With the exception of "A Committee of Supply," "That which Remained," "A Galley's Day," "C/o G.P.O.," "Watch there, Watch!" "A One-Gun Salute," "The Greater Love," "A Picturesque Ceremony," and "Why the Gunner went Ashore," the following Naval Sketches were published originally in 'The Pall Mall Gazette.'
The first three exceptions appeared in 'The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News,' 'The Magpie,' and 'The Naval and Military Record' respectively. The remainder have not before appeared in print.
The Author's best thanks are due to the Editors of the above Journal and Periodicals for their ready permission to reproduce these Sketches.
I. "D. S. B." II. CAPTAIN'S DEFAULTERS III. A GALLEY'S DAY IV. "NOEL!" V. THE ARGONAUTS VI. A GUNROOM SMOKING CIRCLE VII. THE SHIP-VISITORS VIII. THE LEGION ON THE WALL IX. A TITHE OF ADMIRALTY X. THE CHOSEN FOUR XI. A COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY XII. THAT WHICH REMAINED XIII. THE TIZZY-SNATCHER XIV. "C/O G.P.O." XV. THE "LOOK-SEE" XVI. "WATCH THERE, WATCH!" XVII. "FAREWELL AND ADIEU!" XVIII. THE SEVENTH DAY XIX. THE PARRICIDE XX. THE NIGHT-WATCHES XXI. A ONE-GUN SALUTE XXII. CONCERNING THE SAILOR-MAN XXIII. THE GREATER LOVE XXIV. "A PICTURESQUE CEREMONY" XXV. WHY THE GUNNER WENT ASHORE
"The songs of Greece, the pomp of Rome, Were clean forgot at seventeen. Oh Lord! At seventeen!" --G. STEWART BOWLES.
The Midshipman of the Second Picket Boat--that is to say, the boat with the bell-mouthed funnel of burnished brass and vermilion paint inside her cowls--was standing under the electric light at the battery door reading the Commander's night order-book.
"Second Picket Boat to have steam by 5 A.M., and will perform duties of D.S.B. for the Second Division." He closed the book and stood meditatively looking out into the darkness beyond the quarter-deck rails. It was blowing fitfully, gusts of wind shaking the awning in a manner that threatened dirty weather on the morrow. "Why the deuce couldn't the other Picket boat...? But she hadn't got a brass funnel--only a skimpy painted affair. Decidedly it was the fatal beauty of his boat that had influenced the Commander's decision. Still..." He yawned drearily, and opening the deck log, ran his finger down the barometer readings. "Glass low--beastly low--and steady. Wind 4-5, o.c.q.r. H'm'm." The cryptic quotations did not appear to add joy to the outlook. Ten o'clock had struck, and forward in the waist the boatswain's mate was "piping down," the shrill cadence of his pipe floating aft on the wind. Sorrowfully the Midshipman descended to the steerage flat, and crouching beneath the hammocks that hung from the overhead beams, reached his chest and noiselessly undressed,--noiselessly, because the sleeping occupant of the adjacent hammock had the morning watch, and was prone to be unreasonable when accidentally awakened.