making _his_ appearance, they went to dinner; but Miss
Julia would not make _her_ appearance, and Mr Hicks was barely civil to
the captain, but he was soon afterwards called out, and our midshipmen
went into the office to enable the two lovers to meet. They were heard
then talking together, and after a time they said less, and their
language was more tender.

"Let us see what's going on, Jack," said Gascoigne; and they walked
softly, so as to perceive the two lovers, who were too busy to be on the
lookout.

Captain Hogg was requesting a lock of his mistress's hair. The plump
Julia could deny him nothing; she let fall her flaxen tresses, and
taking out the scissors cut off a thick bunch from her hair behind,
which she presented to the captain: it was at least a foot and a half
long and an inch in circumference. The Captain took it in his immense
hand, and thrust it into his coat pocket behind, but one thrust down to
the bottom would not get it in, so he thrust again and again, until it
was all coiled away like a cable in a tier.

"That's a liberal girl," whispered Jack; "she gives by _wholesale_ what
it will take some time to _retail_. But here comes Mr Hicks, let's
give them warning; I like Hogg and as she fancies pork, she shall have
it, if I can contrive to help them."

That night Gascoigne went again on the roof, and after waiting some
time, heard the same air repeated: he waited until it was concluded, and
then, in a very low tone, sang it himself to the words he had arranged
for it. For some time all was silent, and then the singing recommenced,
but it was not to the same air. Gascoigne waited until the new air had
been repeated several times, and then giving full scope to his fine
tenor voice, sang the first air again. It echoed through the silence of
the night air, and then he waited, but in vain; the soft voice of the
female was heard no more, and Gascoigne retired to rest.

This continued for three or four nights, Gascoigne singing the same airs
the ensuing night that he had heard the preceding, until at last it
appeared that the female had no longer any fear, but changed the airs so
as to be amused with the repetition of them next evening. On the fifth
night she sang the first air, and our midshipman responding, she then
sang another, until she had sung them all, waiting each time for the
response. The wall was not more than eight feet high, and Gascoigne now
determined, with the assistance of J