ort man, and from having lived a life of ease on shore
he had grown enormously fat. As he had also got into a very comfortable
practice, he did not at all like coming to sea, but at the same time, as
he was a true philosopher, instead of moaning and groaning, he tried to
make himself as happy as under the circumstances he was able. The first
lieutenant was a veteran of the old school, tall and thin, but as lithe
and agile as he had been when he was twenty years younger. He was
constantly employed, because every captain who knew him wanted him as
his first lieutenant, and so, because he was so very good in that
capacity, John Holt remained still a lieutenant. He did not complain
beyond an occasional grumble; indeed those who knew him suspected that
he rather preferred being looked on as one of the best first lieutenants
instead of holding a higher rank, when he would have had to remain on
shore and be forgotten. The second lieutenant and master were both
rough and ready seamen, short, strongly-built men, with light hair, and
large bushy whiskers and beard; they were wonderfully like each other.
The purser was one of the most gentlemanly and best educated men in the
ship. The marine officer was also a very excellent fellow, but he
squinted awfully, which made him carry his head somewhat on one side;
and his face was broad and strongly seamed with lines, which twisted in
a way that made him look as if he was always laughing. He however did
laugh very frequently, more especially at his own jokes, which, if not
always original, were very amusing. In the midshipmen's berth there
were several mates of long standing, who had come out on the station in
the hopes of getting their promotion, while besides Rogers and Adair
there were three other midshipmen, with their usual complement of other
grades. The frigate lay long enough off Freetown to make every one
rejoice to find themselves once more at sea. Lookouts were constantly
aloft on the watch for slavers. They had not been at sea many days,
when the exciting cry of "Sail ho!" was heard from the mast-head.
Several of the officers were soon seen going up the rigging with their
spy-glasses slung over their shoulders to look out for the stranger.
She was made out to be a ship dead to leeward. All sail was instantly
made in chase--she might be a merchantman, or possibly a man-of-war; but
that was not likely, and Captain Lascelles had received information that
a large slave