and it will be a sore blow to him as well as to me."

"I see, you want him made boatswain of your brig--that's it."

"I assure you, admiral, I should be most grateful if you would have that
kindness."

"I am always ready to promote a good man; your recommending him, and his
severe wound, are sufficient. He shall be your boatswain, Keene."

"You are very kind, sir," replied I. "I hope I shall do justice to your
patronage."

"I've no fear of that, Keene, and I know that a man, to work well,
should, as far as he can, choose his own tools. Mr Dott is waiting
now, and as soon as he has his acting order, I will send him in to you."

About ten minutes afterwards Mr Tommy Dott made his appearance; he
extended his hand to me, saying, in a haw-haw way, "Keene, my dear
fellow, I'm glad to see you." He certainly did look two or three inches
taller, for he walked almost on tiptoe.

"Glad to see you, Tommy," said I; "well, what's the news?"

"Nothing, I believe, except what you have brought. I hear you had a bit
of a brush, and got winged."

"Even so, Tommy," replied I, pointing to my wounded leg. "The admiral
has kindly asked me to stay here until I'm better."

"I dine with him to-day," replied Tommy; "but as for staying here, I
should think that rather a bore. By the bye, Keene, what sort of a
craft is that Diligente brig which the Naiad and you took?"

"A very fine craft, Tommy: sails as well as the Firefly."

"Oh, you, of course, swear by your own vessel; and there's nothing like
the schooner--that's natural enough; now, I must say, I prefer something
a little larger, and, therefore, I'm not sorry that I have my commission
for the new brig."

"Indeed! Tommy; I wish you joy," replied I.

"Thank ye, Keene," replied Tommy, very dignified. "I wonder," said he,
"what sort of a skipper we shall have. There's the first lieutenant of
the Naiad has a good chance. I saw him: a very sharp sort of gentleman,
and carries his head remarkably high; but that won't do for me. I'll
not allow any captain to play tricks in a ship that I'm aboard of. I
know the rules and regulations of the service as well as any one, and
that the captain shall see, if he attempts to go beyond his tether."

"Now, Tommy," replied I, "you know, that although you talk so big, if
you had been appointed a lieutenant into a ship commanded by Lord de
Versely, you would have been as much afraid of him as a lieutenant as
you used to be as a midshi