"I'll punish you by-and-by." I was very much astonished; I hardly knew whether I had done right or wrong; at all events, thought I to myself, I did for the best; so I put it on the capstan and walked to my own side of the deck.

The captain and first lieutenant then went below, and O'Brien came aft.
"What vessel is it ?" said I.
"To the best of my belief, it's one of your bathing-machines going home with despatches," replied he.
"A bathing machine," said I; "why I thought that they were hauled up on the beach." "That's the Brighton sort; but these are made not to go up at all." "What then ?" "Why, to _go down_, to be sure; and remarkably well they answer their purpose.

I won't puzzle you any more, my Peter--I'm spaking helligorically, which I believe means telling a hell of a lie.

It's one of your ten-gun brigs, to the best of my knowledge." I then told O'Brien what had occurred, and how the master was angry with me.

O'Brien laughed very heartily, and told me never to mind, but to keep in the lee-scuppers and watch him.