had
no desertions. Indeed, none deserted whom we could have wished to
retain, and their vacancies were soon filled up with better men.

CHAPTER FORTY TWO.

WE SAIL FOR THE WEST INDIES--A VOLUNTEER FOR THE SHIP REFUSED AND SENT
ON SHORE AGAIN, FOR REASONS WHICH THE CHAPTER WILL SATISFACTORILY
EXPLAIN TO THE READER.

We were very glad when the master attendant came on board to take us
into the Sound; and still more glad to perceive that the brig, which had
just been launched before O'Brien was appointed to her, appeared to sail
very fast as she ran out. So it proved after we went to sea; she sailed
wonderfully well, beating every vessel that she met, and overhauling in
a very short time everything that we chased; turning to windward like
magic, and tacking in a moment. Three days after we anchored in the
Sound, the ship's company were paid, and our sailing orders came down to
proceed with despatches, by next evening's post, to the island of
Jamaica. We started with a fair wind, and were soon clear of the
Channel. Our whole time was now occupied in training our new ship's
company at the guns and teaching them to _pull together_; and by the
time that we had run down the trades, we were in a very fair state of
discipline.

The first lieutenant was rather an odd character; his brother was a
sporting man of large property, and he had contracted, from his example,
a great partiality for such pursuits. He knew the winning horses of the
Derby and the Oaks for twenty years back, was an adept at all athletic
exercises, a capital shot, and had his pointer on board. In other
respects he was a great dandy in his person, always wore gloves, even on
service, very gentlemanlike and handsome, and not a very bad sailor;
that is, he knew enough to carry on his duty very creditably, and
evidently, now that he was the first lieutenant, and obliged to work,
learnt more of his duty every day. I never met a more pleasant messmate
or a more honourable young man. A brig is only allowed two lieutenants.
The master was a rough, kind-hearted, intelligent young man, always in
good-humour. The surgeon and purser completed our mess; they were men
of no character at all, except, perhaps, that the surgeon was too much
of a courtier, and the purser too much of a skin-flint; but pursers are,
generally speaking, more sinned against than sinning.

But I have been led away, while talking of the brig and the officers,
and had almost forgotte