A Sailor-Boy's Log-Book from Portsmouth to the Peiho by Walter White

Preparing to tow -- A Squabble -- Drifting astern -- Ease her! Stop her! -- Coutez la Rope -- Return to Shanghai -- Another Christmas -- New Year's Day -- Cold Weather -- Freezing a Brass Monkey -- Feast of Lanterns -- Millions of Lights -- Unfair Dealing -- The unlucky Jeweller -- Unlucky Greengrocer -- Unworthy Englishmen -- English Talkee -- Chin-chin, Jack -- Consequences of Idleness -- Rambles on Shore -- A Lower-deck at Dinner-time -- Criticism on Beef -- Yankee Navy _versus_ English Navy -- A royal Reason why -- The First Lord and the Grub -- A Man of Bread -- A few Remarks about Food -- Very nice Meat -- Night Quarters -- A Broadside -- Uproar -- Obeying Instructions -- Another Alarm -- All adrift -- A Yankee Skipper.

Next morning, the 5th, was very stormy, so we did not weigh; but on the 6th we again prepared to tow, and as there was a lively sea on, this was a matter of considerable difficulty, especially as the captain of the _Inflexible_, instead of taking up a position ahead of the Frenchman, where the hawsers would have been easily payed out, anchored broadside on; consequently the hawsers felt the whole power of the tide, about a five-knot current. The weigh-line not being sufficient to bear the strain, was carried away again and again; so the "little man," as the men called him, lost his temper, and began abusing the coxswain of the boat: "Tilly! " "Sir," responded the seaman. "You're a lubber, sir -- _you_ a petty officer, and don't know how to lay a hawser out! I'll disrate you -- by George! I will. " "I never asked _you_ for it," replied the irritated coxswain. "Very well -- very well. I'll flog you, Tilly," screamed the little man, panting with rage. "Mark my words -- I'll flog you. " But this was all wind, for when the coxswain came on board again, the captain begged his pardon, and told him he had done his best.