Parson's cabin was on the starboard side of the lower deck; and as Jack went into his own canvass berth, where he had every now and then the tiller for his chum, the Parson spoke to him. At that moment the helm was "hard-a-port." To those who recollect what a tiller berth was in the olden times, when we had a navy that overawed the world, and a Government which felt that its existence, and the country's honor, glory, and safety depended upon its wooden walls, (this may be said without disparagement to that brave army whose glory is as high above detraction as its gallantry and discipline,) it is unnecessary to explain its construction; but for the general reader's information, a tiller berth may as well be described.

Just then before the aftermost gun on the larboard side, and between that gun and its neighbour (two long ever-creaking thirtytwo pounders) a deal frame was raised about four feet and a half from the deck, supported by a high stauncheon in the foremost corner, from the deck overhead to the lower deck itself, and low one abaft. Upon this frame canvass was nailed, leaving a similar entrance to that of a tent. A loose canvass, like a vallance to a curtain, was suspended from the deck over-head to the frame work, so as to admit of the tiller traversing freely. A vertical speaking trumpet, attached to the mizen-mast, communicated between the quarter-deck and gunroom, for the facility of steerage in the event of accident to the wheel. Jack having inconsiderately engaged in conversation with the Parson, (whose cabin was on the starboard side,) stretching his neck on the rail, the sudden change of the tiller, caught him by the neck as firmly as if it had been in the crutch of a guillotine. Most fortunately the Parson immediately observed the danger that threatened his messmate, and sung out as lustily as he could, through the speaking trumpet, "PORT," to which the Quartermaster, suspecting something wrong below, immediately attended, by quickly calling "hard-a-port" to the men at the wheel; by which time, however, Jack, already black in the face from the pressure, 'was nearly, and but for the Parson's quick-sightedness and presence of mind would have been as completely decapitated as if the guillotine had done the job.

Now, if the tiller berth had been on the starboard side, ewher there was none, instead of the larboard, the Parson's natural impediment would have prevented his calling "hard a starboard,” or “starboard,” and one turn "a port" would have settled Jack's hopes and troubles in this world. ... What a dreadful loss to society that would have been !

....

CHAPTER XL.

A CLASSIC VOYAGE.-LOSS

OF THE AJAX BY FIRE.-HOT WORK IN THE HELLESPONT.-CAPTURE AND DESTRUCTION OF THE

TURKISH FLEET.

No occurrence worthy of record took place between the ship's calling off Palermo, and telegraphing His Majesty's ship Pompée, at that time snug in the mole, and bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Sir William Sidney Smith, and her arrival at Malta, except the capture of a splendid tunny, (scomber thunnus,) which afforded a great deal of sport, and received every harpoon and grains in the ship before it could be secured. It was nine feet long; its crescent tail was two feet nine inches from tip to tip, and weighed four hundred and ninety pounds. The skin on the back was smooth and black; sides and back silvery, shot with occasional tinges of sky-blue and purple; and near the caudal fin greyish, and veined like marble. The flesh had all the appearance of fresh beef, and a great deal of it was salted; that which was dressed had a peculiar and fine flavour; some compared it to veal cutlets, others to the fowl part of turtle. The fish was a gigantic albicore.

In Sicily there is a royal fishery for the tunny, which in the time of Ferdinand IV. was generally commenced by the King in person.

During the ship's stay at Malta, all who could obtain leave to go ashore gratified their curiosity by visiting St. John's church, the armoury, the Roschetta, (where the odoriferous petals of the Seville orange-flower perfumed deliciously the air,) botanic gardens, and its aviaries there, St. Paul's cave and bay, and the extensive catacombs. The blood, or Maltese oranges, are extremely delicious, but lose much of their flavour by keeping. The caper-tree grows abundantly upon the fortifications, where the chief officer of engineers has the exclusive privilege of "cutting capers."

Once more under weigh for the Archipelago, Sir John Duckworth's squadron steered its course for Milo, to take in Greek pilots for Constantinople. Jack did not tread on classic land, but he sailed on seas which Ulysses, Telemachus, Agamemnon, and other kings and heroes of Greece had immortalized by their actions, and Homer in song. Every island that he passed, Homer, with the shipmaster Mentes, had visited. Lemnos recalled to mind the cyclop Vulcan and his fall; the frail, but incomparable goddess; the gallant lover, in the god of war; the iron net; the thunderbolts; the curse upon the Lemnians. Next came Tenedos, Troas,-Troy, the last, known only by its position and distance from the sea, was the chief topic of conversation with the intelligent chief pilot Nicolao.

The old London-built master was not expected to be a classic, but he asked the parson the very pertinent question, "If that fellow Wulcan was not a one-eyed, lop-sided, picked-up-along-shore black. smith, who married a Mrs. Wenus ?"

At length the squadron anchored in the bay of Tenedos, which island was at that time beseiged by the Russians, where it was neces sitated to wait for a southerly wind to approach Constantinople.

On the 14th of February, at nine at night, the superb Ajax, under the command of Captain Henry Blackwood took fire, and, ere the morning dawned, had burnt to the water's edge. The hundreds of lives lost of as fine and brave a crew as ever manned a ship of war threw a damp over the whole squadron. All the ships slipped, after having sent their boats to assist, and dropped down to Tenedos, except one line of battle ship, "Old Mother Windsor," as she was

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