rchant service is as honourable as that of the Royal Navy, if a man
does his duty. I am very sure that God did not design men to be
fighting animals; it was Satan, and no one else, who put it into their
heads that it is a fine and noble thing to attack and kill each other."

"Why, Owen, I always thought you a brave fellow, and as fond of fighting
as any man," exclaimed Gerald.

"I grant you that I am ready to fight in defence of the life and liberty
of my shipmates and the property committed to my charge, because I can
see that to be my duty," answered Owen. "The merchant service affords
ample opportunity for the exercise of a man's courage and determination.
Though I respect the officers and men of the Royal Navy, who are
engaged in fighting for their king and country, I have a very different
opinion of privateersmen, who go forth to plunder the harmless
merchantmen of other nations merely for the sake of enriching
themselves. It may be necessary to destroy the commerce of the enemy
for the purpose of crippling their means of offence; but privateersmen
seldom trouble their heads about that--they are incited by the instinct
of pirates, and plunder is their sole object. Whatever you do, let me
urge you, Gerald, never to turn privateersman; if you were to consult
your father, he would, I know, say as I do, for we have often spoken
about the matter."

"I dare say you are right, Owen," answered Gerald. "If the _Ouzel
Galley_ were going at once to sea I would gladly sail in her. The
owners, as I heard from my father, intend to give the command of her to
you."

"I am thankful to him, and very happy to hear it," said Owen; "and I
hope, Gerald, that if you go afloat in the mean time, which it is very
right you should do, that you will be back soon enough to join me. Tell
your father that I will try to get well as fast as I can, that I may
attend to fitting out the _Ouzel Galley_."

Gerald did not give a very favourable report of Owen Massey; he
described him as looking pale and ill, and dreadfully out of spirits,
quite unlike himself. It made poor Norah exceedingly anxious; she had
bestowed on him her heart's best affections, with the full sanction of
her father, who highly esteemed him.

To give Gerald employment till arrangements could be made for his going
to sea, he was sent on board the _Ouzel Galley_, to assist in landing
her stores and unrigging her, previous to her being hauled up on the
slip to be repair