You're not telling me you mean to fight him?" asked Mr. Sturge,
convinced by this time that he had to deal with a lunatic.

"Pardon me." The Major bowed with grave irony. "This conversation,
sir, was of your seeking. I have paid you, it appears, too high a
compliment in assuming that you would understand what follows when a
gentleman is called the son of a--!"

Mr. Sturge shrugged his shoulders and walked forward to seek Ben
Jope, whom he found by the forecastle hatchway engaged in slicing a
quid of black tobacco.

"You'll excuse me," he asked, "but that rum little man who calls
himself Hymen--where did he escape from?"

"Escape!" Ben Jope sprang to his feet, but catching sight of the
Major, who had resumed his pensive attitude by the bulwarks, sat down
again heavily. "Lord, but you frightened me! That Hymen don't
escape; not if I know it. He's the apple of my eye, or becoming so.
Now I tell you," said Mr. Jope, beginning to slice again at his
tobacco, then pausing to look up with engaging frankness; "you took
my fancy terrible for a few minutes; but, come to see you by
daylight, you're too pink."

Mr. Sturge might have pressed for an explanation; but at this
juncture the first lieutenant of H.M.S. _Poseidon_ came forward,
still with his painted scowl, and demanded to know, since the
_Vesuvius_ could not reach Portsmouth for many hours, when supper
would be served, and what bedroom accommodation she provided.

CHAPTER XVI.

FAREWELL TO ALBION!

Shortly after noon next day, the wind still holding from the N.N.W.,
though gradually falling light, the _Vesuvius_ dropped anchor off
Spithead, and Captain Crang at once ordered a boat's crew to convey
the captives ashore.

The Major waved farewell to them from the deck. Though once again
approached by Mr. Sturge, he had repelled all persuasions. In his
breast there welled up an increasing bitterness against his fate, but
on the point of dignity he could not be shaken. He would, on the
first fit occasion, have Captain Crang's blood; but he was obdurate,
though it cost him liberty for a while and compelled him to
disgusting hardship, to stand on the strictest terms of quarrel.

He turned to find the boatswain at his elbow, eyeing him with
sympathy and even a touch of respect.

"You done well," said Mr. Jope. "You don't look it, but you done
well, and I'll see you don't get put upon."

The _Vesuvius's_ destination, as the Major learnt, was to join a