If I hadn't ben strikin' him, I could have claimed that, seein' what I had done, I jumped over to save him." Then came the court-martial, or whatever name a sea trial goes by.

He recited his sentence, word for word, as though memorised and gone over in bitterness many times.

And here it is, for the sake of discipline and respect to officers not always gentlemen, the punishment of a man who was guilty of manhood.

To be reduced to the rank of ordinary seaman; to be debarred all prize-money due him; to forfeit all rights to pension; to resign the Victoria Cross; to be discharged from the navy with a good character (this being his first offence); to receive fifty lashes; and to serve two years in prison.
"I wish I had drowned that day, I wish to God I had," he concluded, as the line moved up and we passed around the corner.
At last the door came in sight, through which the paupers were being admitted in bunches.

And here I learned a surprising thing: _this being Wednesday, none of us would be released till Friday morning_.
Furthermore, and oh, you tobacco users, take heed: _we would not be permitted to take in any tobacco_.