hat. 'I don't allow fishing, young man,' said the first lieutenant.
'You understand me?--I don't allow fishing. You've your duty to do, sir,
and I've got mine.'

"Jack, who had only been two or three days on board, and who, I believe,
would never have entered, had he known that there would have been such a
'_weto_,' as the boatswain used to call it, looked quite astonished, and
said--

"'What, mayn't I fish, sir?'

"'No, my man, you must not fish without permission; and that I never
give in harbor. If I catch you fishing again, you get two dozen at the
gun, recollect that. You've got your duty to do, and I've got mine.'

"Well, Jack could not give up his habit, so he used to fish at night,
and all night long, out of the fore-chains; but it so happened that the
ship's corporal caught Jack in the middle watch, and reports him to the
first lieutenant.

"'So, you've been fishing again, sir,' says Old Duty. 'No, sir,' replied
Jack, 'not fishing--only laying night lines.'

"'Oh! that's it,' replied the first lieutenant; 'only laying night
lines! Pray, what's the difference?'

"'Please, sir,' said Jack, touching his hat, 'the difference is--that
it's not the same thing.'

"'Well, sir, I see but one difference, and I'll meet it accordingly.