CHAPTER I.

PAGE Why I went into the Navy; and how--To Portsmouth--The old Guardho--Well, Youngster! what do you want?--The Main-deck--Encouraging Reception--Agree to enter for Ten Years--A hard Supper, and harder Pillow--Turning in and turning out--Rouse and Bit--A Chance for a Wash--Pipe to Breakfast--What the Doctor said--I am passed--Starboard and Port--Knots and Hitches--Handling a Boat--Feather and Toss--My first Uniform--A Ditty-box--The Mast-head--Cutlass Drill--Rifle Drill--Big Gun Exercise--Splices, left-handed Eyes, Matthew Walker, and Turk’s Head--Old Pipes--Hawser-eye and Dead-eye--Compass and Lead-line--The _Sealark_--Sore Feet--A Day’s Work--Out on a Cruise--Distress--The wrong Signal--Return to the Guardho--The _Highflyer_--Are you Napoleon Bonyparte?--A Lambasting 1