y, being
aware how very important it was that the fleet should be provided with
fresh beef."

"What is all this, Mr Easy?" said the admiral; "there has been some
trick here. You will oblige me by coming into the cabin."

Easy followed the admiral and flag-captain into the cabin, and then
boldly told the whole story how he tricked them all. It was impossible
for either of them to help laughing, and when they began to laugh it was
almost as impossible to stop.

"Mr Easy," said the admiral at last, "I do not altogether blame you; it
appears that the captain of the transport would have delayed sailing
because he was in love--and that Mr Gascoigne would have stayed behind
because he was infatuated; independent of the ill-will against the
English which would have been excited by the abduction of the girl. But
I think you might have contrived to manage all that without putting the
vice-consul in petticoats."

"I acted to the best of my judgment, sir," replied Jack, very humbly.

"And altogether you have done well. Captain Malcolm, send a boat for
the vice-consul."

Mr Hicks was too impatient to tell his wrongs to care for his being in
his sister's clothes: he came on board, and although the tittering was
great, he imagined that it would soon be all in his favour, when it was
known that he was a diplomatic. He told his story, and waited for the
decision of the admiral, which was to crush our hero, who stood with the
midshipmen on the lee-side of the deck; but the admiral replied, "Mr
Hicks, in the first place, this appears to me to be a family affair
concerning the marriage of your sister, with which I have nothing to do.
You went on board of your own free will in woman's clothes. Mr Easy's
orders were positive, and he obeyed them. It was his duty to sail as
soon as the transport was ready. You may forward your complaint if you
please, but, as a friend, I tell you that it will probably occasion your
dismissal, for these kind of pranks are not understood at the Foreign
Office. You may return to the transport, which, after she has touched
at Mahon, will proceed again to Tetuan. The boat is alongside, sir."

Mr Hicks, astonished at the want of respect, paid to a vice-consul,
shoved his petticoats between his legs and went down the side amidst the
laughter of the whole of the ship's company. Our hero dined with the
admiral, and was well received. He got his orders to sail that night
for Minorca, and as soon as d