olphin_," I replied, "cruising; sixteen days out from Port
Royal."

"The _Dolphin_, eh?" said he. "Well, she is a remarkably fine and
powerful craft; carries heavy metal too; and your skipper evidently
knows how to handle her. What is his name, by the bye?"

I modestly explained that I was in command of the craft; an announcement
which created quite a sensation among the officers who had gathered
round.

"_You_!" exclaimed the skipper incredulously. "Well, then, I can only
say, young gentleman, that you are shaping well--very well indeed.
There is not a man in the service who could have fought that vessel more
gallantly, or with better judgment than you did; and I shall take care
to say so to the admiral when we get in. You have rendered a very
important service, my lad, let me tell you; for you have not only saved
the old _Dido_ from being taken, and helped in the capture of a fine
frigate, but you have also saved some most urgent and important
despatches which we have on board. Have you lost many men in the
action?"

"Not one," said I; "nor have we, so far as I know, a single man with a
wound worth mentioning."

"Ah, you are lucky!" he remarked. "But for that you may thank your
heavy metal and the way in which it was served; you were able to cripple
the frigate before she could touch you. Well, come down into the cabin
and take a glass of wine with me whilst we talk over what is next to be
done. Mr Thompson, let Mr Rogers come down to me with his report when
he returns from the frigate. Now then, Mr--a--ah--this way, please.
By the way, I did not catch your name just now."

There was a very good reason for that, as I had never mentioned it to
him; however, I did so then; he informed me that his name was Venn, and
that he held the rank of commander, and by the time that we had come to
this understanding we found ourselves in the cabin, a much smaller and
plainer apartment than that of the _Dolphin_, by the bye.

Wine was produced, we drank a glass together, and then my new friend
proceeded to explain to me that, as the brig had suffered rather
severely, and had had a great many men wounded in her running fight with
the frigate, he would be obliged to draw rather heavily upon the
_Dolphin_ to make up a crew for the prize, and that, under the
circumstances, he considered it would be advisable for us to accompany
the _Dido_ and her prize into Port Royal.

This arrangement suited me very well indeed, as