e
frigate, and by-and-by I will take you on board the flag-ship and
introduce you to the admiral, when you can make your report."

Accepting this as a hint to be off about my business, I rose, and making
my bow, left the cabin.

On reaching the deck I found that the whole of the inmates of the
midshipmen's berth, already apprised by the loquacious Bob of my
escapade, were anxiously awaiting my reappearance, to learn all
particulars, including the result of my private interview with the
skipper. Briefly informing them, however, that I had been ordered to
rejoin the frigate, and postponing all further information until a more
convenient season, I hurried down over the side, and stepping into the
cockleshell of a dinghy pulled on board the "Mouette," where master Bob
received my narration with a show of sympathy which thinly veiled his
exultation at being left in sole command of the cutter.

Somehow I did not greatly regret the change. I was beginning to tire of
the cramped accommodation on board the "Mouette;" and although I had
been formally reprimanded for my "breach of discipline" I was acute
enough to see that my conduct had, after all, made a favourable
impression upon the skipper, and that I had, on the whole, risen, rather
than fallen, in his estimation.

Hurriedly bundling my few belongings together and stowing them away in
the boat, I shook hands with Bob, and was soon once more on board the
"Juno."

I had barely time to trim myself up a bit, when a message was brought me
to the effect that the skipper's gig was alongside, and only waited my
presence on board to shove off for the admiral's ship.

The "Victory" was lying at no great distance from us, and we were soon
alongside.

I followed the skipper up the side-ladder, and found myself in the
presence of the admiral, who was taking a constitutional up and down the
quarter-deck in company with Sir Hyde Parker and Vice-Admiral Hotham
from the "Britannia."

Captain Hood immediately joined company (I remaining discreetly in the
background, in accordance with previous instructions), and in the course
of a minute or two the party, no doubt in consequence of a suggestion
from the skipper, retired to the cabin.

In about twenty minutes afterwards I was sent for.

I entered the cabin with, I must confess, some slight degree of
trepidation; for the admiral was a very queer sort of man in some
respects, and one never knew in what light he would be likely to