He is now," continued the captain, pausing to give more effect to his communication, "Lord Aveleyn." "Whew! now the murder's out," mentally exclaimed the first lieutenant.
"Call him down immediately, Mr W----, if you please--and recollect that I disapprove of the system." "Certainly, sir; but really, Captain L----, I don't know what I shall do if you restrict my power of punishing the young gentlemen; they are so extremely unruly.

There's Mr Malcolm," continued the first lieutenant, pointing to a youngster who was walking on the other side of the deck, with his hands in his pockets, "it was but yesterday that he chopped off at least four inches from the tail of your dog 'Ponto' at the beef-block, and pretends it was an accident." "What! my setter's tail ?" "Yes, sir, he did, I can assure you." "Mr Malcolm," cried the captain, in great wrath, "how came you to cut off my dog's tail ?" Before I went to sea I had always considered a London cock-sparrow to be the truest emblem of consummate impudence; but I have since discovered that he is quite modest compared to a midshipman.
"Me, sir ?" replied the youngster, demurely.

"I didn't cut off his tail, sir; he _cut it off himself!_" "What, sir ?" roared the captain.
"If you please, sir, I was chopping a piece of beef, and the dog, who was standing by, turned short round, and put his tail under the chopper." "Put his tail under the chopper, you little scamp!" replied Captain L----, in a fury.

"Now just put your head above the maintop-gallant cross-trees, and stay there until you are called down.

Mr W----, you'll keep him up till sunset." "Ay, ay, sir," replied the first lieutenant, with a satisfactory smile at the description of punishment inflicted.
When I was a midshipman, it was extremely difficult to avoid the mast-head.