I should have
liked to have felt his head first;" and thus was the matter arranged.

The answer from Captain Wilson was, of course, in the affirmative, and
he promised that he would treat Jack as his own son.

Our hero mounted his father's horse, and rode off to Mr Bonnycastle.

"I am going to sea, Mr Bonnycastle."

"The very best thing for you," replied Mr Bonnycastle.

Our hero met Dr Middleton.

"I am going to sea, Dr Middleton."

"The very best thing for you," replied the doctor.

"I am going to sea, mother," said John.

"To sea, John, to sea? no, no, dear John, you are not going to sea,"
replied Mrs Easy, with horror.

"Yes, I am; father has agreed, and says he will obtain your consent."

"My consent! Oh, my dear, dear boy!"--and Mrs Easy wept bitterly, as
Rachel mourning for her children.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

IN WHICH MR. EASY HAS HIS FIRST LESSON AS TO ZEAL IN HIS MAJESTY'S
SERVICE.

As there was no time to lose, our hero very soon bade adieu to his
paternal roof, as the phrase is, and found his way down to Portsmouth.
As Jack had plenty of money, and was very much pleased at finding
himself his own master, he was in no hurry to join his ship, and five or
six companions not very creditable, whom either Jack had picked up, or
had picked up Jack, and who lived upon him, strongly advised him to put
it off until the very last moment. As this advice happened to coincide
with Jack's opinion, our hero was three weeks at Portsmouth before any
one knew of his arrival, but at last Captain Wilson received a letter
from Mr Easy, by which he found that Jack had left home at the period
we have mentioned, and he desired the first-lieutenant to make
inquiries, as he was afraid that some accident might have happened to
him. As Mr Sawbridge, the first-lieutenant, happened to be going on
shore on the same evening for the last time previous to the ship's
sailing, he looked into the Blue Posts, George, and Fountain Inns, to
inquire if there was such a person arrived as Mr Easy. "Oh, yes,"
replied the waiter at the Fountain--"Mr Easy has been here these three
weeks."

"The devil he has," roared Mr Sawbridge, with all the indignation of a
first-lieutenant defrauded three weeks of a midshipman; "where is he; in
the coffee-room?"

"Oh dear no, sir," replied the waiter, "Mr Easy has the front
apartments on the first floor."

"Well, then, show me up to the first floor."

"May I request the pleasure of your name,