vessel." The
admiral then left the room. In a few minutes he returned with a paper
in his hand, which he laid upon the table, and, taking up a pen, he
signed it and presented it to me, saying--"_Captain_ Keene, I trust you
will give me the pleasure of your company to dinner; and, as you are
still very lame, I think you had better make a signal for your servant
and traps, and take up your quarters at the Penn till you are quite
recovered."

Perceiving that I was too much agitated to reply, he continued, "I must
leave you now;" then extending his hand, he said, "Allow me to be the
first to wish you joy on your promotion, which you have so well
deserved." He then went out of the room. It really was so unexpected--
so little dreamt of, this sudden promotion, that I was confused. I had
hoped that, by a continuance of good conduct, I might in a year or two
obtain it; but that I should receive it after only one cruise in the
schooner was beyond all my imagination. I felt grateful, and as soon as
I was more composed, I returned thanks to Heaven, and vowed eternal
gratitude to the admiral. I felt that I was a step nearer to Lord de
Versely, and I thought of the pleasure it would give my mother and
Minnie. I had been alone about half an hour, when the admiral returned.

"I have just sent for an old messmate of yours, Captain Keene, who was
severely wounded in your action with the Dutch frigate; he has now
passed, and Lord de Versely recommended him to me as a deserving young
officer--a Mr Dott."

"Oh, yes, admiral; he was my first acquaintance when I went to sea. He
has been to sea longer than I have, but he lost a good deal of his
time."

"Well I am going to give him an acting order for your brig. I hope he
is a good, smart officer."

"Yes, admiral, he is a very good officer indeed," replied I, laughing.
"Will you oblige me by not telling him that I am to be his captain, till
after we have met?"

"Ah, some mischief, I suppose; but if we make captains of such boys as
you we must expect that. Are your wounded men all going on well?"

"All, sir,--even Bob Cross, the boatswain, whose head was half knocked
off, is quite well again. He was Lord de Versely's coxswain, sir, and
you were kind enough to give him his warrant."

"I recollect--a good man, is he not?"

"So good, sir, that the only regret I have in leaving the schooner is,
that I cannot take him with me. He is my right-hand man and I owe much
to him,