safely standing on deck themselves, scruple not to sacrifice an
immortal man or two, in order to show off the excelling
discipline of the ship. And thus do _the people_ of the gun-deck
suffer, that the Commodore on the poop may be glorified.



CHAPTER XLVII.

AN AUCTION IN A MAN-OF-WAR.


Some allusion has been made to the weariness experienced by the
man-of-war's-men while lying at anchor; but there are scenes now
and then that serve to relieve it. Chief among these are the
Purser's auctions, taking place while in harbour. Some weeks, or
perhaps months, after a sailor dies in an armed vessel, his bag
of clothes is in this manner sold, and the proceeds transferred
to the account of his heirs or executors.

One of these auctions came off in Rio, shortly after the sad
accident of Baldy.

It was a dreamy, quiet afternoon, and the crew were listlessly
lying 'around, when suddenly the Boatswain's whistle was heard,
followed by the announcement, "D'ye hear there, fore and aft?
Purser's auction on the spar-deck!"

At the sound, the sailors sprang to their feet and mustered round
the main-mast. Presently up came the Purser's steward, marshalling