hand under my shirt will you, White-Jacket? There!! didn't he
have a spite agin me, to raise such bars as them? And my shirt
all cut to pieces, too--arn't it, White-Jacket? Damn me, but
these coltings puts the tin in the Purser's pocket. O Lord! my
back feels as if there was a red-hot gridiron lashed to it. But I
told you so--a widow's curse on him, say I--he thought I meant
_him_, and not Priming."




CHAPTER LIV.

"THE PEOPLE" ARE GIVEN "LIBERTY."


Whenever, in intervals of mild benevolence, or yielding to mere
politic dictates, Kings and Commodores relax the yoke of
servitude, they should see to it well that the concession seem
not too sudden or unqualified; for, in the commoner's estimation,
that might argue feebleness or fear.

Hence it was, perhaps, that, though noble Jack had carried the
day captive in his audience at the mast, yet more than thirty-six
hours elapsed ere anything official was heard of the "liberty"
his shipmates so earnestly coveted. Some of the people began to
growl and grumble.

"It's turned out all gammon, Jack," said one.