nd some other vegetables, out of a bumboat
which had come down to supply the Syren, and which we waylaid before she
reached that ship. I must not forget also some soft tack, three dozen
of bottled ale, and a cheese, which set us up in the comestible way for
some time. Just as we got to sea the wind veered round to the east and
south-east, and with a favourable breeze, under easy sail, we stood to
the northward. The next day O'Driscoll came aboard to dine with me. I
had the turkey. The bird had made so many objections to remaining in
the coop into which I put him, that I was obliged to kill him. He was
consequently rather tough, but midshipmen's teeth don't stand at
trifles, and we made considerable progress in devouring him.

"This is very jolly, Captain Hurry," said O'Driscoll, pouring out for
himself a glass of foaming ale. "Here's to you, man, and I don't care
how long we're on our cruise."

"It will soon come to an end if this wind lasts," I remarked.

"Not a bit of it, if we're inclined to make it longer," he replied.
"Suppose now, a craft was to make her appearance in the south-east, we
should have to make sail after her, and it might be many a day before we
got back to port, do ye see. Do you twig, my boy, eh?"

"Oh, yes, O'Driscoll. I understand you perfectly," said I. "But that
sort of conduct does not exactly come up to my notion of our duty to the
service. We might get a long cruise, certainly, but I don't think we
should enjoy it, and we might just possibly fall into the hands of an
enemy, and end it in a prison on shore."

"Ha! ha! ha! that would be an unpleasant termination to our independent
commands," he replied, laughing. "Well, I suppose to do our duty is the
best policy. I shouldn't like the catastrophe you picture so vividly."

One thing I must say in O'Driscoll's favour, though his fertile brain
conceived all sorts of mischief, he was very ready to abandon any of his
proposals when he found that others objected to them. Though hot enough
at times, and ready enough to fight anybody and everybody who came in
his way, his anger was as quickly appeased. Thus also he was easily
persuaded by me to adhere to the letter of his instructions, and, in
perfect good-humour with all the world, he accompanied me on deck to
smoke our cigars. It was one of those lovely days, which occur
frequently in autumn in that part of the world, called by the Americans
the Indian summer. A thin, gauze-like