inner was over he returned on board, where
he found Captain Hogg very busy selling his porter--Gascoigne walking
the deck in a brown study--and Mr Hicks _solus_ abaft, sulking in his
petticoats.

As soon as they were clear of the boats, the _Mary Ann_ hoisted her
ensign and made sail, and as all the porter was not yet sold, Jack
ordered up a bottle.

Jack was much pleased with the result of his explanation with the
admiral, and he felt that, for once, he had not only got into no scrape
himself, but that he had prevented others. Gascoigne walked the deck
gloomily; the fact was that he was very unhappy; he had had time to
reflect, and now that the first violence had subsided, he felt that our
hero had done him a real service, and had prevented him from committing
an act of egregious folly; and yet he had summoned this friend to meet
him in the field--and such had been his gratitude. He would have given
the world to recall what had passed and to make friends, but he felt
ashamed, as most people do, to acknowledge his error; he had, however,
almost made up his mind to it, and was walking up and down thinking in
what manner he might contrive it, when Jack, who was sitting, as usual,
in a chair by the capstern, with his porter by him, said to himself,
"Now I'll lay my life that Ned wants to make friends, and is ashamed to
speak first; I may be mistaken, and he may fly off at a tangent, but
even if I am, at all events it will not be I who am wrong--I'll try
him." Jack waited till Gascoigne passed him again, and then said,
looking kindly and knowingly in his face:

"I say, Ned, will you have a glass of porter?"

Gascoigne smiled, and Jack held out his hand; the reconciliation was
effected in a moment, and the subject of quarrel was not canvassed by
either party.

"We shall be at Minorca in a day or two," observed Jack, after a while;
"now I shall be glad to get there. Do you know, Ned, that I feel very
much satisfied with myself; I have got into no scrape this time, and I
shall, notwithstanding, have a good story to tell the Governor when I go
to Malta."

"Partly at my expense," replied Gascoigne.

"Why, you will figure a little in it, but others will figure much more."

"I wonder what has become of that poor girl," observed Gascoigne, who
could not refrain from mentioning her; "what hurts me most is, that she
must think me such a brute."

"No doubt of that, Ned--take another glass of porter."

"Her father gave