Page:The Naval Officer (1829), vol. 3.djvu/124

 under its protection. To have been taken under such circumstances, would have subjected us to be hung like dogs on the first tree; to have gone unarmed, would have been an act of insanity, and I therefore took upon me to disobey an unjust and absurd order. This, however, must not be pleaded as an example to juniors, but a warning to seniors how they give orders without duly weighing the consequences: the safest plan is always to obey. Thus did his majesty's service lose eighteen fine fellows, under much severe suffering, for a boat, 'the private property' of the captain, not worth twenty pounds.

The next day, as soon as I was dressed, the first lieutenant sent to speak tome. I then recollected the little affair of the challenge. * A delightful after-piece," thought I, " to the tragedy, to be shot by the first lieutenant only for calling him as clever a fellow as the captain." The lieutenant, however, had no such barbarous intentions; he had seen and acknowledged the