'Then he must be taught,' replied the captain.

'Mr O'Brien, since you have perched yourself on that gun to please yourself, you will now continue there for two hours to please me.

Do you understand, sir ?--you'll ride on that gun for two hours.' 'I understand, sir,' replied I; 'but I am afraid that he won't move without spurs, although there's plenty of _metal_ in him.' The captain turned away and laughed as he went into his cabin, and all the officers laughed, and I laughed too, for I perceived no great hardship in sitting down an hour or two, any more than I do now.

Well, I soon found that, like a young bear, all my troubles were to come.

The first month was nothing but fighting and squabbling with my messmates; they called me a _raw_ Irishman, and _raw_ I was, sure enough, from the constant thrashings and coltings I received from those who were bigger and stronger than myself; but nothing lasts for ever--as they discovered that whenever they found blows I could find back, they got tired of it, and left me and my brogue alone.