“I’m sorry that I cannot comply with your very moderate request,” replied Jack coolly.  “I shall go on board when it suits my convenience, and I beg that you will give yourself no further trouble on my account.”  He then rang the bell.  “Waiter, show this gentleman downstairs.”

“By the god of wars!” exclaimed the first lieutenant.  “But I’ll soon show you down to the boat, my young bantam!  I shall now go and report your conduct to Captain Wilson, and if you are not on board this evening, to-morrow morning I shall send a sergeant and a file of marines to fetch you.”

“You may depend upon it,” replied Jack, “that I also shall not fail to mention to Captain Wilson that I consider you a very quarrelsome, impertinent fellow, and recommend him not to allow you to remain on board.  It will be quite uncomfortable to be in the same ship with such an ungentlemanly bear.”

“He must be mad—­quite mad!” exclaimed Sawbridge, whose astonishment even mastered his indignation.  “Mad as a March hare!”

“No, sir,” replied Jack, “I am not mad, but I am a philosopher.”

“A what?  Well, my joker, all the better for you.  I shall put your philosophy to the proof.”

“It is for that very reason, sir, that I have decided upon going to sea; and if you do remain on board, I hope to argue the point with you, and make you a convert to the truth of equality and the rights of man.  We are all born equal.  I trust you’ll allow that?”

“Twenty-seven years have I been in the service!” roared Sawbridge.  “But he’s mad—­downright, stark, staring mad!” And the first lieutenant bounced out of the room.

“He calls me mad,” thought Jack.  “I shall tell Captain Wilson what is my opinion about his lieutenant.”  Shortly afterwards the company arrived, and Jack soon forgot all about it.

In the meantime, Sawbridge called at the captain’s lodgings, and made a faithful report of all that had happened.

Sawbridge and Wilson were old friends and messmates, and the captain put it to the first lieutenant that Mr. Easy, senior, having come to his assistance and released him from heavy difficulties with a most generous cheque, what could he do but be a father to his son?

“I can only say,” replied Sawbridge, “that, not only to please you, but also from respect to a man who has shown such goodwill towards one of our cloth, I shall most cheerfully forgive all that has passed between the lad and me.”

Captain Wilson then dispatched a note to our hero, requesting the pleasure of his company to breakfast on the ensuing morning, and Jack answered in the affirmative.

Captain Wilson, who knew all about Mr. Easy’s philosophy, explained to Jack the details and rank of every person on board, and that everyone was equally obliged to obey orders.  Lieutenant Sawbridge’s demeanour was due entirely to his zeal for his country.

That evening Mr. Jack Easy was safe on board his majesty’s sloop Harpy.