This done, their shirts were loosely thrown over their shoulders.
At a sign from the Captain, John, with a shameless leer, advanced, and stood passively upon the grating, while the bare-headed old quarter-master, with grey hair streaming in the wind, bound his feet to the cross-bars, and, stretching out his arms over his head, secured them to the hammock-nettings above.

He then retreated a little space, standing silent.
Meanwhile, the boatswain stood solemnly on the other side, with a green bag in his hand, from which, taking four instruments of punishment, he gave one to each of his mates; for a fresh "cat" applied by a fresh hand, is the ceremonious privilege accorded to every man-of-war culprit.
At another sign from the Captain, the master-at-arms, stepping up, removed the shirt from the prisoner.

At this juncture a wave broke against the ship's side, and clashed the spray over his exposed back.
But though the air was piercing cold, and the water drenched him, John stood still, without a shudder.
The Captain's finger was now lifted, and the first boatswain's-mate advanced, combing out the nine tails of his _cat_ with his hand, and then, sweeping them round his neck, brought them with the whole force of his body upon the mark.

Again, and again, and again; and at every blow, higher and higher rose the long, purple bars on the prisoner's back.

But he only bowed over his head, and stood still.