was captured."

"In the meantime, captain," said Fritz, "my brother and I have to
request that you will resume the command, and treat us as passengers."

"Thank you, my friends, thank you. Willis, are all the old crew on
board?"

"All that were in Havre, your honor; I commissioned Bill Stubbs to
pick them up, and he managed to smuggle them all on board."

"Then pipe all hands on deck."

"Aye, aye, captain," said Willis, sounding his whistle.

When the men were mustered, Littlestone made a short speech to them,
told them that they would receive pay for the time they had been in
the enemy's power, and inquired whether they were all willing to
continue the voyage under his command. This question was responded to
by a general assent.

"Then," he continued, turning to Willis, "the share you have had in
the rescue of the _Nelson_ and its crew, conjointly with my interest
at the Admiralty, will, I have not the slightest doubt, obtain for you
the well-merited rank of lieutenant of his Majesty's navy. I have,
therefore, to request that you will assume that position on board
during the voyage, until confirmed by the arrival of your commission."

"Thank your honor," said Willis, bowing.

"And now, lieutenant, you will be kind enough to rate William Stubbs
on the books as boatswain."

"Aye, aye, captain," said Willis, handing his whistle to Bill.

"Pipe to breakfast," said the captain.

"Aye, aye, sir," replied the new boatswain, sounding the whistle.

"By the way," said Littlestone, turning to Jack, "I do not see the
surgeon you spoke of on board. How is this?"

"He is on board for all that," said Jack, drawing an official looking
document out of his pocket; "be kind enough to read that."

The captain accordingly read as follows:--

"_Havre, 15th October, 1812._

"This is to certify that Mr. Jack Becker has, for some time, been
a student in the hospitals of this town, and that he has
successfully passed through a stringent examination as to his
acquaintance with the diagnosis and cure of various diseases; as
also as to his knowledge of the practice of physic and surgery
generally.

"He has specially directed his attention to the treatment of
cancer, and has performed several operations for the eradication
of that malady to the satisfaction of the surgeon in chief and my
own.

(Signed) "GARAY DE NEVRES, M.D., Inspector of the Hospitals".

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