venteen, and would have married him too had not his father, who
objected to the match, sent him off up the country, and the poor girl
for a month at least could not hold up her head. It was not until a
fresh regiment arrived that she in any way recovered her usual buoyant
spirits, and had no less than three admirers at once dangling after her.
One was so old that she could not make up her mind to accept him.
Another was over head and ears in debt, and asked me to pay his bills,
on condition that he would take my daughter off my hands, and a third
had, I found out, an unacknowledged wife. So you see my sweet Angelica
is perfectly free to give her heart and hand to the first person who
asks her."

The major, as he made these revelations, did not appear at all aware of
the effect they were likely to produce on his auditor, who, as may be
supposed, found it difficult to offer any remark on some of them.

"I think I may now venture below, as time has been given for the storm
which raged in a certain region to calm down," said the major, who was
beginning to feel a little tired from so long pacing the deck.

Jack advised him by all means to return to his cabin. He wanted,
indeed, to enjoy a good hearty fit of laughter by himself, as he felt
every instant ready to explode. He somewhat astonished Tom, who was on
deck, when he at length gave way to his feelings as the major's head
disappeared below the deck.

Tom, on hearing the account of the major's expulsion from the cabin, as
may be supposed, joined his brother Jack in his merriment, and it was
with difficulty for hours afterwards that he could refrain from bursting
into fits of laughter.

The _Bellona_ steamed on; not at full speed, however, for the engineer
found something amiss with the machinery, and begged the captain, as
soon as the wind should shift, to proceed under sail, that he might have
an opportunity of repairing the defect.

The young ladies were constantly on deck, endeavouring to make
themselves as charming as possible. Archie Gordon and Tom were
respectfully polite, and took care not to commit themselves by any undue
attentions. Billy Blueblazes was far less cautious. Whenever he could
find a spare minute, he was sure to make his way to the side of the fair
Angelica.

At last, one night, while Tom was on watch, he was surprised to find
Billy walk up to him.

"I thought you'd turned in," remarked Tom.

"It wouldn't have been of any use; I co