. Gascoigne and our hero were also discharged into the frigate.

As our hero never has shown any remarkable predilection for duty, the
reader will not be surprised at his requesting from Captain Wilson a few
days on shore, previous to his going on board of the _Aurora_. Captain
Wilson allowed the same licence to Gascoigne, as they had both been
cooped up for some time on board of a transport. Our hero took up his
quarters at the only respectable hotel in the town, and whenever he
could meet an officer of the _Aurora_, he very politely begged the
pleasure of his company to dinner. Jack's reputation had gone before
him, and the midshipmen drank his wine and swore he was a trump. Not
that Jack was to be deceived, but upon the principles of equality he
argued that it was the duty of those who could afford dinners to give
them to those who could not. This was a sad error on Jack's part; but
he had not yet learned the value of money; he was such a fool as to
think that the only real use of it was to make other people happy. It
must, however, be offered in his extenuation that he was a midshipman
and a philosopher, and not yet eighteen.

At last Jack had remained so long on shore, keeping open house, and the
first lieutenant of the _Aurora_ found the officers so much more anxious
for leave, now that they were at little or no expense, that he sent him
a very polite message, requesting the pleasure of his company on board
that evening. Jack returned an equally polite answer, informing the
first lieutenant that not being aware that he wished to see him, he had
promised to accompany some friends to a masquerade that night, but that
he would not fail to pay his respects to him the next day. The first
lieutenant admitted the excuse, and our hero, after having entertained
half a dozen of the _Auroras_, for the _Harpy_ had sailed two days
before, dressed himself for the masquerade, which was held in a church
about two miles and a half from Mahon.

Jack had selected the costume of the _devil_, as being the most
appropriate, and mounting a jackass, he rode down in his dress to the
masquerade. But, as Jack was just going in, he perceived a yellow
carriage, with two footmen in gaudy liveries, draw up, and, with his
usual politeness, when the footmen opened the door, offered his arm to
hand out a fat old dowager covered with diamonds; the lady looked up,
and perceiving Jack covered with hair, with his trident and his horns
and