Page:The Naval Officer (1829), vol. 2.djvu/141

 desperate than either, I jumped over-board: at Spithead, to swim to my dear Eugenia.

"Powers of Impudence, as well as Algebra," said I, "lend me your aid, or I am undone." In a moment the cabin door flew open, the centinel closed it after me, and I found myself in the presence of this most awful triumvirate. I felt very like Daniel in the lion's den. I was desired to take a chair, and a short discussion ensued between the judges, which I neither heard nor wished to hear: but while it lasted, I had time to survey my antagonists from head to foot. I encouraged myself to think that I was equal to one of them; and if I could only neutralize him, I thought I should very easily floor the other two.

One of these officers had a face like a painted pumpkin; and his hand, as it lay on the table, looked more like the fin of a turtle; the nails were bitten so close off, that the very remains of them seemed to have retreated into the flesh, for fear of farther depredation, which the other hand