They thus in their
turn rather surprised the natives by the rapidity with which they
acquired their language.

"I used to think it a great bore to have to learn Greek when I was
coming to sea," observed Jack; "but now I find that there is use for it
even here, besides helping one on wonderfully with one's own language."

The midshipmen were not left alone all this time to the care of their
Greek friends. The doctor and their shipmates used now and then to look
in on them. They found that an attempt was being made to get the ship
off, and of course all hands were engaged in the work. Jack wanted to
get up and help, but the doctor would not let him, thinking he would be
much better employed in helping Murray to look after Adair. They all
heard, however, with great interest of the progress of the undertaking.
But one night it came on to blow again harder than ever; a tremendous
sea rolled in, and the poor sloop was irretrievably bilged, and in a few
days broke up altogether. The three midshipmen were very sorry for
this, but they got over the loss of the ship with philosophical
resignation, as other midshipmen have under like circumstances done
before them; and with the rest of their shipmates amused themselves very
well in shooting snipe and red-legged partridges, in wandering about, in
trying to talk Greek, and in doing nothing, till a brig of war arrived
and carried them all back to Malta. Captain Hartland and his officers
were tried for the loss of his sloop, and honourably acquitted; and
Adair and Rogers rejoined the _Racer_, to which, to their great
satisfaction, a short time afterwards Murray was appointed. The
_Racer_, after a cruise to the westward, came back, and was ordered to
proceed to the Greek Islands to assist in repressing piracy, an
occupation to which the descendants of the heroes whose deeds were sung
by Homer of old have of late years been somewhat addicted.

"I wonder whether you will take another prize, Paddy," said Murray with
a quiet smile, in which he frequently indulged; but Jack and Terence
begged that the subject might not be alluded to.

The _Racer_, before long, fell in with an English merchant brig having a
flag of distress flying. The man-of-war hove-to, and the brig sent a
boat on board. The poor master who came in her was in a sad plight.

"I have been tricked, robbed, and cruelly treated, sir on the high
seas!" he exclaimed, as he appeared on the quarter-deck.

"What has