n of the Diligente! Why, I came to sea
before you."

"I know you did, Tommy; but, although you have been in the service
longer, you have not seen quite so much service as I have. At all
events, I'm now your captain. I flatter myself I shall make a very
tolerable one; and what is more, I have an idea that you will make a
very good lieutenant, as soon as the vanity, with which you have been
puffed up since your receiving your promotion, will have settled down a
little, and that you will find it much pleasanter to be on good terms
with your captain than to be eternally in hot water, especially with one
who, you know, is not a person to be played with."

Tommy looked very confused; he said nothing, but kept his eyes on my
commission, which he still held in his hand. I had no idea that Tommy
Dott's being ignorant of my being captain of the brig would have
occasioned such a conversation as this. I only wished to amuse myself
with him, and surprise him at the last. Tommy perceived that he had
made a mess of it, and he stammered out some explanation as he returned
me the commission; and I replied: "The fact is, Dott, you were merely
cutting a caper upon your new promotion; you never meant what you said;
it was all talk. You always have been very obedient to proper authority
since I have known you, and I am sure that you always will; so let's say
no more about it. I wish you joy upon your promotion, and, what's more,
I'm very glad that we are to sail together." Saying this, I held out my
hand, which Tommy took very readily, and we then began to talk on other
subjects.

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.

I had written to Cross, informing him of my promotion, and his being
appointed to the Diligente.

I had been a fortnight with the admiral when the Naiad arrived with the
prizes in company, and, my wound being now cured, I took leave of the
admiral, and went down, that I might superintend the fitting out of my
new vessel. As there were supernumerary men expected out of England,
the admiral, at my suggestion, allowed me to turn over the crew of the
Firefly to form the nucleus of my ship's company, and made up my
complement from his own ship.

In two months I was ready for sea, and most anxious to be off. The
admiral perceived my impatience, but, as there was no other vessel in
the harbour, he would not let me go until another arrived, to be at his
disposal in case of emergency. The weariness of so long remaining in
harb