Page:The Naval Officer (1829), vol. 1.djvu/43

 thing, as well as on account of my natural gallantry and love of female society. The elder woman was mistress of her profession, handling her skull (oar) with great dexterity; but Sally, the younger one, who was her daughter, was still in her noviciate. She was pretty, cleanly dressed, had on white stockings, and sported a neat foot and ancle.

"Take care, Sally," said the mother; "keep stroke, or you will catch a crab."

"Never fear, mother," said the confident Sally; and at the same moment, as if the very caution against the accident was the cause of it, the blade of her skull did not dip into the water. The oar meeting no resistance, its loom, or handle, came back upon the bosom of the unlucky Sally, tipped her backwards—up went her heels in the air, and down fell her head into the bottom of the boat. As she was pulling the stroke oar, her feet almost came in contact with the rosette of my cocked-hat.