ed by a court-martial I had not a doubt; but
I had no chance of future employment; for, now that Lord de Versely was
dead, I had no one to support my claims. My prospects, therefore, in
the service were all gone, as well as the visions I had indulged in. I
dwelt with some pleasure upon the idea that Lord de Versely had left me
his personal property--it proved his regard; but I wanted his family
name, and I preferred that to thousands per annum. The second day after
our arrival Cross called, and was admitted. He found me in bad spirits,
and tried all he could to rouse me. At last he said, "As for the loss
of the frigate, Captain Keene, no human endeavour could have saved her,
and no one could have done his duty better than you did, as the
court-martial will prove; but sir, I think it would be proper just now
to show that your zeal for the service is as strong as ever."

"And how am I to do that, Cross?"

"Why, sir, you know as well as we all do how the Frenchmen are going to
the wall; that they have been thrashed out of Russia, and that they are
retreating everywhere. They say that they have left Hamburg, and I
understand that the gun-brigs here are going on an expedition from this
island, either to-morrow or next day, to storm the batteries of
Cuxhaven, and so create a diversion, as they call it--and very good
diversion it is--licking those French rascals. Now, Captain Keene, if I
may take the liberty of saying so, would it not be as well to take as
many of your men as are able to go and join the storming party? Much
better than sitting here all day, melancholy, and doing nothing."

"It's the first I've heard of it, Cross; are you sure you are correct?"

"How should you hear it, sir, shut up here, and seeing nobody? It's
true enough, sir; they were telling off the men as I came up, and I
think they start at daylight to-morrow."

"Well, Cross, I will think of it, and let you know my decision if you
call here in half an hour."

Cross left me, and I was still undecided, when the governor called to
pay me a visit. After the first exchange of civilities, I asked him if
the report was true that there was an expedition about to proceed to
Cuxhaven. His reply was that the Russians had entered Hamburg, which
the French had evacuated on the 11th, and that the French garrisons at
Cuxhaven were reported to be in a very distressed state, and, in
consequence, the Blazer, and another gun-brig, were about to proceed to