Page:The Naval Officer (1829), vol. 2.djvu/225

 "How do you mean, Sir? Do you mean to insinuate that I was not sober?"

"Βy no means, Sir," said I; " but are you aware, that in the midst of your delightful and entertaining conversation, you tumbled off your chair in an epileptic fit?—are you subject to these?"

"Oh, yes, my dear fellow, indeed I am; but it is so long since I last had one, that I was in hopes they had left me. I have invalided for them four times, and just at the very periods when, if I could have remained out, my promotion was certain."

He then told me I might remain on shore that day, if I pleased. I gave him credit for his happy instinct in taking the hint of the fit; and as soon as I left him, he arose, went on board, and flogged two men for being drunk the night before.

I did not fail to report.all that had passed to my messmates, and we sailed a few days afterwards for Barbadoes. On the first Sunday of