e," said
he, as we drove along.

"Forty or fifty pounds, probably," I remarked. "It would make me feel
as rich as a king."

"We will see, we will see," he replied.

To the agent's we went. He was a friend of Mr Martin's, so without
more ado he turned to his books.

"Hurry? Hurry of the Bristol?" he muttered. "A trifle, I know."

I bethought me, "It won't be ten pounds after all, perhaps."

"Oh, yes, here I have it. Three hundred pounds, Mr Hurry! You can
draw it whenever you like: our friend here will assure me of your
identity."

I couldn't help throwing up my cap for joy.

"Well, I am rich," I exclaimed; "like that old fellow Croesus I once
read of at school. Thank you, sir--thank you. Hurrah, hurrah!" I
burst out into a loud fit of laughter.

At first Mr Martin smiled at my joy, but he soon began to look grave,
as did the agent, for they perceived that I was over-excited--that, in
truth, the admiral's good wine and my unexpected good fortune, acting on
a frame shattered by sickness, had upset me, and they seemed to think
that there was every probability of a return of my fever.

"I am very glad to hear that you have got this little sum. It will help
to supply you with an outfit," observed Mr Martin, wishing to calm me
down a little.

"Enough for an outfit!--enough to fit out a prince or found a kingdom,"
I exclaimed vehemently. "Ha, ha, ha!"

"Well, never mind that just now," said my kind friend; "just get into my
barouche, and come along to my house in the meantime. To-morrow we will
talk about these matters."

I made no resistance, and, getting into his carriage, we soon reached
his cool and comfortable mansion in the neighbourhood of Kingston. I
was immediately put to bed, and off I went into a sleep so sound that an
earthquake or an hurricane would scarcely have awoke me.

It was late in the day when I at length opened my eyes, feeling quite a
new being. A thorough sound sleep, with my mind at ease as to my
prospects, was all I required to restore me to health. This I had not
got since I left Ou Trou. As soon as I had dressed and breakfasted I
set off for Port Royal harbour, and joined my ship, as happy a fellow, I
may truly say, as ever crossed salt water. I was most kindly received
by my new shipmates, who seemed to vie with each other in trying to make
amends to me for the sufferings I had undergone. I had very little time
to be idle, or to amuse myself on shore. That I sus