Page:The Naval Officer (1829), vol. 2.djvu/52

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46
THE NAVAL OFFICER.

tain walked into his cabin, and the next day signified to the first lieutenant, that he must quit the ship on her arrival in port, or be tried by a court-martial; this latter he knew he dared not stand.

I should have informed my reader that our orders were to see the East-India convoy as far as the tenth degree of north latitude, and then proceed to Bermuda. This was of itself a pleasant cruize, and gave us the chance of falling in either with an enemy or a recapture. Ships not intending to cross the line, usually grant a saturnalia to the crew when they come to the tropic of Capricorn; it is thought to renovate their spirits, and to break the monotony of the cruize, or voyage, where time flows on in such a smooth, undeviating routine, that one day is not distinguishable from another. Our captain, a young man, and a perfect gentleman, never refused any indulgence to the men, incompatible with discipline and the safety of the ship; and as the regular trade-wind blew, there