d to be open-handed and generous to
my shipmates, fore and aft; and this good quality, in a seaman's
estimation, will cover a multitude of faults, and endears its
possessor to his heart. In fine, I became an immense favorite with all
hands; and even Mr. Brewster, who at first looked upon my advent on
board with an unfavorable eye, was forced to acknowledge that I no
more resembled a ship's cousin than a Methodist class-leader does a
midshipman.

Mr. Stewart and myself had always been great friends before I went to
sea. When I first came on board, Mr. Langley, who had been my
school-mate and crony, was, though one of the cabin mess, only an
apprentice, and had not yet received his brevet rank as third
mate--Mr. Stewart, of course, stood his own watch, and chose Langley
and myself as part of it. The mate generally kept us upon the
quarter-deck with him, and many were the cozy confabs we used to hold,
many the choice cigars we used to smoke upon that handy loafing-place,
the booby-hatch, many the pleasant yarns we used to spin while pacing
up and down the deck, or leaning against the rail of the companion. As
I have said, Mr. Stewart was a delightful watch-mate--and Bill Langley
and I used to love him dearly, and none the worse that he made us toe
the line of our duty. He always, however, appeared to prefer me to
Langley, and to admit me to more of his confidence. Since Bill's
promotion we had not seen so much of the mate, but still, during our
late tedious voyage from Calcutta, he had often come upon deck in our
watch, and hundreds of long miles of the Indian Ocean had been
shortened in the old way.

Gentle reader, you are as much acquainted with the Gentile, and the
quint who compose her cabin mess, as you could hope to be at one
interview.

CHAPTER II.

_News from Home._

Mr. Langley had just commenced his supper with a ravenous appetite,
stimulated by the tantalizing view of our previous gastronomic
performances, which he had had through the sky-light, the mate and
myself were on the point of going on deck to go ashore, the captain
had just lighted a second cigar, when Mr. Brewster, who had relieved
poor Langley in the charge of the deck, made his appearance at the
cabin door, bearing in his hands a large packet.

"She's in, sir!" he shouted, "she came to anchor in front of the
Lazaretto while we were at supper, and Bill here didn't see her. The
quarantine fellows brought this along. Bill, you must be