FUN IN A MAN-OF-WAR.
After the race (our man-of-war Derby) we had many days fine
weather, during which we continued running before the Trades
toward the north. Exhilarated by the thought of being homeward-
bound, many of the seamen became joyous, and the discipline of
the ship, if anything, became a little relaxed. Many pastimes
served to while away the _Dog-Watches_ in particular. These
_Dog-Watches_ (embracing two hours in the early part of the
evening) form the only authorised play-time for the crews of most
ships at sea.
Among other diversions at present licensed by authority in the
Neversink, were those of single-stick, sparring, hammer-and-
anvil, and head-bumping. All these were under the direct
patronage of the Captain, otherwise--seeing the consequences they
sometime
