Page:The Naval Officer (1829), vol. 1.djvu/73

 the favour of the first lieutenant by a constant attention to the little duties he gave me to perform. I had been put into a watch, and statioened in the fore-top, and quartered at the foremast guns on the main-deck. I was told by the youngsters that the first lieutenant was a harsh officer, and implacable when once he took a dislike; his manners however even when under the greatesr excrement, were always those of a perfect gentleman, and I continued living on good terms with him. But with: the second lieutenant I was not so fortunate. He had ordered me to take the jolly-boat and bring off a woman whom he kept; I remonstrated and refused, and from that moment we never were friends.

Murphy had also recovered from his fall, and returned to his duty; his malice towards me increased, and I had no peace or comfort in his presence. One day he threw a biscuit at my head, calling me at the same time a name which reflected on the legitimacy of my birth, in