r half an hour, she resumed her original course to the
northward, leaving us in a most unchristian frame of mind towards the
admiral, whose orders tied us to the spot, and prevented our accepting
the challenge she had given. We at first cherished the hope that if we
did not go out to her, she would come down and attack us, but such a
slice of good luck was not just then to fall to our lot.

The stipulated period of our stay off Cape Spartivento having at length
expired, Captain Hood broke open the packet to which reference has
already been made, and having acquainted himself with the farther
instructions therein contained, orders were forthwith issued to make
sail to the northward and westward.

We had a fine breeze from the eastward, to which we showed a heavy press
of canvas; the frigate accordingly made short miles of the trip along
the Sardinian coast, and on the following evening arrived off the Gulf
of Ajaccio in Corsica, the coast-line being about twenty miles distant,
and consequently "hull-down;" the mountain-chain, however, which forms
as it were the backbone of Corsica, was distinctly visible, lighted up
as it was by the gorgeous tints of sunset. Sail was now shortened to
topsails, and the frigate hove-to.

While all hands were wondering more or less what the next move would be,
I was sent for by the skipper to go to him in his cabin. On arriving
there, I found him and Mr Annesley seated at the cabin-table with a
decanter of port standing between them, glasses of the same at their
elbows, and a large map spread out in the full light of the cabin lamp,
which had just been lighted; the table being further littered with a
large number of official-looking documents.

As I entered the cabin, Captain Hood raised his eyes from the map, over
which both officers had been earnestly poring, and said,--

"Oh! come in, Mr Chester, and bwing yourself to an anchor. Atkins! a
wine-glass for Mr Chester. There, help yourself, young gentleman."

I poured out a glass of the port, wondering, as I sipped it, wherever
the skipper managed to pick up so very excellent a wine; and when the
steward had retired, closing the door after him, Captain Hood looked
across the table at me, and said,--

"Mr Chester, I have been gweatly gwatified at the continued good
weports which Mr Annesley makes of your conduct. He speaks vewy highly
of your intelligence, persevewance, zeal, and couwage, and I--ah--may
say that--er--I have mysel