ptain Hogg
and our hero drank porter on the capstern. Thus passed the first day,
and the wind was famously fair--the bullocks lowed, the cocks crew, the
sheep baa'd, and the _Mary Ann_ made upwards of two hundred miles. Jack
took possession of the other berth in the cabin, and his Majesty's
representative was obliged to lie down in his petticoats upon a topsail
which lay between decks, with a bullock on each side of him, who every
now and then made a dart at him with their horns, as if they knew that
it was to him that they were indebted for their embarkation and being
destined to drive the scurvy out of the Toulon fleet.

We cannot enter into the details of the passage, which, as the wind was
fair, was accomplished in ten days without the loss of a bullock.
During this time Mr Hicks condescended to eat without speaking,
imagining that the hour of retribution would come when they joined the
admiral. Gascoigne gradually recovered himself, but did not speak to
our hero, who continued to laugh and drink porter. On the eleventh
morning they were in the midst of the Toulon fleet, and Mr Hicks smiled
exultingly as he passed our hero in his petticoats, and wondered that
Jack showed no signs of trepidation.

The fleet hove-to, Jack ran under the admiral's stern, lowered down his
boat, and went on board, showed his credentials, and reported his
bullocks. The general signal was made, there was a fair division of the
spoil, and then the admiral asked our hero whether the master of the
transport had any other stock on board. Jack replied that he had not;
but that having been told by the Governor of Malta that they might be
acceptable, he had bought a few sheep and some dozen of fowls, which
were much at his service, if he would accept of them. The admiral was
much obliged to the Governor, and also to Jack, for thinking of him, but
would not, of course, accept of the stock without paying for them. He
requested him to send all of them on board that he could spare, and then
asked Jack to dine with him, for Jack had put on his best attire, and
looked very much of a gentleman.

"Mr Easy," said the flag-captain, who had been looking at the transport
with his glass, "is that the master's wife on board?"

"No, sir," replied Jack; "it's the vice-consul."

"What, in petticoats! the vice-consul?"

"Yes, the vice-consul of Tetuan. He came on board in that dress when
the brig was under way, and I considered it my duty not to dela