ier, when he took
possession of Don Miguel's fleet with one half its size. Cape Trafalgar
next came in sight, and was eagerly viewed by all hands, for, often as
one may gaze on its dark blue cliffs, the deep interest they inspire can
never fail; one is reminded that in their neighbourhood the glorious
navy of England, under the greatest of its chiefs, secured the freedom
of the world, and struck the blow which stopped the victor of
continental Europe in his wild career of conquest. Peace to the names
of England's gallant defenders, who died for their country off
Trafalgar's Cape! and sacred be the memory of the immortal Nelson, our
meteor-flag of victory!--But, little Neil D'Arcy, where are you steering
for? Has the sight of Trafalgar made you fancy you can do a bit of fine
writing? Just get back, boy, to your usual style, and leave such
attempts to the pens of novelists and travellers.

It was near nightfall when we made the Rock of Gibraltar; and as we
passed through the Straits when I was snug below in my hammock, my
journal contains no description of that wonderful fortress. When the
morning dawned, the high mountains of Spain were just visible in the
horizon; and the next land we sighted was the coast of Barbary,
somewhere to the westward of Tunis. Six days after that we were in
sight of Sicily, when, after hauling off the coast, a gale sprung up,
and such thick and cloudy weather came on, that we could take no
observations. The ship was therefore hove-to; and while sail was being
taken off her I got an ugly fall, which laid me up in my hammock for
several days. During my illness, Dicky Sharpe was constantly with me,
whenever he was off duty, and we became greater friends than ever.

"Do you know, D'Arcy, I am really very much obliged to you for having
got me so well out of that scrape with the boatswain and the beef-bone!"
he said to me in a tone of confidence one day, after we had reached
Valetta harbour. "I have not ventured to ask Mr Du Pre leave to go on
shore. Do you think he would give it me?"

"I rather think not, Dicky," said I. "Don't say a word about it for
some time to come, and then you can begin to look dull and melancholy,
and to pine for the shore; and perhaps his heart will soften with
compassion, and he will give you leave."

"Capital advice! Won't I look melancholy, that's all, when the time
comes?" he exclaimed. "How soon ought I to begin?"

"Not till I'm well and can go on sho