to say that breakfast would be on the table
presently.

I jumped up, and, having had a wash, went on deck. The officers of the
brig received me very kindly, and congratulated me on my escape.
Presently a master's mate came from below, and looked hard at me for a
moment, and then, stretching out his hand, exclaimed, "Why, Paddy, my
boy! is it yourself? I'm delighted to see you."

I recognised Sinnet, my old messmate on board the _Liffy_.

"Why, I thought you were a lieutenant long ago," he said, after we had
had a little conversation. "For my part I have given up all hopes of
promotion, unless we get another war with the French, or Dutch, or
Spaniards; but there's no use in sighing, so I take things as they
come."

"That's much as I must do, and as we all must if we would lead happy
lives," I answered.

It cheered me up to meet Sinnet, and we had plenty of talk about old
times. A strong north-westerly breeze was blowing, and the brig, under
plain sail, was slashing along at a great rate up Channel. I hoped that
she would put into Plymouth, but somewhat to my disappointment I found
that she was bound for Portsmouth. I was now summoned by the captain's
steward to breakfast, and a very good one I enjoyed. When I told the
commander where I was going when the hooker was run down, he said that
he thought it very likely he should be sent round to the Irish coast,
and that if I liked to remain on board he would land me at the first
port we might touch at near my home. Next day we ran through the
Needles' passage, and brought up at Spithead, where the _Osprey_ had to
wait for orders from the Admiralty. As we might sail at any moment, we
were unable to go on shore. Though I was the commander's guest, I
several times dined with the midshipmen, or spent the evening in the
berth.

Our berth in the _Liffy_ was not very large, but this was of much
smaller dimensions, and had in it the assistant-surgeon, two master's
mates, the master's assistant, all grown men, besides two clerks and
four midshipmen. It was pretty close stowing, when all hands except
those on watch were below, and the atmosphere, redolent of tobacco-smoke
and rum, was occasionally somewhat oppressive. As the brig had been
some time in commission, the greater part of the glass and crockery had
disappeared. There were a few plates of different patterns, which were
eked out with platters, saucers, and two or three wooden bowls. The
bottoms of bottle