Page:The Naval Officer (1829), vol. 1.djvu/111

 and my chest was in the way, and away it went. You know, Sir, I could not knock down the first lieutenant; they would have hanged me at the yard-arm."

"Thank Heaven you did not, my love," said my mother; "what has happened can be repaired, but that could never have been got over. And your books, what is become of them?"

"All went in the lump. They are somewhere near the entrance of the Gut of Gibraltar —all lost, except my Bible; I saved that, as I happened to be reading it in my berth the night before the action."

"Excellent boy!" exclaimed my mother and aunt both together; "I am sure he speaks the truth."

"I hope he does," said my father, drily; "though it must be owned that these sea-fights, however glorious for Old England, are very expensive amusements to the parents of young