ll had returned on board, having again joined the ship as a
supernumerary, and as an old tried friend he entered, and, I believe,
heartily, into all my hopes and fears. Some of his plans and proposals,
however, though very much in accordance with the notions of Irishmen in
those days, were not such, even with all my harum-scarum habits, which I
could by any possibility adopt.

"Hurry, my boy, I have been thinking over this affair of yours," said
he, as we were walking the deck together. "I don't like
shilly-shallying in matters of this sort--I never did. The lady loves
you, and you love the lady--well, then, to my mind, the first difficulty
is got over, because, according to my notion, where there's a will
there's a way. You'll find her out, that's certain. Then the next
thing to be done is to get her to run away with you. She'll go, depend
on that. You take her prisoner, you know! Bring her aboard; we'll get
a chaplain to splice you. You can take her up to New York; she'll be
safe there. And then we come to another little matter; I've arranged
that in a satisfactory way. You've some prize-money. I've saved a good
mint one way and another, and, old fellow, I don't want it--my purse is
yours. Old messmates don't stand on ceremony about such matters. My
own dear little Kathleen, the only creature I wanted it for, went to
glory while I was last at sea. When I got home I was desolate. I've no
kith nor kin I care for, and if you don't take the money it's likely
enough I'll heave it into the sea one of these days, or pitch it where
it won't do any one any good, so don't think that I am doing you any
wonderful favour if you take it. The truth is, Hurry, I'd be more than
paid ten times over in having the pleasure of helping you to run off
with the lady. I'm in my element in an affair of this sort--there's
nothing I like better, barring a good stand-up scrimmage, and that's
generally too soon over. Now, Hurry, just do as I say. Promise me!"

I was struck dumb; so rapidly did he pour out his proposals that I could
not answer him. He took my silence for consent, and ran on. At first I
was somewhat inclined to resent his remarks, but his generosity and
evident unconsciousness that he was proposing anything in any way
incorrect completely disarmed my anger, and, when he ceased speaking,
greatly to his surprise, I burst out into an uncontrollable fit of
laughter.

"I am most thankful, my dear O'Driscoll, for y