting the order ,fire6 which when given1 the gun is fired1 sponged and reloaded4 ,the order might then be given--,prepare to ram1 in which case the sights are made ready for eight hundred yards1 and the guns are fired by electricity1 the guns' crews lying down under cover of their respective guns4 ,other drills are engaged in1 until the bugle sounds3--,cease firing1 ,return stores4 ,the men after obeying this command take their hammocks below deck1 and providing they belong to the watch below1 'turn in' and resume their sleep2 if to the watch on duty1 they repair to the upper deck4 ,one night whilst engaged in action an ammunition box fell upon my hand1 taking off four finger-nails4 ,this is only one of the accidents which happen at sea when the ship rolls heavily4 ,as a ship's company our character would compare favourably with that of any other crew on the station4 ,there were only eight desertions1 and one court-martial case in three years4 ,the ',emerald' was anchored off ,dominica4 ,one evening an order was received to prepare for sea immediately1 and proceed to ,st4 ,lucia to undergo the ,admiral's inspection the next morning4 ,the capstan was rigged1 the anchor weighed1 and soon we were at sea1 and every man as busy as a bee4 ,the main yard was lowered and scrubbed1 decks received special attention2 in fact1 we were cleaning all night4 ,in the morning we took up our anchorage at ,st4 ,lucia4 ,all hands were rushing about their work like madmen4 ,there was no help for it1 so short had been the ,admiral's notice of his inspection4 ,one bluejacket was whitewashing the inboard part of the cable4 ,the boatswain1 believing he was not doing it as quickly as he might1 passed a deprecating remark4 ,the sailor in an instant seized a broom which lay near1 and lifted it to strike the boatswain1 but hesitated1 and laid it down4 ,he was put under arrest then and there1 the charge against him being ,attempting to strike a superior officer4 ,the boatswain demanded a court-martial1 which was held later at ,jamaica1 the court passing a sentence of eighteen months' imprisonment upon the doomed man4 ,this poor fellow in former years had been a heavy drinker1 but during our commission had not taken a drop of liquor--not even his daily allowance of rum4 ,it was understood that ere he left ,england he had promised a dying sister that he would not touch intoxicants again1 and hitherto was faithful to his vow4 ,he received the sympathy of the captain1 officers and crew4 ,as his pay would henceforth be stopped1 though he were supporting a widowed mother1 this sympathy took a practical form4 ,a subscription list was opened1 and all subscribed4 ,in this way his poor mother received her half-pay as formerly1 the captain sending it home monthly4 ,as a matter of fact he had served a previous term of imprisonment1 which was much in his disfavour1 and he knew full well this would be taken into consideration by the court4 ,with this thought weighing upon his mind1 and whilst waiting his turn to appear before his judges1 he wept like a child--he who was always so brave1 courageous and manly4 ,this is a touching instance--an instance of a poor soul striving to do right1 striving to be faithful1 amid daily temptation1 to a sister who had gone before1 yet because in a moment of weakness he was overtaken in a fault1 he was treated in such a harsh and cruel manner4 ,certainly discipline must be maintained in the service1 and had the matter been settled by the captain1 his punishment would have been very lenient in comparison with that meted out by the court4 ,but the boatswain demanded a court-martial4 ,i will not dilate on his action1 but remember the ,master's words--,blessed are the merciful1 for they shall obtain mercy4 ,concerning minor punishments1 they were meted out almost daily1 such as fourteen days in a cell1 seven days ,,ioa or ,,iob4 ,to be confined in a cell is the penalty for returning on board ship intoxicated1 or for breaking several days' leave4 ,for prudential reasons the knife and lanyard of a seaman is taken away when the sentence of cell confinement is passed4 ,in his cell he has to pick a pound of oakum daily1 which is weighed every night by the ship's corporal1 and his food consists of bread and water1 and for the greater part of the confinement he is deprived of his bedding4 ,let me give an amusing incident in connection with cell punishment4 ,we had shipped at ,st4 ,john's a young man as an assistant to the captain's cook4 ,departing from the naval rule of discipline1 he received seven days' cell seclusion4 ,one night when the doctor went his usual round asking each prisoner if all were well1 this poor fellow replied3 ,no1 sir1 ,i have not enough to eat2 ,i should like a pound of cheese from the canteen4 ,needless to add he obtained no cheese1 and his very request indicates how greatly he lacked knowledge concerning naval discipline1 but he learned it in the school of experience4 ,i mentioned seven days ,,ioa4 ,now1 although ,i passed through my training days without being beaten by many stripes1 ,i was not so fortunate in the ',emerald1' though my punishment is but a pin-prick1 hardly worth mentioning1 but ,i do so in order to point out that ,i was no superior being4 ,strange man indeed would he be who1 on such a ship as the ',emerald1' never stood as a defaulter on the quarterdeck4 ,yes1 ,i once received seven days ,,ioa1 which being interpreted means--,that the bluejacket's rum is1 stopped2 that he is not allowed to smoke2 that he only gets thirty minutes to dinner1 and has to eat it with other ,,ioa men off a piece of canvas spread out on the upper deck1 and the other half of the dinner hour he has to whitewash spare cells3 moreover1 that he has to rise at #d a4m4 mornings and scrub decks--all this included in ,,ioa4 ,my readers will readily notice that the first clause is a means of strengthening the temperance cause1 and non-smokers will see no punishment in the second clause1 whilst those who are fond of picnics will consider the third clause a pleasure1 but the pinch is felt in the fact that during ,,ioa one's leave is cancelled4 ,now1 ,,iob is similar to ,,ioa with one or two slight modifications4 ,although ,i was not a smoker ,i once spat on the deck1 and was marked doing so by the first lieutenant4 ,he ordered me to patrol the deck in my spare time with a cutlass1 and to capture the first man who repeated the sin1 ,next day ,i discovered a transgressor and took him aft to the officer of the day1 before whom he confessed and was ordered to relieve me of the cutlass4 ,the sin was a general one1 ,i take it1 if judged by the number of men to whom the sword was transferred4 ,the ,third ,newfoundland ,cruise4 ,the last southern cruise was drawing to an end1 and many were the conjectures as to which place we should depart for ,england1 but the general belief was that it would be ,bermuda4 ,when arriving here1 at the conclusion of the cruise1 we heard news which faded the brightest hope and caused much murmuring4 ,it was to the effect that we had to sail to the fisheries once more4 ,away to ,halifax for another share of warm clothing' and at this port complaining ceased1 and ,i will let you into a secret--the sausages proved the remedy4 ,who could grumble when living upon such dainties8 ,on reaching ,st4 ,john's we saw great improvements in the city4 ,during our absence wooden buildings had been erected1 and the appearance of a devastated place had vanished4 ,i will write of two incidents which occurred--the first being pleasant1 the second unpleasant4 ,our ship had moored one evening in a creek on the west of ,newfoundland4 ,it was a notorious place for salmon4 ,a large net was put across the creek at its narrowest width1 and on hauling it into the boat ninety salmon were caught4 ,these were distributed to the messes1 who all enjoyed the salmon dinner1 being a pleasant change from salt meat4 ,sailing in the second cutter with a high wind blowing and having 'put about1' ,i noticed the lee-main-stay was not made fast1 but was dangling outside the boat4 ,i rose from the bottom of the cutter and stretched out my hand to seize it1 when instantly the lee gunwale dipped under water and so did ,i1 with the exception of my right leg1 which was jammed crossways in the rowlock4 ,in this position ,i was carried along for a distance of forty yards1 and when the squall had passed over1 the boat's crew pulled me in4 ,when naval cutters are under sail the rowlock fittings are filled up with a piece of wood1 which corresponds to the fitting4 ,someone had neglected to slip this piece of wood into the rowlock which held me by the foot4 ,thank ,god for that neglect2 it was a kindly ,providence1 for it saved my life from drowning4 ,,chapter ,v ,,homeward ,,bound ,homeward ,bound6 ,all our stores which we borrowed from ,halifax were transferred to the ',pelican' for her to return4 ,we left ,st4 ,john's harbour one ,sunday evening en route to ,plymouth4 ,the crews of the ',buzzard' and ',pelican' hailed us 'farewell' as we slowly steamed away from our moorings1 and crowds of people gathered on the wharfs to witness our departure4 ,the paying-off pennant was streaming far astern1 and every heart felt glad to see it4 ,it was a sign of something beyond expression4 ,just one more look at the city1 a hastening glance at our two companion ships1 and we had cleared the harbour4 ,in an hour the land was lost to view1 and we were in a dense fog1 ploughing the deep1 bound for ,old ,england4 ,the wind proving favourable1 plain sail was made1 and for the next five days we made rapid headway4 ,on the sixth day the wind veered round to the opposite quarter1 and in consequence sails were furled1 and our speed decreased4 ,however1 we were able to make sail again on the ninth day4 ,what was my intense joy when on the morning of the eleventh day the man on the look-out shouted ,eddystone ,lighthouse off the port bow1 sir6 ,this delightful cry had almost the same effect as if the boatswain's mate had piped1 ,clear lower deck1 as nearly all hands rushed on deck4 ,breakfast was piped shortly afterwards1 but only a scanty number went below to partake of it4 ,i stood entranced with the old familiar scenes which were now becoming more and more visible2 in fact1 ,i cannot tell what feelings took possession of me4 ,i have often since felt that the three years' separation from home and loved ones were compensated by the joy of home-coming4 ,yes1 there was ,maker ,tower--the last object ,i beheld when leaving ,plymouth in the ',himalaya' three years before4 ,nearer and nearer we sailed until all the surroundings became distinct4 ,rame ,head was passed1 then ,penlee ,point1 and now the ,breakwater ,lighthouse loomed in sight4 ,clear lower deck6 ,hands shorten and furl sail6 was the order4 ,come along1 lads1 it is the last time1 said some sympathetic voices4 ,the guns were made ready for saluting the ,admiral and the ,port4 ,then1 having anchored1 the salute was fired1 the port guard-ship replying4 ,a dense fog now settled down on ,plymouth ,sound1 much to my disappointment1 for ,i was on the look-out for my father's approach4 ,soon there was a cluster at boats round the ship1 which had conveyed from the shore all manner of commercial men--,jews with watches for sale1 and tailors with their patterns--for no bluejacket would be without his private suit--and others with articles of food4 ,only a limited number1 however1 were allowed on board4 ,my uncle1 who resided at ,kingsand1 had noticed our early arrival in the ,sound4 ,he had been requested by my mother to keep a sharp look-out for the ',emerald4' ,she had given him money to purchase some food to bring afloat to me4 ,he fulfilled his request with the greatest satisfaction1 for an hour after we had anchored1 he was on board1 with a basket of provisions1 enquiring for me4 ,i gave him a hearty welcome1 all the more so on account of the basket he bore1 as ,i had foregone my biscuit and cocoa that morning and had had nothing to eat4 ,i will just add that the contents of his basket were eagerly devoured by me and my mess-mates4 ,my father1 so it afterward proved1 had been on the ,hoe every morning recently1 to see if the ',emerald' had arrived1 but on account of the fog this morning he did not walk there1 knowing that such a fog would hide the ,sound from view1 so he contented himself with making enquiries1 and was told that no ship had come from sea4 ,as the day wore on he chanced to be in a shop in ,plymouth1 when one of the stewards of the ',emerald' entered it1 to purchase4 ,that was enough6 ,he flew away1 bringing with him a large box of the best provisions that money could buy--it had been packed a whole week in readiness for my home-coming1 so as there should be no delay when the ship arrived4 ,a waterman rowed him down the ,sound4 ,in my heart ,i knew there was some mistake1 as otherwise my father would have been one of the first to board the ship4 ,however1 about #c p4m4 someone called down the hatchway for me4 ,instantly ,i bounded away to the gangway1 there to greet my father1 who was now on board4 ,we spent an hour together1 and at #d p4m4 all visitors were 'piped' out of the ship4 ,the coal was shipped--for we had been coaling all day4 ,the boats were hoisted1 and the anchor weighed4 ,being a member of the drum and fife band on the ',emerald1' whose work was to play marches while the capstan was being manned1 ,i must say that our march on this occasion was out of place4 ,a gallop would have been suitable4 ,with four men on each capstan bar1 it was nothing less than a maddening whirl1 whilst the cry sounded-- ,heave ho6 ,the last time my hearties4 ,we left ,plymouth for ,portsmouth to payoff4 ,one of the ,portsmouth outfitters had made it his business to come to ,plymouth1 and to take the return passage in our ship4 ,truly he was a highly favoured man4 ,nor was he idle1 for he was measuring men for suits of clothes the most of the night4 ,i suppose he did not mind such night-work4 ,we sighted ,portsmouth in the morning1 and after doing the customary steam trials1 proceeded up harbour4 ,here1 as at ,plymouth1 there were all classes of business men waiting in boats to besiege the ship4 ,most of them met with disappointment1 as only a few were allowed on board4 ,this matter was the cause of complaint being made in an evening paper1 which said3 ,no such restriction was ever manifested by any other ship coming home from a foreign station1 and after dwelling on the treatment which had been shown to many who had come alongside the ',emerald1' the paragraph concluded with words to this effect3--,that the ',emerald's' commission had been far from being a happy one1 words which contained a great deal of truth4 ,in the course of a few days we made fast alongside the jetty1 and returned stores4 ,this taking a month1 then came paying-off day4 ,this day is generally associated with the idea of a nice sum of money1 but it was far from being so in my case as you shall see4 ,my father had asked me at ,plymouth if ,i should have sufficient money to pay my railway fare from ,portsmouth to ,devonport4 ,anticipating ,i should receive enough for this purpose ort paying-off day1 ,i replied in the affirmative4 ,but during the month at ,portsmouth it gradually dawned upon me that my money due would amount to but a very little4 ,accordingly1 ,i wrote home1 informing my parents of the same1 requesting them to send me three pounds4 ,having no curios with me save a folding looking-glass which ,i bought at ,cape ,breton ,island1 and a figured handkerchief from the ,jamaica exhibition1 ,i went ashore one evening at ,portsmouth and bought a few little presents to carry home to my relatives in order that they should possess something to regard as a token of the ',emerald's' home-coming4 ,i did not inform them they were bought at ,portsmouth1 and for a time they were prized as presents brought home from foreign parts4 ,i gave my father a walking-stick1 but ,i rather think that he from the first knew it was a native of ,england4 ,anyhow1 the joke has been discovered since1 and has caused much laughter from time to time in the home circle4 ,three days before the dispersion the chaplain sent for me4 ,on going aft to his cabin1 he said1 ,cowling1 you may have the harmonium4 ,i thanked him heartily for this present4 ,not desiring to take it home with me1 ,i sold it to a local musician for seventeen shillings1 with which ,i bought a reefer jacket to wear home4 ,at last the happy day came4 ,the captain1 with his officers grouped on the quarterdeck1 and the paymaster with his staff1 began the work of payment4 ,on the seaman's name being called1 he stepped toward the pay-table and gave his number on the ship's book2 then receiving the money due to him walked out of the gangway4 ,it was now my turn1 and although some of the men received from sixty to eighty1 and one a hundred pounds1 mine was the modest sum of three shillings and sixpence1 despite the fact that ,i had been receiving eightpence a day in addition to most of them--five pence as the organist1 and threepence for being a flute-player4 ,how do ,i account for the contrast8 ,in this way4 ,some men did the washing of others1 charging threepence per piece1 and a shilling for scrubbing a hammock1 and others owned a sewing-machine with which in spare time they made uniform suits4 ,washing and sewing men were bent upon having a good pay-day4 ,these two classes of men would seldom buy any article from the canteen4 ,i should not say they were niggardly or selfish--their course probably was governed by self-denial1 or it may be that their future marriage day was the solution of their conduct4 ,as for myself1 ,i never could eat with relish any service food1 consequently most of my wages was spent in canteen food1 and the remainder on shore4 ,therefore on paying-off day ,i received my few shillings as contentedly as those did who were the recipients of many pounds1 for ,i had utilised my money in one way1 and they were about to do so in another4 ,that is all4 ,little groups of men gathered on the wharf to wish each other 'good-bye1' as it was not likely they would ever meet again4 ,i often think of ,collins1 who belonged to the same section of the starboard watch as ,i4 ,he was a very witty fellow4 ,he was asked one day where his messmate ,jack ,frost was8 ,in reply he answered1 ,he is on the fore-yard shooting sparrows for the sick4 ,this was amusing1 considering at the time we were in a heavy gale far out at sea4 ,on another occasion a civilian at ,halifax asked him1 ,what do you sailors get to eat at sea8 ,we live on wind and chew daylight1 was his answer4 ,when outside the dockyard gates ,i made off to a restaurant for refreshment1 and then caught the train for ,devonport1 reaching it at #h p4m4 ,my father and a friend were on the platform to meet me4 ,we took a cab to the quay1 from which a waterman rowed us across the harbour4 ,then a journey of another three miles in a carriage1 and ,i was at home1 sweet home4 ,my mother and sisters1 who had been on the tiptoe of expectation for the last hour1 now bounded out of the room as the front door was opened1 and ,i cannot describe what transpired in the lobby for the next few minutes4 ,the tears of joy being wiped away1 we all sat down to supper1 my companion--he who tasted the leather strap in our school days--being invited to swell the number1 and to complete the welcome home4 ,supper ended1 ,i was made the recipient of various gifts from my parents and sisters4 ,amongst other things which my mother gave me was a jersey which she had knitted-- every stitch of it4 ,it happened one day that my sister took the work in hand and did a little in the making of it1 but when my mother discovered this transgression1 she lovingly unravelled the stitches1 for she said she desired to make it all herself4 ,such is a mother's love6 ,every winter since ,i have worn the jersey1 and even now am wearing it on this cold ,december day as ,i pen these lines4 ,six weeks' leave were granted me for my absence of three years1 which is the naval scale--that is a fortnight for each year1 and ,i carried in my pocket the liberty ticket4 ,let me tell you what is written on it3 ,the bearer's name1 his height2 the complexion of his hair1 the colour of his eyes1 his visible marks 7if any7 and the nature thereof1 also a statement to the effect that he is free from arrest up to a given date which is specified--if not on board his ship at the authorised hour on that date he is regarded as a leave-breaker and punished accordingly4 ,the six happy weeks passed away all too quickly1 and ,i returned to the ,royal ,naval ,barracks1 or1 as is understood in naval circles ,h4,m4,s4 ',vivid' ,from here1 ,i was drafted to the gunnery college1 ,h4,m4,s4 ',cambridge4' ,it was on this ship that ,i first saw our present ,king1 he having come on board to inspect the guns' crews at drill1 accompanied by his brother1 the ,duke of ,edinburgh1 who at the time was ,commander-in-,chief of ,devonport4 ,after passing through a course of gunnery1 which lasted eighteen months1 ,i was sent back to the ',vivid4' ,being entirely out of touch with a seaman's life1 ,i requested to see the captain with a view of changing my rating to that of a ship's writer4 ,he granted my appeal conditionally1 which meant1 that if ,i were in harbour when the next examination took place1 ,i should be allowed to sit1 but if away on a foreign station1 of course it would be impossible4 ,to qualify myself in order to succeed in passing this examination ,i received private tuition when ashore1 for which ,i paid very dearly4 ,meantime an order was received by the officials to send a draft of bluejackets to ,portsmouth to bring to ,devonport ,h4,m4,s4 ',rupert4' ,we went to ,portsmouth by train4 ,whilst engaged in taking ammunition on board1 a box of heavy cartridge fell on my right foot1 and took off the tip of a toe4 ,i was barefooted1 as it was a wet day4 ,being carried to the sick berth1 my foot was treated and bound1 and ,i was ordered to my hammock4 ,on arrival at ,devonport1 the sick-berth steward took me to the hospital in the naval barracks1 where ,i lay in bed six weeks4 ,you will perceive that my right foot has been unfortunate4 ,it was the right foot which was jammed in the crevice of the rocks the right foot upon which the ,portuguese man-of-war was flung1 and now again the right foot which received the fall from the ammunition box4 ,time wore away1 and ,i was in a state of expectation as to what date the examination would take place4 ,to my bitter disappointment ,i was told there was to be none that year4 ,then ,i began to fear lest before the next ,i should be sent away to sea1 and thus lose my opportunity to enter4 ,again ,i was drafted to the ',cambridge1' as one of her ship's company1 and ,i still resumed my scholastic tuition ashore4 ,a thrill of dread used to seize me when observing the ship's corporal walking along the deck bearing a slate1 as it was an indication that someone was to be called upon to prepare for sea4 ,is it ,i8 was the thought which filled my mind4 ,however1 the year had nearly passed away1 and ,i was deeply anxious over the forthcoming examination4 ,surely there will be one this year1 as there was none last4 ,such was my reasoning4 ,one day at the conclusion of my lesson1 my tutor said he had very1 unpleasant news to break to me4 ,it was this3--,that an examination would be held for civilians only1 and that an order had been received stating that no seaman should be allowed to change his rating4 ,oh1 ,i thought1 was ever any disappointment so vexatious as mine8 ,i left his house with a wounded spirit1 and1 having crossed the harbour1 walked toward home1 a journey of three miles1 weeping bitterly and praying nearly all the way4 ,the very heavens above seemed to me as brass1 and my horizon appeared dark as the blackness of night2 not a streak of light could ,i find4 ,for two years ,i had been studying and working hard to qualify for this examination1 and had spent most of my earnings in tuition1 and now the issue was that in spite of my utter dislike to a naval life as a sailor1 ,i must still pursue it4 ,the memory of that awful journey comes to mi mind very forcibly at times1 and when ,i hear or know of any sore disappointment occurring in one's life1 ,i fervently pray to ,god that such disappointment may be immersed in the waters of kindly help and sympathy4 ,may the ,christ of ,gethsemane comfort all wounded hearts1 all crushed spirits1 and make sorrow the seed of a new hope1 even as ,he did in my life4 ,on reaching home that evening my parents observed that ,i had been weeping1 and on asking the cause1 the pent-up grief again burst forth4 ,gradually ,i became calm1 and conveyed to them the news which ,i had received from my tutor1 the naval schoolmaster4 ,they both agreed there and then1 that by ,god's help ,i should be released from my unbearable life1 and that steps should be taken immediately to that end4 ,shortly after ,i came home from sea ,i attended the ,congregational ,church at ,cawsand1 and here1 under the influence of my pastor's preaching1 made a decision for ,christ4 ,he soon put me in harness in church work1 and for more than two years ,i studied theology under him1 he kindly coming to my home every ,monday evening to help me in that direction4 ,occasionally he set me an examination paper1 and assisted me educationally in every way4 ,this course of theological study began while ,i was yet in the navy1 and often when boat-keeper at the lower boom of the ',cambridge' have ,i spent hours in study4 ,to test my preaching abilities1 the ,rev4 ,stephen ,stroud1 for such was my pastor's name1 would take me into his church1 where in a pew he would sit as a listening critic1 while ,i preached from the pulpit4 ,the next day ,i went to him and intimated my parents' decision in consequence of my vexation1 and that they wished to purchase my discharge if possible1 whereupon he gave me a letter to take to the commander of the ship4 ,in the course of a few days ,i stood before him on the quarterdeck1 and made known my desire to quit the service1 and my detestation of a sailor's life4 ,he did not thwart me in any way1 but said the request would have to be brought before the ,commander-in-,chief of the port1 and the ,admiralty4 ,,chapter ,,vi ,,leaving ,,the ,,navy ,nearly three weeks had passed--oh1 what an anxious time it was6 ,was there another sorrow in store for me8 ,god forbid4 ,well1 one day at noon1 just as ,i had reached the ship in the staff gig1 to which boat ,i belonged1 the quartermaster rushed to the gangway and shouted-- ,cowling1 you are wanted on the quarterdeck immediately4 ,i lost no time in getting there4 ,in another minute ,i stood face to face with the captain1 who informed me that the ,admiralty had granted my discharge4 ,right-about-turn6 ,quick march1 was the order of the master-at-arms1 but1 believe me1 it was more of a run than a march4 ,my messmates were forehead awaiting the result1 and as ,i approached them a dozen voices shouted--,how goes it8 ,all's well1 ,i replied4 ,you are fortunate1 said they4 ,dinner was now piped1 but ,i wanted none--my desire was to get on terra firma as speedily as possible4 ,i pulled my bag from the rack1 turned it upside down on the deck1 distributing all the clothes contained therein1 to the value of fifteen pounds4 ,then ,i wished my messmates 'good-bye' and went ashore in a gig1 feeling like a bird released from a cage4 ,thus ended my naval career1 extending to a period of seven years and nine days4 ,i keep in my study an envelope containing my discharge paper and the receipt for same1 which cost eighteen pounds4 ,in reading it1 as ,i sometimes do1 my thoughts are carried backward to the day of liberation4 ,my messmates had decided to present me with a beautiful ,bible1 which ,i never received1 for this reason4 ,scarcely a week had passed from the day ,i stepped on shore a free man1 when an order was sent from headquarters for a large draft of seamen to be sent to different parts of the world4 ,nearly all my former mates were numbered amongst the draft4 ,consequently they were scattered far apart1 and no steps could be taken to carry out their intention4 ,the kind feeling which prompted it ,i appreciate and accept1 as showing what they would have done had the opportunity been forthcoming4 ,even in the weeding out of the ',cambridge' this large company of men1 ,i observe ,god's providence at work in my own life1 for doubtless ,i should have been included in the draft1 having been in harbour three years1 which is considered a long stay4 ,my discharge was granted me in the nick of time4 ,he doeth all things well4 ,i found employment on shore in ,plymouth as a contractor's clerk1 and devoted more time to religious studies1 for ,i now felt that as the greatest obstacle in my path had been removed1 ,god would surely open my way to enter ,his service4 ,he did4 ,by the recommendation of my pastor ,i was admitted into ,cliff ,college1 ,derbyshire1 completing my training in ,london4 99 99 99 99 99 ,though for six years ,i had nearly become a ,baptist1 that is1 a ,congregationalist1 ,i now stepped over the line1 having studied the ,new ,testament with an unbiassed mind1 to get at the real truth of ,scriptural baptism4 ,being convinced that immersion was the ,scriptural mode1 ,i forthwith became baptised in ,bow ,street ,baptist ,church1 ,london4 ,shortly afterwards1 ,i was invited to the pastorate of a ,baptist ,church in ,new ,whittington1 ,derbyshire1 where ,i laboured for a brief period1 and at which place ,i first met the young lady who is now my wife4 ,in the autumn of #ahii ,i accepted the call to my present pastorate1 that of the ,ashwater district of ,baptist ,churches4 ,understanding that under the new regulations existing which precludes ,cliff ,college students from being recognised as fully accredited ministers1 ,i set to work to overcome the difficulty by passing the two ,baptist ,union examinations4 ,such1 then1 in brief are a few outstanding incidents of my life1 and such is the road ,i have travelled to enter the ministry--a hard road and painful1 bedewed with tears1 and strewed with withered leaves of disappointment and weary watchings1 but ,i am bound to confess that it was the path marked out for me4 ,no better training was ever afforded any minister1 and to-day ,i can thank ,god for it all4 ,what is the great truth which my career teaches me8 ,this3 that ,god is in the heart of things1 and all is well4 ,that ,he is in every human life1 directing1 controlling1 and superintending it4 ,that nothing happens by chance1 and that it is ,he alone who can transform the wilderness of blighted hope into a paradise of joy2 can convert the vale of tears into the sunny path that leads upward to ,his throne--,he alone who can chase away the darkness of night and bring in the sunshine of morning4 ,unto ,his name be all the glory6 ,i cannot but hope that should any darkened life read this little sketch1 that such an one may be inspired and comforted by so doing1 believing that ,he who gently cleared my way1 granting me the fulfilment of my heart's desire1 will in like manner repeat ,his loving-kindness in that one's life4 ,lead1 kindly light1 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,keep thou my feet2 ,i do not ask to see ,the distant scene2 one step enough for me4 ,,printed ,,by ,,neill ,,and ,,co41 ,,ltd41 ,,edinburgh4