E PAVIOUR FINALLY ARRESTED.

We made but a short stay at "Little England," as the Barbadians fondly
call their verdant plat, and then ran down through all the Virgin
Islands, leaving parts of our convoy at their various destinations. Our
recaptured vessels, with a midshipman in each, also went to the ports to
which they were bound. When we were abreast of the island of Saint
Domingo, our large convoy was reduced to about forty, all of which were
consigned to the different ports of Jamaica. Our prize corvette was
still in company, as we intended to take her to Port Royal.

We were all in excellent humour: luxuriating in the anticipation of our
prize-money, and somewhat glorious in making our appearance in a manner
so creditable to ourselves, and profitable to the admiral on the
station. All this occupied our minds so much, that we had hardly
opportunity to think of persecution. But some characters can always
find time for mischief, especially when mischief is but another name for
pleasure. The activity which Mr Silva had displayed in making the
recaptures, had gained him much respect with his messmates, and seemed
to _pave the way_ for a mutual good understanding.

However he was invited to dinner with his two constant quizzers, the fat
doctor and the acute purser, just as we had made the east of Jamaica.
I, it having been my forenoon watch, was consequently invited with the
officer of it. We had lately been too much occupied to think of
annoying each other; but those who unfortunately think that they have a
prescriptive right to be disagreeable, and have a single talent that way
(the most common of talents), seldom violate the advice of the
Scripture, that warns us not to hide that one talent in a napkin.

We found our sarcastic little skipper in the blandest and most urbane
humour. He received me with a courtesy that almost made me feel
affection for him. We found Mr Farmer, the first-lieutenant, with him,
and had it not been for a sly twinkling of the eye of the captain, and
very significant looks that now and then stole from Mr Farmer, as he
caught the expression of his commander's countenance I should have
thought that that day there was no "minching malicho," or anything like
mischief meant. There were but five of us sat down to table, yet the
dinner was superb. We had, or rather the captain supplied himself now,
with all the luxuries of a tropical climate, and those of the temperate
were, though he c