,
for to more than one sense they were somewhat unpleasant companions.
All things considered, it was voted that Pigeon had really behaved very
well, and the lesson he had received did him a great deal of good, and
while he remained on board he seemed to think very much less of himself.
I cannot defend the conduct of Hemming or Jack, or any one concerned in
the affair, but my belief is, that had Pigeon not spoken disparagingly
of Adair, whose memory Jack and Murray so fondly cherished, the trick
would not have been played. Malta was visited, so were the Ionian
Islands, and the frigate clove through the waters of the Levant.

"A sail in sight to leeward, sir," said Jack, entering the cabin, cap in
hand, one afternoon, while the captain was at dinner.

"What does she look like?" asked Captain Lascelles, applying his
table-napkin to his mouth, and finishing his glass of wine as a man does
when he has to move in a hurry, while he fumbles in his waistcoat-pocket
for his toothpick case.

"The first lieutenant thinks her a heavy frigate, or a line-of-battle
ship," answered Jack, "and she is not English."

In a moment the captain was on deck, and taking an earnest look at the
stranger through his telescope. At that period all captains of English
men-of-war had received orders to be very circumspect with regard to
their conduct towards French ships, for there was no doubt that France
was seeking cause by which she might pick a quarrel with England. The
_Racer_ had now been cruising for some time, and Captain Lascelles could
not tell whether the stranger in sight might or might not prove an enemy
with whom he might speedily be engaged in deadly strife. The wind was
from the north, and the African coast, a thin blue line, was rising to
sight in the horizon. The helm was instantly put up, and all sail made
in chase.

"Hurrah!" exclaimed Jack, rushing into the berth, and throwing up his
cap; "there's a chance of a brush this time and no mistake. The
gun-room officers say that the French are certain to be at war with us
by this time. They are going to help Mehemet Ali, so if the stranger is
not a Frenchman, she is pretty certain to be an Egyptian, and either one
or the other will do."

The information was received in the berth with general satisfaction.
Only one person heard it with dismay. That was Pigeon. He turned very
pale.

"What shall I do? Where shall I go?" he exclaimed. "I didn't come here
to fight. Could