t proud at being
again sent to sea.

This event almost banished poor Desmond for a short time from his mind,
until he received a letter from Counsellor McMahon:--"I cannot believe
that our young friend has gone, after all the efforts we made to obtain
his rights for him. I would rather suppose that he was even now
swimming about somewhere in the chops of the Channel, or was carried off
by the ship which so abominably attempted to run you down. I have
always heard that midshipmen have as many lives as a cat, and though he
had become a lieutenant, he had not abandoned the privilege he enjoyed
in his youth. I don't believe he is lost, and I do not intend to let
either of the other claimants get hold of the property, or assume his
title, until I have stronger evidence of his death than your letter
supplies. I remember only a short time ago, one of the Lords of the
Admiralty, or some high official in the Marine Department, was carried
off by a stranger running into the vessel he was on board, and it was
not until several days after that he was discovered, having clung to
what is called the dolphin striker--although to what part of a ship's
rigging that instrument belongs I do not know, but conclude that it must
be at the end of the bowsprit--and that his lordship was hooked up by
the breeks, from which disagreeable position he was rescued by the
sympathising crew of the vessel which had run into his."

The lawyer's confidence, although, perhaps, arising from insufficient
grounds, greatly restored Adair's spirits, and he and Jack the next day
went over to Portsmouth to assume command of their respective ships.

Jack applied for his brother, and the Lords of the Admiralty graciously
granted his request. He was very glad to obtain Archie Gordon as his
first lieutenant. He at once wrote to Murray, saying how delighted he
should be to have young Alick. His letter found the _Stella_ lying in
Leith Roads, she having put into the Firth of Forth to remain a few
days. In less than twenty-four hours young Alick appeared with a letter
from his father, requesting Jack to obtain the necessary articles for
his outfit. Orders were received to get both ships ready for sea with
all possible expedition, and the two captains found that they were to
proceed round the Cape of Good Hope to Aden, to which place further
orders were to be transmitted to them.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

THE BELLONA AND EMPRESS SAIL FOR ADEN--PART COMPANY--BE