ut with a crutch. Cross also was out
of bed, and able to sit up for an hour or two on the verandah, in the
cool of which I spent the best part of the day, with my wounded limb
resting upon a sofa. From the veranda we had a view of the harbour, and
one morning I perceived that there were two additional vessels which had
anchored during the night; they proved to be the Driver and the
brigantine privateer, which she had captured after a chase and running
fight of forty-eight hours. I was glad of this, as I knew what pleasure
it would give to the admiral.

I now again indulged in my dreams of Minnie, who had been forgotten as
soon as I had left the harbour and been engaged in active service.
Stretched upon a sofa, with my wounded leg, I had nothing else to do, or
rather nothing else which was so agreeable to me. I wrote to her again,
and also to my mother; neither did I forget that Lord de Versely had
requested at parting that I should write to him. I did so in a very
respectful manner, detailing what had occurred.

When we had been three weeks at Curacao, all our wounded, as well as
myself, had so far recovered, that there was no reason for the Firefly
not proceeding to Jamaica. The commanding officer lent an
assistant-surgeon to the schooner. I received my despatches, took a
grateful leave of Mr Fraser, and the Firefly was once more skimming
over the water. In three weeks we arrived at Port Royal, and I took up
my despatches.

"Happy to see you, Keene," said the admiral. "Hollo! what makes you
limp in that way? Have you hurt your leg?"

"Yes, sir," replied I; "I'm not quite well yet, but the despatches of
Captain C will explain all."

As no vessel had sailed from Curacao, the admiral had no idea of what
had happened.

"Well, then," said he, "sit down on that sofa, Mr Keene, while I read
the despatches."

I watched the admiral's countenance, and was delighted to witness the
evident signs of satisfaction which he expressed as he read on.

"Excellent!" said he, as he closed them. "Keene, you have done me a
great favour. The remonstrances of the merchants, the badgering I have
received from the Admiralty by every packet, relative to the
depredations on our commerce by these vessels, have been enough to make
a saint swear. Now they are happily disposed of, and I have chiefly to
thank you for it. Captain C informs me that the brig is well adapted
for his Majesty's service, but that the schooner is an old