from its indicating that the unfortunate man is no longer distinguishable.  One by one the arms fall down, reluctantly, as if it were a signal that all hope was over.  Presently the boat is observed to range about at random; the look-out-men aloft, when repeatedly hailed and asked, “if they see anything like him?” are all silent.  Finally, the boat’s recall-flag is hoisted, sail is again made on the ship, the people are piped down, and this tragical little episode in the voyage being concluded, everything goes on as before.

CHAPTER X.

SUNDAY ON BOARD A MAN-OF-WAR.—­MUSTERING BY DIVISIONS.

The first article of war runs as follows:—­“All commanders, captains, and officers, in or belonging to any of His Majesty’s ships or vessels of war, shall cause the public worship of Almighty God, according to the Liturgy of the Church of England established by law, to be solemnly, orderly, and reverently performed in their respective ships; and shall take care that prayers and preaching, by the chaplains in holy orders of the respective ships, be performed diligently, and that the Lord’s day be observed according to law.”

The precision with which these injunctions are attended to will depend chiefly on three things:—­The personal disposition of the captain; the nature of the service upon which the ship is employed; and the state of the weather.  It is nearly always in the captain’s power to make the Sunday a day of rest to the people committed to his charge.  Sooner or later he is sure to reap the fruits of his conduct in this matter, and is made to feel, that, to command the respect or to win the regard of his crew, he must show them, on all ordinary occasions, that he is himself under the guidance of right principles.  In the same spirit, his authority will be strengthened by every touch of consideration with which the inevitable sternness of his rule is softened; and the more he manages to impart to all such indulgences the character of routine, or matters of course and constant usage, so much the better.  We feel obliged to a person who confers almost any favour upon us; but if this favour be one of daily or weekly occurrence, and, at each time of its concession, we are reminded of the weight of our obligation, all kindliness is in danger of being removed from it, and we would sometimes rather go without than hold the advantage by a tenure thus avowedly capricious.

A captain of sense and feeling, therefore, makes it his business, in the first place, to find out what is right and proper, consistently with the rules of the service, and then to ascertain how far the peculiar nature of the employment upon which the ship is engaged will admit of indulgences.  Having settled with himself what is possible to be done with propriety, he should grant it not as a matter of personal favour, but simply because it is fitting in itself.