ad received that of
our hero.

Captain Wilson came on board, and found that Mr Sawbridge could
communicate all the particulars of which he had not been acquainted by
Jack; and after they had read over Gascoigne's letter in the cabin, and
interrogated Mr Tallboys, who was sent down under an arrest, they gave
free vent to their mirth.

"Upon my soul, there's no end to Mr Easy's adventures," said the
captain. "I could laugh at the duel, for after all, it is nothing--and
he would have been let off with a severe reprimand; but the foolish boys
have set off in a speronare to Sicily, and how the devil are we to get
them back again?"

"They'll come back, sir," replied Sawbridge, "when all their money's
gone."

"Yes, if they do not get into any more scrapes--that young scamp
Gascoigne is as bad as Easy, and now they are together there's no saying
what may happen. I dine at the Governor's to-day; how he will laugh
when I tell him of this new way of fighting a duel!"

"Yes, sir, it is just the thing that will tickle old Tom."

"We must find out if they have got off the island, Sawbridge, which may
not be the case."

But it was the case. Jack and Gascoigne had eaten a very good dinner,
sent for the monkey to amuse them till it was dark, and there had waited
till the padrone came to them.

"What shall we do with the pistols, Easy?"

"Take them with us, and load them before we go--we may want them: who
knows but there may be a mutiny on board of the speronare?--I wish we
had Mesty with us."

They loaded the pistols, took a pair each and put them in their waists,
concealed under their clothes--divided the ammunition between them, and
soon afterwards the padrone came to tell them all was ready.

Whereupon Messrs. Gascoigne and Easy paid their bill and rose to depart,
but the padrone informed them that he should like to see the colour of
their money before they went on board. Jack, very indignant at the
insinuation that he had not sufficient cash, pulled out a handful of
doubloons, and tossing two to the padrone, asked him if he was
satisfied.

The padrone untied his sash, put in the money, and with many thanks and
protestations of service, begged our young gentlemen to accompany him:
they did so, and in a few minutes were clear of Nix Mangare stairs, and,
passing close to his Majesty's ship _Harpy, _were soon out of the
harbour of Vallette.

Of all the varieties of vessels which float upon the wave, there is not,