's quarter, with a
midshipman's chest and a midshipman in her.

"What, more youngsters!" growled out an old mate; "we've our complement,
and more than enough already." Jack's heart gave a jump of pleasure.
He thought that he recognised Murray. It was a curious coincidence, if
such was the case, that the three schoolfellows should meet. The boat
came alongside, the chest was hoisted up in spite of the old mate's
growls, the midshipman followed, and in another minute Jack Terence and
Alick were shaking hands, and laughing heartily at their happy
encounter. Murray said that he had not come to join the _Racer_
permanently, but that he had been ordered a passage to the
Mediterranean, where the sloop of war to which he had been appointed was
stationed. The Admiral told Murray that he knew his father, and that he
was glad a son of his had chosen the navy as a profession. He then
heartily shook hands with the three lads; and when he went on shore all
the midshipmen of the ship manned the side ropes to show their respect
to the fine old sailor, and gave him three cheers as he pulled away.
Jack confessed that, somehow or other, he felt more inclined to pipe his
eye on that occasion than on any of his other leave-takings. Two days
after this the _Racer_, bound for the Mediterranean, was running out at
the Needles, whose jagged peaks and high white cliffs rose in
picturesque beauty on the left hand. The wind was fair, the sky blue,
and the water smooth, and the three midshipmen looked forward with
delight to the numerous adventures they expected to encounter.

CHAPTER TWO.

IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.

The gallant frigate, which bore the three midshipmen and their fortunes,
was soon plunging into a heavy sea, caused by a strong breeze from the
westward, which she encountered as she stood across the Bay of Biscay.
"There we lay all the day, in the Bay of Biscay, oh!" sang Paddy Adair,
as he, with other young gentlemen, sat in the berth after dinner; but,
as he sang, there was a tremulousness in his voice ominous of a troubled
soul within, while the "Oh!" came out with a peculiar emphasis which
brought down upon him the laughter of the other youngsters, who, having
been rather longer at sea, had become accustomed to such joltings and
tumblings about. Jack meantime, who had just come below from his watch
on deck, was attacking, with a ferocity which made it appear as if he
was contending with some bitter enemy, instead of a