. "I told him
I would club-haul the ship, and try all sorts of manoeuvres to beat out
of the bay, and would not on any account let her go ashore."

"I'm not surprised that you were turned back, old fellow," observed
Rayner, with a laugh.

On returning on shore he met Commander Saltwell. "I congratulate you,
Rayner," he said. "I have just received orders to commission the _Lily_
sloop-of-war, and I will apply to have you with me. By-the-bye, where
are you going to put up?"

"Mrs Crofton has asked me to go to her house, and as I thought that you
would have no objection, I accepted her offer, sir," answered Rayner.

"I am glad to hear it; the very best thing you could do," said Commander
Saltwell. "Though many would prefer the freedom of an inn, I admire
your good taste in taking advantage of the opportunity offered you to
pass your time in the society of refined, right-minded persons like Mrs
Crofton and her daughter."

Our hero spent a few happy days with the kind widow and Mary, who both
evidently took a warm interest in his welfare. It was the first time he
had been living on shore, except during his sojourn in France, since he
first went to sea. He was introduced to some of the few friends they
possessed, and he made several pleasant excursions with them to visit
some of the beautiful scenery in the neighbourhood of Plymouth. His
observation, unknown to himself, enabled him rapidly to adapt himself to
the manners of people of education, and no one would have recognised in
the gentlemanly young midshipman the powder monkey of a short time back.
It was with more regret than he supposed he could possibly have felt
that he received a summons to join the _Lily_, now fitting out with all
despatch for the West Indies. Though he no longer belonged to the
_Thisbe_, it was with much sorrow that he heard she was pronounced unfit
for sea, and that her crew had been dispersed. He made inquiries for
Jack and Tom. The former, he discovered, had gone to pay his mother a
visit; but, though he searched for Tom, he could nowhere hear of him.

The day after he had joined the _Lily_, he was well pleased to see Jack
come on board.

"I found out, sir, that you belonged to the corvette, as I thought you
would when I heard that Mr Saltwell was appointed to command her," said
Jack; "so, sir, I made up my mind to volunteer for her, if I could
escape being pressed before I got back to Plymouth."

"I am glad to see you, Peek,"