I have another word to say, both to petty-officers and men.
The lad must have received much cruel treatment to make him attempt to
escape from it by the expedient he followed. Remember, for the future,
I will have no bullying. The discipline of the ship will be kept up far
better by strict justice. Had it not been for this, I should have
punished the lad severely for the prank he has played. As it is, he has
pretty well suffered already. But beware. If anybody attempts to
imitate his example, he will find I do not overlook the matter so
easily. Now pipe down."

The captain's speech did much good in several ways. It put a stop to
any outrageous bullying for some time; for the men knew perfectly well
that what he threatened he would effectually carry out. It also tended
to cure some of them of their superstitious belief in ghosts and
goblins.

"Well, I never heard the like afore," said Tom Barlow, as he and his
messmate, Ned Trunnion, were talking over the affair of the previous
day. "The skipper says as how there is no such thing as ghosts; and I
suppose, seeing as how he has as much larning as a parson, he knows all
about it. It don't come within my category, though."

"What he says is all shipshape," replied Ned. "I never yet met the man
who really did see a ghost, though I've met scores who've heard of some
one who's seen them, and for that matter come to fisticuffs with them;
and certain sure I never see'd one myself till that young cheese-nibble
made himself into one. Then, if he hadn't been found out, I'd have
staked my davy that he was one in reality."

"That is what the captain says," I remarked, as I stopped a moment.
"All the ghosts which have been seen will turn out to be only shams
after all."

But enough of Bobby Smudge and his ghost.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

LETTER FROM MY UNCLE--CHASE OF MYERS--SUPPOSED LOSS IN PORTLAND RACE--
GOOD ADVICE--THE ARIADNE MISSING--MR. VERNON'S ANXIETY.

Two days after this, much shorn of the pride and beauty with which we
left it, we entered Malta harbour. As may be supposed, Mr Vernon
hastened to the post-office as soon as he could get on shore. I
accompanied him, with a note Captain Poynder had to send to the
governor. His eye brightened as it glanced at the superscription of a
letter which was handed to him. He read it over eagerly.

"I hope, sir, that you have good accounts from your friends," I said.

"They have had most provoking light winds