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 CHAPTER XVII.

 A SPREAD EAGLE.

 "I have a faint cold fear runs through my veins, that almost freezes up
 the heat of life."-Skakespeare.

 N spite of the hour during which Jack lay
 tossing about and wakeful through fears
 for the morrow, he afterwards slept soundly
all night until awakened by the usual cry of, "All
hands on deck," at daybreak next morning.
 Only three and a half minutes were allowed to
dress and come on deck. If any were longer than
that, they were sure to be overhauled by the mate,
who was always on deck and making himself heard
all over the vessel.
 The head pump was then rigged and the decks
washed down by the sailors, the second and third
mate, and Jack, the first or chief mate, walking the
quarter deck, and keeping a general supervision,
but not deigning to touch a bucket or brush. Inside
and out, fore and aft, upper decks and between
decks, steerage and forecastle, rail, bulwarks, and