settled
on his brow, as, having disposed of my property and just retaken his
seat, he answered:

"I suppose Nugent comes to sea to show us what a pleasant life it may
prove to a man of fortune, eh!"

"No!" I answered, with simplicity. "I came to sea because I have read
of Howe and Jervis and Nelson and Collingwood, and because I expected to
find it a field of fame and glory, as they did."

There was a general laugh, in which the youngsters joined the loudest.

"A sucking Collingwood!" cried one.

"A field of water, which the ship has to plough," said another, who set
up for a wit.

There was no end to their remarks.

"Never mind, Nugent," remarked Owen. "We'll soon get you out of those
antiquated notions."

He was as good as his word, and I soon learned to look at a life at sea
in a very different light to what I had done when I determined to follow
it. Still, pride made me resolve to stick to it, and when I wrote home,
to speak as if I were thoroughly satisfied with my choice.

Two days after I joined, the frigate sailed for the Mediterranean. Owen
did his best to gain my confidence, and so far succeeded, that, being
placed in his watch, I was his constant companion. I was at first
shocked at his opinions and open acknowledgment of his very lax morals,
and though in the latter respect he might not have been much worse in
reality than others in the mess, I observed that by degrees some of
them, especially Pearson, began rather to tight shy of him. Often I
remarked an expression on his countenance which was most disagreeable,
and two or three times as I looked at him the idea came across my mind
that I had seen him before. Once, and only once, I thought he must be
the person who had so frightened me years before in the park, but I
dismissed the idea as preposterous, as that person was a great deal
older than Owen, who, besides, seemed too careless, easy-going a fellow
to do anything of that sort. In the Mediterranean, that most delightful
of stations to a man who has plenty of money in his pocket, we visited a
number of places. Whenever Owen went on shore he took me with him, and
did not scruple to make use of my purse, in order, as he said, that he
might initiate me into the mysteries of life.

Those who are acquainted with what a midshipman's life on shore often
is, may easily conceive the description of scenes into which he
introduced me. With the wariness of the serpent, however, he took care