fficers whom he had not known, then climbed up into the maintop, where
he took a seat on the armolest, and, as he looked at the shore, thought
over the events that had passed, until Agnes came to his memory, and he
thought only of her. When a mid is in love, he always goes aloft to
think of the object of his affection; why, I don't know, except that his
reverie is not so likely to be disturbed by an order from a superior
officer.

The _Aurora_ sailed on the second day, and with a fine breeze, stood
across, making as much northing as easting; the consequence was, that
one fine morning they saw the Spanish coast before they saw the Toulon
fleet. Mr Pottyfar took his hands out of his pockets, because he could
not examine the coast through a telescope without so doing; but this, it
is said, was the first time that he had done so on the quarter-deck from
the day that the ship had sailed from Port Mahon. Captain Wilson was
also occupied with his telescope, so were many of the officers and
midshipmen, and the men at the mast-heads used their eyes, but there was
nothing but a few small fishing-boats to be seen. So they all went down
to breakfast, as the ship was hove-to close in with the land.

"What will Easy bet," said one of the midshipmen, "that we don't see a
prize to-day?"

"I will not bet that we do not see a vessel--but I'll bet you what you
please, that we do not take one before twelve o'clock at night."

"No, no, that won't do--just let the teapot travel over this way, for
it's my forenoon watch."

"It's a fine morning," observed one of the mates, of the name of Martin;
"but I've a notion it won't be a fine evening."

"Why not?" inquired another.

"I've now been eight years in the Mediterranean, and know something
about the weather. There's a watery sky, and the wind is very steady.
If we are not under double-reefed topsails to-night, say I'm no
conjuror."

"That you will be, all the same, if we are under bare poles," said
another.

"You're devilish free with your tongue, my youngster. Easy, pull his
ears for me."

"Pull them easy, Jack, then," said the boy, laughing.

"All hands make sail!" now resounded at the hatchways.

"There they are, depend upon it," cried Gascoigne, catching up his hat
and bolting out of the berth, followed by all the others except Martin,
who had just been relieved, and thought that his presence in the waist
might be dispensed with for the short time, at least, which it t