of a privateer cutter, when his wife who was excessively fond, would, as
he said, follow him with little Billy. He was sober, steady, knew his
duty well; but he weighed twenty-six stone, and his weight had swamped
him in the service.

His wish, long indulged, had become, as Shakespeare says, the father of
his thought, and he had really at last brought himself to think that he
was not by any means what could be considered a fat man. His wife, as
he said, was also a very stout woman, and this exuberance of flesh on
both sides, was the only, but continual, ground of dispute.

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT.

IN WHICH OUR HERO, AS USUAL, GETS INTO THE VERY MIDDLE OF IT.

On the eleventh day the Rebiera entered the Straits, and the Rock of
Gibraltar was in sight as the sun went down; after which the wind fell
light, and about midnight it became calm, and they drifted up. At
sunrise they were roused by the report of heavy guns, and perceived an
English frigate about eight miles farther up the Straits, and more in
the mid-channel, engaging nine or ten Spanish gunboats, which had come
out from Algesiras to attack her. It still continued a dead calm, and
the boats of the frigate were all ahead towing her, so as to bring her
broadside to bear upon the Spanish flotilla. The reverberating of the
heavy cannon on both sides over the placid surface of the water--the
white smoke ascending as the sun rose in brilliancy in a clear blue
sky--the distant echoes repeated from the high hills--had a very
beautiful effect for those who are partial to the picturesque. But Jack
thought it advisable to prepare for action instead of watching for
tints--and in a short time all was ready.

"They'll not come to us, Mr Easy, as long as they have the frigate to
hammer at; but still we had better be prepared, for we cannot well pass
them without having a few shot. When I came up the Straits in the
privateer we were attacked by two, and fought them for three hours;
their shot dashed the water over our decks till they were wet fore and
aft, but somehow or another they never hit us--we were as low as they
were. I'll be bound but they'll hull the frigate though. Mrs Oxbelly
and Billy were on deck the whole time--and Billy was quite delighted,
and cried when they took him down to breakfast."

"Why, Mrs Oxbelly must be very courageous."

"Cares neither for shot nor shell, sir, laughs when they whiz over her
head, and tells Billy to hark. But, sir,