When I gave it to him, the first lieutenant looked at me, and said, "So you know what a monkey's tail is already, do you?
Now don't you ever sham stupid after that." Thought I to myself, I'm very lucky, but if that's a monkey's tail it's a very stiff one! I resolved to learn the names of everything as fast as I could, that I might be prepared; so I listened attentively to what was said; but I soon became quite confused, and despaired of remembering anything.
"How is this to be finished off, sir ?" inquired a sailor of the boatswain.
"Why, I beg leave to hint to you, sir, in the most delicate manner in the world," replied the boatswain, "that it must be with a _double-wall_--and be d----d to you--don't you know that yet?
Captain of the foretop," said he, "up on your _horses_, and take your _stirrups_ up three inches."-- "Ay, ay, sir." (I looked and looked, but I could see no horses.) "Mr Chucks," said the first lieutenant to the boatswain, "what blocks have we below--not on charge ?" "Let me see, sir, I've one _sister_, t'other we split in half the other day, and I think I have a couple of _monkeys_ down in the store-room .-- I say, you Smith, pass that brace through the _bull's eye,_ and take the _sheepshank_ out before you come down." And then he asked the first lieutenant whether something should not be fitted with a _mouse_ or only a _Turk's head_--told him the _goose-neck_ must be spread out by the armourer as soon as the forge was up.

In short, what with _dead eyes_ and _shrouds, cats_ and _cat-blocks, dolphins_ and _dolphin-strikers, whips_ and _puddings_, I was so puzzled with what I heard, that I was about to leave the deck in absolute despair.
"And, Mr Chucks, recollect this afternoon that you _bleed_ all the _buoys_." Bleed the boys, thought I, what can that be for?
at all events, the surgeon appears to be the proper person to perform that operation.
This last incomprehensible remark drove me off the deck, and I retreated to the cock-pit, where I found Mrs Trotter.

"Oh, my dear!" said she, "I am glad you are come, as I wish to put your clothes in order.

Have you a list of them--where is your key ?" I replied that I had not a list, and I handed her the key, although I did not forget the caution of the midshipman; yet I considered that there could be no harm in her looking over my clothes when I was present.

She unlocked my chest, and pulled everything out, and then commenced telling me what were likely to be useful and what were not.
"Now these worsted stockings," she said, "will be very comfortable in cold weather, and in the summer time these brown cotton socks will be delightfully cool, and you have enough of each to last you till you outgrow them; but as for these fine cotton stockings, they are of no use--only catch the dirt when the decks are swept, and always look untidy.