ght well of. He has immense interest, and I hope that we
shall all get our promotion when he's done with us, though he'll take
very good care it will not be till then."

I begged Mr Saunders to let me go ashore again to procure an outfit, as
I had not got one at Cork.

"Have you brought another family chest with you?" he asked.

"No, sir; I'll get one of the proper dimensions this time, knowing the
size you approve of," I answered.

On going into the berth, I found, to my infinite satisfaction, my old
friends Nettleship and Tom Pim.

"Glad to see you, Paddy," they exclaimed in the same voice, each
grasping a hand.

"We heard rumours that you were appointed to the _Jason_, but could not
ascertain the fact for certain," said Nettleship. "Well, here you see
me, after all the actions I have taken part in, still an old mate. Lord
Robert assures me that he will look after my interests; but he has said
the same to everybody else, and will probably tell you so likewise."

Tom Pim accompanied me on shore, and assisted me by his advice in
getting the outfit I required, and I took care to choose the smallest
chest I could find, that there might be no risk of its being cut down.
In the evening Nettleship joined us, and we accompanied him to pay his
respects to his mother and sister. I was more than ever struck by the
sedate manner of the young lady, after having been so lately accustomed
to those of Irish girls. Though Miss Nettleship was very pretty, I
didn't lose my heart to her. Tom Pim, however, seemed to admire her
greatly, though it was impossible to judge of how her feelings were
affected towards him. We spent a very pleasant evening, and I took
greatly to Mrs Nettleship, who seemed to me to be a very kind and
sensible old lady. We had to return on board at night, to be ready for
duty the next morning, for the frigate was now being rapidly fitted out
Old Rough-and-Ready was in his true element, with a marline-spike hung
round his neck, directing everywhere, and working away with his own
hands. He made us do the same.

"We don't want dainty young gentlemen on board," he said, "but fellows
who are not afraid of the tar-bucket."

Though not pleasant, this was useful, and I learned a good many things
which I had before not known perfectly. The ship was completely fitted
for sea before Lord Robert Altamont made his appearance on board. We
all turned out in full fig to receive him as he came up the side. He