"Why, you see, after touching your hat, you should have touched him
lightly with your forefinger in his waistcoat, so, and asked,
'How's his nibs?'--you see?"
"How's his nibs?" I repeated.
"Exactly. He would have drawn back a little, and then you should
have repeated the salute remarking, 'How's his royal nibs?' asking
cautiously after his wife and family, and requesting to be
introduced to the gunner's daughter."
"The gunner's daughter?"
"The same; you know she takes care of us young gentlemen; now don't
forget, Pillsy!"
When we were called down to the deck I thought it a good chance to
profit by this instruction. I approached Captain Boltrope and
repeated the salute without conscientiously omitting a single
detail. He remained for a moment, livid and speechless. At length
he gasped out:--
"Boatswain's mate?"
"If you please, sir," I asked, tremulously, "I should like to be
introduced to the gunner's daughter!"
"O, very good, sir!" screamed Captain Boltrope, rubbing his hands
and absolutely capering about the deck with rage. "O d--n you! Of
course you shall! O ho! the gunner's daughter! O, h--ll! this is
too much! Boatswain's mate!" Before I well knew where I was, I
was seized, borne to an eight-pounder, tied upon it and flogged!
CHAPTER IV.
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