dered to fit foreign, no one would be
able to ascertain where she was about to proceed. With a very little
trouble strict secrecy might be preserved, now that the Navy Board is
abolished; but during its existence that was impossible. The
_Immortalite_ was a very fast sailing vessel, and when the captain
(whose name I have forgotten to mention, it was Hector Maclean) opened
his sealed orders, we found that we were to cruise for two months
between the Western Isles and Madeira, in quest of some privateers,
which had captured many of our outward-bound West Indiamen,
notwithstanding they were well protected by convoy, and, after that
period, to join the admiral at Halifax, and relieve a frigate which had
been many years on that station. In a week we were on our station, the
weather was fine, and the whole of the day was passed in training the
men to the guns, small arms, making and shortening sail, reefing
topsails, and manoeuvring the ship. The captain would never give up his
point, and sometimes we were obliged to make or shorten sail twenty
times running until he was satisfied.

"My lads," he would say to the ship's company, sending for them aft,
"you have done this pretty well; you have only been two minutes; not bad
for a new ship's company, but I _like_ it done in a minute and a-half.
We'll try again." And sure enough it was try again, until in a minute
and a-half it was accomplished. Then the captain would say, "I knew you
could do it, and having once done it, my lads, of course you can do it
again."

Tom and I adhered to our good resolutions. We were as active and as
forward as we could be; and Mr Knight, the first lieutenant, pointed us
out to the captain. As soon as the merits of the different men were
ascertained, several alterations were made in the watch and station
bills, as well as in the ratings on the ship's books, and Tom and I were
made _second_ captains, larboard and starboard, of the foretop. This
was great promotion for so young hands, especially as we were not bred
as regular sailors; but it was for the activity and zeal which we
displayed. Tom was a great favourite among the men, always joking, and
ready for any lark or nonsense; moreover, he used to mimic the captain,
which few others dared do. He certainly seldom ventured to do it below;
it was generally in the foretop, where he used to explain to the men
what he _liked_. One day we both ventured it, but it was on an occasion
which ex