_Hero_, didn't you?" he asked.

"Yes, I did, but I'm free of her now," answered Jack.

"You fought some pretty smart actions in her, I've a notion. We have
heard speak of them. My young messmate and I were out in the West
Indies, and belonged to the _Liffy_. She ran ashore. Then we joined
the old _Cerberus_, which went down in the Atlantic; and then we went on
board the _Hector_, which fought the two French frigates. We had a
narrow squeak for our lives, for she went the way of our former ship.
And now we belong to the _Jason_, and shall have to keep the middle
watch to-night, which is what you'll not have to do, I fancy. Now if we
overstay our leave and don't get down, you know what the consequences
will be."

"I've some notion of it," said Jack. "What is it you're driving at?"

"If you'll just let us get inside your coach we'll say you're a mighty
good fellow; and if you don't, we'll leave you to call yourself what you
think you would be," answered Nettleship.

"Come, I like an outspoken fellow," said Jack. "Jump in, youngsters;
I'll give you a passage down, and nothing to pay for it. You guard
there, with your long horn, open the door and let the young gentlemen
in, but mind you, you take up nobody else, not if the First Lord and all
the Admiralty come and axe for places."

In we sprang with our valises, and we heard Jack shout--

"Make sail, coachee, and see how many knots you can run off the reel."

The coachman smacked his whip, and away we rattled through the villages
of Knightsbridge, Kensington, and Hammersmith. The coach pulled up at
the "Green Dragon" at the latter place, and some parcels were offered,
but Jack kept his eyes about him, and would not let one be taken on
board. In an authoritative tone he ordered the landlord to bring us out
a tankard of ale, and likewise treated the coachman and guard. As we
knew it would please him, we did not refuse the draughts. He flung the
landlord a sovereign.

"There's payment for you, old boy," he cried out. "Don't mind the
change; and, I say, you may treat as many thirsty fellows as you like
with it. Now drive on, coachee."

Thus Jack went on at each stage, sitting, while the coach was in motion,
with his arms folded, looking as proud as a king on his throne. I
thought at one time that he would have quarrelled with us because we
declined to taste any more of the ale he offered. He was pretty well
half-seas over by the time we arrived at Por