Here she is capering over the waves instead of being tied by the nose with a cable and anchor." "That's a touch of the sentimental, Jack," replied Gascoigne; "but she is no more free than she was when at anchor, for she now is forced to act in obedience to her steersman and go just where he pleases.

You may just as well say that a horse, if taken out of the stable, is free, with the curb, and his rider on his back." "That's a touch of the rational, Ned, which destroys the illusion.
Never mind, we are free, at all events.

What machines we are on board of a man-of-war! we walk, talk, eat, drink, sleep, and get up, just like clock-work; we are wound up to go the twenty-four hours, and then wound up again; just like old Smallsole does the chronometers." "Very true, Jack; but it does not appear to me, that hitherto you have kept very good time; you require a little more regulating," said Gascoigne.
"How can you expect any piece of machinery to go well, so damnably knocked about as a midshipman is ?" replied our hero.
"Very true, Jack; but sometimes you don't keep any time, for you don't keep any watch.

Mr Asper don't wind you up.

You don't go at all." "No; because he allows me to go down; but still I do go, Ned." "Yes, to your hammock--it's no go with old Smallsole, if I want a bit of caulk.