Page:The Naval Officer (1829), vol. 1.djvu/131

 Somnus; but as the look-out man did not see the lieutenant come up, I was caught napping just at dusk, when the lieutenant came on deck, and did me the honour to remember where he had left me. Looking at the fore-top-mast head, he called me down.

Like Milton's devils, who were " found sleeping by one they dread," up I sprang, and regained my perch by the topsail-tie, supposing, or rather hoping that he would not see me before the mast, in the obscurity of the evening; but he was too lynx-eyed, and had not presence of mind enough of to see what he should not have seen. He called to the three men in the top, and inquired where I was? They replied, at the mast-head. "What!" exclaimed Handstone, with an oath, " did I not see him, this moment, go up by the topsail-tie?"

"No, Sir," said the men; "he is now asleep at the mast-head."

"Come down here, you lying rascals, every