number
of vessels, and proceed with the others to their several destinations,
having then to return to Port Royal. Two line-of-battle ships came out
afterwards to convoy the fleet till we were well away from the coast,
that, should we be seen by an enemy, it might be supposed that we were
too strong a force to be attacked.

I should have said that when we were getting under weigh I saw Hoolan,
and the other pressed men, dressed as man-of-war's men, working away at
the capstan. He evidently didn't like his task, but could not help
himself, as he had to go round with the others pressing against the
capstan bars. He and the other landsmen were set to perform such work
as they were capable of, of course being compelled to pull and haul when
sail was made or shortened.

"I'm after thinking, Mr Terence, that Dan Hoolan, though he's mighty
quiet just now, will be playing us some prank or other before long, if
he can find a chance," observed Larry to me.

"Well, then, Larry, just keep an eye on him, and let me know what he's
about. I don't want to make you an eavesdropper, but for the man's own
sake he must not be allowed to attempt any mischief. He'd be sure to
have the worst of it."

"Arrah now, of course he would, Mr Terence. They're honest boys aboard
here, and they'd soon clap him in limbo," observed Larry as I passed on
along the deck.

He had already become thoroughly imbued with the right spirit of a
British seaman.

I gave myself, however, little concern about Hoolan after this.

For some time we had a favourable breeze; the sea was calm, and
everything went smoothly. We had plenty of work keeping the squadron
together, compelling the fast vessels to shorten sail, and the laggards
to make it. Some ran on with only their topsails set. Others had
studding-sails set on either side. We were all day long sending the
bunting up and down, and firing guns as signals.

"Why are all those bits of coloured stuff hoisted to the masthead?"
asked Larry. "They tell me that the captain makes the young gentlemen
run them up and down to keep their fingers warm."

I explained to him that each flag represented a figure or number, and
sometimes a word or a sentence, according to the distinguishing pennant
hoisted over it. For which purpose every vessel was provided with a
book of signals, and we could thus communicate with each other just as
if we were speaking.

CHAPTER NINE.

A FIGHT AT SEA.

The ocean co