d enjoyed an independence which was not to be obtained on board the
frigate. When Lord Robert got tired of Gibraltar, we sailed to the
eastward, and again brought up in the Bay of Naples. We here heard of
the failure of the expedition against the Algerines. Nearly half the
troops had been cut to pieces in the repeated and resolute sallies made
by the Moors. During the gale we had encountered, the ships narrowly
escaped being wrecked. Several smaller vessels sank, and all were
severely damaged. The troops were finally embarked, and the ships got
back to the ports from which they had sailed, with neither honour nor
glory to boast of. Their ill success encouraged the pirates in their
warfare against civilised nations. The people of Tripoli, Tunis, and
other places imitated their example, so that the voyage up the Straits
became one of considerable danger in those days. After leaving Naples
we stood up the Mediterranean to Alexandria, where we saw Pompey's
Pillar and Cleopatra's Needle, and other wonderful things in the
neighbourhood, of which I will not bother my readers with a description.
On our way we kept a sharp look-out for Tunisian or Algerine rovers;
but as we were known to be in those seas, they took good care that we
should not get a sight of them, and our cruise was bootless as far as
prizes were concerned. Lord Robert managed to eke out a few more weeks
at Naples, the pleasantest place, he observed, at which he could bring
up. Thence we sailed to Gibraltar, where we found orders awaiting us to
return to England.

"I have managed it very cleverly," said Lord Robert to Mr Saunders.
"When I was last here, I wrote to some private friends in the Admiralty,
telling them I was getting heartily tired of the Mediterranean, and
requesting that we might be sent home; and you see how readily their
Lordships have complied with my wishes. Their willingness arose from
the fact that I'm going to stand for one of our family boroughs, and
have promised the Ministry my support."

"It would be a good job for Dick Saunders if he had a friend at court to
look after his interests," said the first lieutenant; "but as he knows
not a soul who would lift a finger to help him, he must be content to
remain at the foot of the rattlins, till a lucky chance gives him a lift
up them."

"Don't be down-hearted, my dear fellow," said Lord Robert in a
patronising tone. "When once I'm in Parliament I'll look after your
interests. T