What guardian spirit protects the bold and mischievous has never yet
been discovered; but it is a well authenticated fact that wild, harum
scarum fellows like Terrence Malone seldom come to grief or disaster.
He was always the innocent lamb of the ship, whom no one would suspect
of mischief. The chaplain of the ship was not more grave and
sanctimonious than he. If the hammock netting were left so as to trip up
the dignified captain and throw him on the deck in a very undignified
manner, no one could possibly have suspected that the harmless Terrence
had any thing to do with it.
The quarter-master was one day snoring in his hammock. Terrence, who
was on duty scrubbing the gun deck, had a large tub filled with water,
which was unconsciously left just under the head of the hammock of the
quarter-master. No one could tell how it happened; but the supports were
all cut save two or three, which the swaying of the hammock gradually
loosened until, just as the officer went to "change sides," down he came
with a frightful splash head first into the tub.
Terrence, who was near, ran to his rescue and quickly pulled him out.
"It's bastely carelessness to lave the water there," cried Terrence.
"Faith, I hope the captain will give the shpalpeen two dozen as did it."
"Who cut my hammock down?" roared the quarter-master.
"Cut yer hammock, indade?"
The quarter-master was in a rage and swore like a trooper.
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