charm attached to power is to be able to make so many people
happy.

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

OUR HERO IS SICK WITH THE SERVICE, BUT RECOVERS WITH PROPER MEDICINE--AN
ARGUMENT, ENDING, AS MOST DO, IN A BLOW UP--MESTY LECTURES UPON
CRANIOLOGY.

The day after the funeral, H.M. ship _Aurora_ sailed for Malta, and on
her arrival the acting captain sent our two midshipmen on board the
_Harpy_ without any remark, except "victualled the day discharged," as
they had been borne on the ship's books as supernumeraries.

Mr James, who was acting in the _Aurora_, was anxious to join the
admiral at Toulon, and intended to sail the next day. He met Captain
Wilson at the Governor's table, and stated that Jack and Gascoigne had
been put in irons by order of Captain Tartar; his suspicions, and the
report that the duel had in consequence taken place; but Gascoigne and
Jack had both agreed that they would not communicate the events of their
cruise to anybody on board of the _Aurora_; and therefore nothing else
was known, except that they must have made powerful friends somehow or
another; and there appeared in the conduct of Captain Tartar, as well as
in the whole transaction, somewhat of a mystery.

"I should like to know what happened to my friend Jack, who fought the
duel," said the Governor, who had laughed at it till he held his sides;
"Wilson, do bring him here to-morrow morning, and let us have his
story."

"I am afraid of encouraging him, Sir Thomas--he is much too wild
already. I told you of his first cruise. He has nothing but
adventures, and they all end too favourably."

"Well, but you can send for him here and blow him up just as well as in
your own cabin, and then we will have the truth out of him."

"That you certainly will," replied Captain Wilson, "for he tells it
plainly enough."

"Well, to oblige me, send for him--I don't see he was much to blame in
absconding, as it appears he thought he would be hung--I want to see the
lad."

"Well, Governor, if you wish it," replied Captain Wilson, who wrote a
note to Mr Sawbridge, requesting he would send Mr Easy to him at the
Governor's house at ten o'clock in the morning.

Jack made his appearance in his uniform--he did not much care for what
was said to him, as he was resolved to leave the service. He had been
put in irons, and the iron had _entered into his soul_.

Mr Sawbridge had gone on shore about an hour before Jack had been sent
on board, and he had rem