“I stared when I found myself all at once promoted to the post of pioneer for a party of kidnappers, and muttered something or other about honor.

“‘Honor, sir!’ roared the lieutenant, ’what has honor to do with it, sir?  It is duty, sir.  It is the laws of the service, sir, and you must obey them, sir.’

“‘But it is hard, your honor,’ said I, ’that the laws of the service should force men to do what they think is wrong.’

“’And what right, sir, have you to think it is wrong, or to judge the acts of your superiors?  If the laws of the service order you fifty lashes at the yard-arm to-morrow, you will find that you will get them.  Do you want to be handed over to the drummer, and to cultivate an acquaintance with the cat?’

“‘No, your honor,’ said I, laughing.

“The lieutenant’s face by this time was as red as his whiskers, and, though he was in a towering rage, he quickly calmed down again, like boiling milk when it is taken off the fire.

“‘Then,’ said he, quietly, ‘am I to understand you refuse?’

“‘No, your honor,’ said I.  ’If it is my duty, I must obey; but you will pardon the liberty, when I say that it is hard to be forced to drag away a lot of poor fellows against their wills.’

“‘Look ye,’ replied the lieutenant, ’I tolerate your freedom of speech for two reasons—­the first, because we are here alone, and no harm is done; the second, because I entertain the same opinion myself; but, mind you, we are both bound by the regulations of the service, and it is mutiny for either of us to disobey.’

“According to the moral law, the mission with which I was charged could scarcely be considered honorable; but, according to the laws of the land, or rather of the sea, it was perfectly unexceptionable.  Amongst the seamen, a foray amongst the landlubbers was regarded more in the light of a spree than anything else.  If, indeed, it were possible to pick up the lazy and idle amongst the population, this mode of enlistment might be useful; but often the industrious head of a family was seized, whilst the idle escaped.  It was rare, however, that a ship’s crew were employed in this sort of duty; men were more usually obtained through the crimps on shore, who often fearfully abused the authority with which they were invested for the purpose.  As for myself, the lieutenant’s arguments removed all my scruples, if I ever had any.

“I then suggested a plan of operations, which was approved.  The men were to be kept ready for action, and the lieutenant himself was to await my report at the ‘Green Dragon,’ one of the hotels in the town.

“At that time there was in the outskirts of Cork a sort of tavern and lodging-house, called the ‘Molly Bawn.’  This establishment was frequented by the lowest class of seamen and ‘tramps.’  Thither I wended my way.  It was late when I arrived in front of the place; and whilst hesitating whether I should venture into such a precious menagerie, I happened to look round, and, by the light of a dim lamp that burned at the corner of the street, I caught a glimpse of the lieutenant leaning against the wall, quietly smoking an Irish dudeen.”