wish you were my brother; and you too,
Fairlie, though you're a fool sometimes; and you, M'Hearty, though
you're often absurdly rough. I wish we could be together for years and
years and years, in the same ship, you know, and all that sort of
thing."

"Well, why not?" said M'Hearty. "Let us try; eh, captain?"

"I'm agreeable," said Jack.

"And I," said Fairlie.

"Hurrah!" cried Murray. So the compact was made.

The men forward, taking the cue from their officers, were just as
jolly.

Those were terrible days of flogging. For a look or a glance, a man
might be tied up and receive four dozen lashes with the terrible "cat."
It was a brutal punishment. But M'Hearty was dead against it; Jack too;
and so the grating was never rigged on board the _Tonneraire_.

Well, despite dirty weather and head winds, the fleet finally sailed
into the mouth of the St. Lawrence river without ever losing a stick. At
the Canadian capital, Jack and his officers, ay, and the men as well,
had what the Yankees call "a real good time of it." Jack became quite a
hero among the ladies, young and old. Yet he did not let that elate him.
His heart was not his own--as yet, though he might get over his grief
for his lost love Gerty.

But having refitted, there was nothing left but to put to sea again.

The _Tonneraire_ cruised all down by the American coast and to the West
Indies. Before reaching Jamaica she was attacked by two French
line-of-battle ships. What they were doing here they themselves best
knew. They were badly wanted just then on the other side of the sea. Now
this was a chance to test the sailing powers of the _Tonneraire_.
Discretion is sometimes better than valour. Valour is sometimes folly.
Jack ran. Nelson himself did so once or twice. You and I, my bold young
reader, are not going to stand a blow from a big fellow without hitting
back; but if the big fellow brings his big brother, then we may as well
take the opportunity of going shopping, or somewhere. Jack Mackenzie
went shopping, so to speak, and the _Tonneraire_ won the race.

I wish I had space in my story to tell you something about Jamaica, and
the lovely West India Islands, first discovered by Columbus. I am
strangely tempted to. I will. I _won't_. I shall. I _shan't_. Belay!
I've won.

* * * * *

At the time of which I am writing--the latter end of 1796--there was a
very pretty naval combination formed, with a view to crush the mig