igging a model ship,
which had been made on purpose to instruct them. All the midshipmen of
the brig were compelled to man the mizen-mast, and to take it completely
under their charge. This system very much increased the knowledge of
the practical details of seamanship, which it is important every officer
should know. A good officer is thoroughly acquainted in the most minute
particular with everything men are required to know, and a great deal
more. This remark refers not only to the Navy, but to the Army, and to
every other calling in life. The _Firefly_ was a very happy ship; for
though no one was allowed to be idle, the captain was kind and just, and
took care that each person should do his duty; so that the work to be
done was equally divided among all hands.

On quitting Malta she sailed for the eastward, and was for some time
kept cruising among the Ionian Islands, and on the coast of Greece,
carrying despatches from place to place. The wind had been from the
northward, and the ship had been kept somewhat close in with the Greek
coast, to shorten the distance to be run from one spot to another, when
one of those severe gales, which in the winter season in the
Mediterranean sometimes spring up suddenly, came on to blow. The
corvette was caught on a lee shore and embayed. It was night. All
hands were called. The fury of the gale increased. Sail was taken off
the ship, but still it was necessary to carry far more than would have
been set under other circumstances, that she might, if possible, beat
out of the bay. She was pressed down till the hammock-nettings were
almost under water. Still her masts stood, but no one could predict how
long they could bear the terrific strain put upon them. Darker and
darker grew the night; the vivid flashes of lightning very now and then
revealing the countenances of the officers and crew, as they strained
their eyes in their endeavours to discover through the darkness how far
off was the much-dreaded shore. The three midshipmen stood together,
holding on to the weather bulwarks with some of the gun-room officers.
Others were at their stations in different parts of the ship. The
lightning showed that the cheeks of the oldest were pale. They full
well knew the terrific danger in which the ship was placed. The captain
stood calm and collected, conning the ship, and ready to take advantage
of any shift of wind which might enable her to get a point off the
shore. No o