or my part, if I'm asked the use of a
ship-of-war, I should say that it is to be afloat, looking after the
interests of the country. I don't know, however, since the Government
have thought fit to shake hands with the French and Spaniards, and to
knock under to the Yankees, what we have got to do; only I do know that
we shall never get the ship into a proper state of discipline till we're
at sea, and can exercise the men at their guns, reefing and shortening
sail."

"Oh, yes, to be sure! that's a very proper matter for you to think
about, Mr Saunders," said the captain; "but for my part, I esteem that
sort of thing as a great bore. However, understand that I want you to
do whatever you consider right and proper."

"Thank you, my lord. If you leave the matter to me, I'll do my best to
make the ship's company the smartest in the service," answered the first
lieutenant.

"Well, I'm much obliged to you, and will support you to the best of my
ability," said the captain.

I overheard this conversation; indeed, his lordship was not at all
particular as to what he said, or as to who was present when he
expressed his opinions.

That afternoon, the wind being fair, we went out of harbour, and by dark
were well to the south-west of the Eddystone. As Lord Robert said he
preferred having plenty of sea-room, we at once steered out into the
Atlantic.

"We may thus, you see, Mr Saunders, be able to get a fair breeze from
whatever quarter the wind blows, which is far better than having to
batter away against a head-wind, and make ourselves uncomfortable. I
wrote some lines on the subject:--

"We're rovers where'er rolls the fetterless sea,
For the boundless blue ocean was made for the free.

"They are fine, are they not? Shall I go on with them?"

"They may be, my lord, but I'm no judge of pottery," answered Mr
Saunders; "indeed, I never read a line in my life, except some old
sea-songs. And as to being free, we should soon get the ship into a
pretty state of disorder if the men were to get that notion into their
heads; they may not be slaves, but they must do what they're ordered,
and pretty smartly too, or look out for squalls, I've a notion. That's
what we must do at present.--All hands, shorten sail!" he shouted. "Be
smart about it, lads."

Lord Robert put his paper into his pocket, and threw himself into an
attitude of command, while he glanced up at the straining canvas, and
Mr Saunders shouted the neces