mouth a strong-minded spouse of whom he stood in mortal terror. With this object he secured one of the sheep which were kept on board for the officers' table, and pouring a can of rumbo down its throat, reduced it to a state of utter intoxication. He then conveyed it to Anchorstock's berth, and with the assistance of some other imps, as mischievous as himself, dressed it up in a high nightcap and gown, and covered it over with the bedclothes.
"When the quartermaster came down from his watch our hero met him at the door of his berth with an agitated face. `Mr. Anchorstock,' said he, `can it be that your wife is on board?' `Wife!' roared the astonished sailor. `Ye white-faced swab, what d'ye mean?' `If she's not here in the ship it must be her ghost,' said Cyprian, shaking his head gloomily. `In the ship! How in thunder could she get into the ship? Why, master, I believe as how you're weak in the upper works, d'ye see? to as much as think o' such a thing. My Poll is moored head and starn, behind the point at Portsmouth, more'n two thousand mile away.' `Upon my word,' said our hero, very earnestly, `I saw a female look out of your cabin not five minutes ago.' `Ay, ay, Mr. Anchorstock,' joined in several of the conspirators. `We all saw her—a spanking-looking craft with a dead-light mounted on one side.' `Sure enough,' said Anchorstock, staggered by this accumulation of evidence, `my Polly's starboard eye was doused for ever by long Sue Williams of the Hard. But if so be as she be there I must see her, be
