A SPREAD EAGLE. 171

 eyeing him like a bird of prey about to swoop on
 his helpless victim. As Jack finished cleaning each
 kid" he placed it before the galley to await inspec-
 tion; for when the decks were dry, the captain was
 in the habit of making his appearance, and taking
 a few turns on the quarter deck to inspect the
 morning's work, just before eight bells would be
 struck and all hands go to breakfast.
 But Jack's now trembling hands were hardly
 through half their work when the dreaded words
 came from the first mate.
 "Here," he said to a couple of sailors who were
 passing, "take this young cur and carry him to the
 gangway. I'll keep my promise to him this morn-
 ing, and make a spread eagle of him."
 As the sailors hesitated a moment, the mate began
 to swear at them.
 "Seize him up, seize him up," he cried savagely, or
I'll do the same by you two for not obeying orders."
 Thus adjured the two men, in fear for their own
skins, carried Jack off and "seized him up," as it
is called. That is, they placed him against the
shrouds, with his wrists made fast to them, his
jacket off and his back exposed.
 Sir, sir, have mercy on the boy; he's but a young
fellow!" cried Joe imploringly to the mate, but
received only oaths for answer.