ady
breakfasted, Mr Annesley," (to the first lieutenant, who at this moment
approached), "I shall be glad to have the pleasure of your company."

So saying, the skipper turned on his heel, and led the way into the
cabin, where we found the table well provided with a variety of good
things highly provocative of appetite in a midshipman, even though he
might have partaken of one breakfast already within an hour.

As soon as we had seated ourselves, and were supplied from the stock of
delicacies before us,--

"Now," said the skipper, "overhaul your log, Mr Chester, and let us
hear how you managed to conduct your difficult enterprise. That young
scamp, Summers, told me all about your gallant capture," (with just the
faintest possible ironical emphasis on the word _gallant_) "of the
unfortunate fishermen, so you may as well commence at the point where
you left the cutter in their boat."

In obedience to this command I at once proceeded with my story, giving a
detailed account of everything that had happened from the time of
leaving the cutter to the moment of my return.

My auditors evinced the greatest interest in my narration, and were
mightily tickled when I described the manner in which I had been
relieved of my fish by the condescending cook and the friendly corporal.
Their interest increased when I described my imprisonment in and the
mode of escape from my dungeon; and when I had finished they both
congratulated me very heartily upon what Captain Hood called "the
resolution and courage" which I had exhibited. "It was a remarkably
narrow squeak, Mr Chester," remarked the skipper, "and I hope it will
be a warning to you not to unnecessarily expose yourself to danger for
the future. When duty calls it is of course quite another thing; and I
am perfectly willing to give you credit for a desire in the present
instance to perform a very important service. I have already
reprimanded you for the breach of discipline which you committed in
undertaking this expedition without first obtaining leave; let me now
express my satisfaction with the way in which--apart from that--you have
conducted yourself. You have succeeded in obtaining information which,
I believe, will be of great value to the admiral, and I will endeavour
so to represent your conduct to him as that he shall view it in a
favourable light. Now, if you have finished breakfast, you had better
go on board the cutter and transfer your chest and hammock to th