al at Barbadoes.

The next morning we buried those who had fallen. O'Farrel was a fine
young man, brave as a lion, but very hot in his temper. He would have
made a good officer had he been spared. Poor little Pepper was also
much regretted. He was but twelve years old. He had bribed the bowman
of the second cutter to allow him to conceal himself under the
foresheets of the boat. His day's allowance of spirits had purchased
him this object of his ambition, which ended so fatally. But as soon as
the bodies had disappeared under the wave, and the service was over, we
all felt happier. There is something very unpleasant, particularly to
sailors, in having a corpse on board.

We now sailed merrily along, the prize keeping company with us; and,
before we reached Barbadoes, most of the men were convalescent.
Osbaldistone's wounds were, however, very severe; and he was recommended
to return home, which he did, and obtained his promotion as soon as he
arrived. He was a pleasant messmate, and I was sorry to lose him:
although--the lieutenant appointed in his room being junior to me--I was
promoted to be first lieutenant of the brig. Soon after Osbaldistone
went home, his brother broke his neck when hunting, and Osbaldistone
came into the property. He then quitted the service.

We found the admiral at Barbadoes, who received O'Brien and his despatch
very well. O'Brien had taken two good prizes, and that was sufficient
to cover a multitude of sins, even if he had committed any; but the
despatch was admirably written, and the admiral, in his letter to the
Admiralty, commented upon Captain O'Brien's successful and daring
attack; whereas, if the truth had been known, it was Swinburne's advice
of pulling up the weather shore, which was the occasion of our capturing
the _Victorine_; but it was very hard to come at the real truth of these
sort of things, as I found out during the time that I was in His
Majesty's service.

CHAPTER FORTY SIX.

O'BRIEN TELLS HIS CREW THAT ONE ENGLISHMAN IS AS GOOD AS THREE FRENCHMEN
ON SALT WATER--THEY PROVE IT--WE FALL IN WITH AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE,
ALTHOUGH SHE COULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS A FRIEND.

Our next cruise was on the coast of Guinea and Gulf of Mexico where we
were running up and down for three months, without falling in with
anything but West Indiamen bound to Demerara, Berbice, and Surinam, and
occasionally chasing a privateer; but in the light winds they were too
fast for u