Page:Memoirs James Hardy Vaux.djvu/100

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VI.

The youth with indignation barns;
Into his hated hammock turns;
Alas! not long to sleep:
The quarter-master, with hoarse tongue,
Awakes him; says, "The bell has rung:"
He's rous'd, his watch to keep.

VII.

Shiv'ring he walks the quarter-deck.
Dreading the stern lieutenant's check.
Who struts the weather-side^[1];
With glass and trumpet in his hand^[2],
He bellows forth his harsh command.
With arrogance and pride.

After the first transports of our meeting had subsided, it was mutually agreed that I should reside altogether with Miss K——e, who, being ignorant of my real circumstances, imagined I was capable of maintaining her and myself, if not in the most splendid, at least in a comfortable manner. I should have stated, however, that the pleasure I felt at being once more free from control, and on my near approach to my favourite spot, London, added to the passion I had conceived for this young lady, had completely banished every idea of returning to my ship, long before I was set down at

1. The lieutenant of the watch walks the weather-side; the, midshipman, the lee.
2. Telescope and speaking-trumpet.