the sparks, he rushed out of his cabin, crying out,
"Oh, shure, byes, the ship's on fire! Och! what shall I do now the ship's
on fire? Och! what will I do?" On seeing that he was really alarmed, one
of the master's mates went up to him with a comically-serious face, and
informed him that the first lieutenant finding, when looking round after
breakfast, that there was something which smelt unpleasant in his cabin,
had ordered it to be fumigated with a devil, but as he knew it was about
the time he composed his sermon, he was unwilling to disturb him, and the
devil had in consequence been placed as near his cabin as possible to
effect the purpose intended. His reverence was quite bewildered--an
unpleasant smell in his cabin, and a devil to drive it away was to him
incomprehensible; until the mate requested him to calm himself, and
assured him there was no danger, that the devil was perfectly harmless
except to unwholesome smells. "There," added he, "is his infernal
majesty," for he was ashamed to say devil so often before the chaplain,
"nearly exhausted," pointing to the shovel which contained the lump of
gunpowder mixed with vinegar. "Now, sir, I hope your alarm has subsided,
and that you will not be more disturbed." During this ridiculous scene,
worthy of the pencil of Hogarth, the youngsters with their laughing,
wicked heads up the hatchway, were enjoying themselves most heartily. The
following day was Sunday; prayers were read, but no sermon, as the poor
man was too much agitated afterwards to make one, and whenever his
messmates thought his sermon too long, they threatened him by a visit from
another devil.

The captain, on being informed of this trick, sent for the whole of the
mids and admonished them as to their future conduct.

CHAPTER IV.

OFF USHANT.

Join the Channel fleet off Ushant--Capture the French frigate
_Gentille_, also a twenty-four-gun ship five days later--Fleet
returns to Portsmouth--Prize-money--To sea again in charge of a
convoy--Transport with two hundred Hessian troops on board founders
off Cape Finisterre--Suddenly ordered to West Indies--Fight between
a negro and a shark at Port Royal, Jamaica--Dignity balls--Collision
with H.M.S. _Sampson_--Outbreak of yellow fever--Ordered to
sea--Capture two French ships and two privateers.

We were now destined to make one o