the same time
this certificate," and he produced the paper signed by the master of the
brig. The impudence of the Greek almost overcame the captain's
composure.

"Notwithstanding that paper, I must detain you," he observed.

"What! Detain an independent chieftain, who comes on board your ship
under the sacred protection of a flag of truce, a thing unheard of by
all civilised nations," exclaimed the Greek in a tone of indignation and
astonishment; "no, no, you will not do that."

The Greek was right; Captain Lascelles would not do a wrong even to
obtain an undoubted right. The Greek knew that he had outwitted us.
The result was that he undertook to send the boats and their crews on
board the frigate unharmed, on condition that the island was not
attacked by an armed force. To these terms Captain Lascelles was
obliged to consent. Mr Thorn and Murray soon came back, very well, but
very much vexed at what had occurred. The island was afterwards
searched, but nothing was found, and the _Racer_, having taken on board
all the recovered booty, conveyed it to Corfu, where the merchantman was
waiting to receive it. After a month or so, when the frigate got back
to Malta, Captain Lascelles found that the independent Greek chieftain
had lodged a complaint to the effect that his cattle and poultry had
been wantonly destroyed. On inquiry, the matter resolved itself into
the slaughter of the pig. It came out that Jack and Adair had proposed
the crime. The Admiral at the time thought it better to take no notice
of the affair. However, he soon after invited the two midshipmen to
dine with him, and both of them found themselves served with rather a
large helping of roast pork.

"You are fond of pig, young gentlemen, are you not?" said the Admiral,
with a laugh in his eye.

"Yes, sir, very, especially when I have to kill one in the line of duty,
and am ravenously hungry into the bargain," answered Paddy, with all the
simplicity of an Irishman. The Admiral laughed, and as he was fond of a
joke, and knew both Lord Derrynane and Admiral Triton, he often asked
the two youngsters for the sake of passing it off and telling the story
about the pig and the pirates.

Soon after this Jack and Terence met with a severe trial. For the first
time since they came to sea they were separated, and Adair was appointed
to a ten-gun brig, the _Onyx_. Happily that class of vessels no longer
exists in the navy. They obtained the unattract