as strict in the performance of duty, but an
excellent fellow to sail with, anxious for the comfort of men and
officers, and without a shadow of nonsense about him. His first lieutenant
had served for a few months in that rank, Rogers and I were
acting-lieutenants, and there was a doctor, and one midshipman, Lord
Cochrane's brother. Lord Cochrane at that time was twenty-four, or nearly
so, his first lieutenant was a year older, Rogers and I twenty-one.

"We had a busy time on board the _Speedy_. We were continually up and down
the coast, popping into quiet creeks and little ports in search of French
privateers, and overhauling merchantmen, besides bearing what share we
could in the general operations.

"Our first prize was a French privateer of six guns and forty-eight men.
We had been ordered to convoy fourteen merchantmen from Cagliari to
Leghorn, and saw a strange craft take possession of a Danish brig under
our escort. We crowded on every inch of canvas, and set off in pursuit.
The _Speedy_ was not misnamed. Whatever her defects, she was certainly
fast, and Cochrane had managed to add to the canvas she carried when he
first took the command. The main boom was sprung, and he obtained from the
dockyard another spar to replace it. This, however, was a good deal longer
than the original, and the dockyard authorities decided that it must be
taken down considerably. Instead of doing this Cochrane had about an inch
cut off from each end, and had the spar replaced and hoisted. When the
dockyard people came on board they did not notice that its length was
unaltered, and as soon as we got out some more cloths of canvas were added
to the mainsail, and we were thus enabled to carry a considerable spread
of canvas for so small a craft. We soon overtook the prize, which
surrendered at once, and then set off in chase of the privateer, which we
overhauled, the sight of our long row of port-holes and crowded decks no
doubt leading the Frenchmen to suppose we were a great deal stronger than
he was, though in point of fact his six guns carried a much heavier weight
of metal than our fourteen pop-guns together.

"Four days later five armed boats rowed out from Monte Cristo towards the
convoy, which was lying becalmed. The brig got out sweeps to endeavour to
interpose between them and her charges. Two vessels, however, which were
lagging behind the others were boarded and captured. To our delight we
soon afterwards saw a dark line on t