delicately hinting at the object of my visit, I came roundly to
the point, and asked him whether he could slip my jacket into one
of the bags of clothes next to be sold, and so dispose of it by
public auction. He kindly acquiesced and the thing was done.

In due time all hands were again summoned round the main-mast;
the Purser's steward mounted his post, and the ceremony began.
Meantime, I lingered out of sight, but still within hearing, on
the gun-deck below, gazing up, un-perceived, at the scene.

As it is now so long ago, I will here frankly make confession
that I had privately retained the services of a friend--Williams,
the Yankee pedagogue and peddler--whose business it would be to
linger near the scene of the auction, and, if the bids on the
jacket loitered, to start it roundly himself; and if the bidding
then became brisk, he was continually to strike in with the most
pertinacious and infatuated bids, and so exasperate competition
into the maddest and most extravagant overtures.

A variety of other articles having been put up, the white jacket
was slowly produced, and, held high aloft between the auctioneer's
thumb and fore-finger, was submitted to the inspection of the
discriminating public.

Here it behooves me once again to describe my jacket; for, as a
portrait taken at one period of life will not answer for a later
stage; much more this jacket of mine, undergoing so many changes,
needs to be painted again and again, in order truly to present
its actual appearance at any given period.