THE following day, before dinner, Captain Switchem came on board, and was received by all his officers on the quarter-deck as usual. He was hardly over the gunnel, when he grasped the hand of his first lieutenant, who awaited him, exclaiming, "No rest for the wicked, it would appear, my dear Fyke-I've got a vast of news for you, though, I must confess, they a'nt of a very pleasant nature-more of that, however, anon. How dost, my dear Cawdle-I hope you've got your sick bay fairly cleared out. Where's Nailparing -Oh, he'll be looking out a lading for his store-rooms.-My service to you all, gentlemen.-Ah! my dear little heroes, are you there! How are you both-good students, I hope, and making great progress. It grieves me to say, my dear boys, that I won't be able to allow either of you to eat Christmas-cake with your papas and mammas this trip, but you may depend upon my honour as soon as we come into harbour again. With this apology I hope you will be satisfied, and make yourselves as contented as I'm obliged to be.-Come, come, you young rogues, no wry faces.-Recollect you must obey orders, and behave yourselves properly as young gentlemen officers ought to do. Go to your lessons; for, mind me, I'll expect great things from you for all this idleness. -Come, Fyke, go with me below, I want to hear your details of progress." So saying, they both went below, leaving the other officers, and indeed all hands in a state of complete wonderment as to what was the reason of this marvellous hurry.

After some hours' consultation, Captain Switchem and his second in command returned to the deck, and the Captain's gig being ready in waiting, he made direct for the gangway. Much curiosity had been excited as to the occasion of this consultation, and much more was to gratify as to its issue. All

Well-a-day!

If I

that could be heard, however, were his parting words, which, it was said, sounded something like,-" Now, for God's sake, my dear Fyke, exert yourself, and see that you get all things in as forward a state as you can. meet Nailparing on shore, I'll beat up his quarters, and see that he hurries his stores on board of you a little faster than he seems to be inclined at present. Meantime adieu; I'll see you, I hope, about the same hour tomorrow.' Then making a general obeisance to his other officers, he descended into his gig, and shoved off."

"Well, gentlemen, what think ye of the excellent intelligence our commander has brought us?" exclaimed Lieutenant Fyke, rejoining the rest of the officers on the quarter-deck. "I earnestly hope none of you sighs for the pleasures of the drawing-room, or the delights of the parlour fireside; for if you do, I sincerely pity yousince it so pleases the higher powers, instead of granting us these high enjoyments, to order us to a latitude to hold our Christmas where our wine will require no cooling, and where, instead of the witching smiles of beauty, we will have to content ourselves with the grin of that vinegar-faced old rascal, Jack Frost. 'Pon my soul, however, I must say 'tis rather tight-lacing this after all; and rather inclines to make fair duty a hardship. But why do you confine yourselves, gentlemen? In the situation I am placed, I have nothing to expect but a few hours' glimpse ashore after night-fall; but that's no rule to you. Would you take my advice-as there will be little peace here-I would have all of you, who wish to enjoy an afternoon's relaxation, to embrace the present opportunity. I assure you, gentlemen, I can promise you nothing for to-morrow; everything depending on the arrival of Nailparing's stores, and these, you may assure yourselves, will not

be long wanting if Switchem falls in with him, and he's avowedly gone on the hunt. By the by, are you certain all our stores are complete, Doeboy?"

66

'Yes, yes-I think pretty nearly," replied the second lieutenant; "I just wish to see the contents of a hamper or two from Henderson, which I expected ere this time, to be able to speak more distinctly."

"Why, what Henderson is that?" inquired the Doctor.

"Henderson of the South Bridge, Edinburgh, to be sure," rejoined the second lieutenant, "the best victualler in the three kingdoms, either for sauces, soups, or wines; ay, in short, either for liquids or solids."

"Well, I'll tell you what I'll do, Doeboy, and my charge for trouble shall not exceed a couple bottles middling wine, as I'm going up to Edinburgh myself to-day, to get a few supplies to my medicine chest, I'll even give this Henderson of yours a call, and water his memory."

Now, by my honour, Doctor, you may save yourself the trouble, and me the expense of the wine," cried Lieutenant Doeboy; "for I can tell you, Henderson's memory doesn't require any watering-he's as punctual to time as the twopenny post. However, as Fyke says we should take time by the forelock, I've not the smallest objections to accompany you, if you are unengaged, were it no more than to give one's legs a stretch. What say you to that plan, Fyke—are you agree able ?"

Yes, yes, perfectly so," said Lieutenant Fyke, "could I get rid of the cursed feeling of envy I can't help bearing the pair of you."

"Pshaw, my dear fellow," cried Doeboy, "you'll be rid of that in a year or two, once you get a ship of your own. Come along, Doctor, and let us put ourselves in a little better shape for the shore-for once I take a notion in my head, I love to go through with it."

Oh, of course," said Doctor Cawdle, "skyrocket Jack as usual."

They had no sooner left the deck for the shore, than Lieutenant Fyke set himself seriously to higher duties; -the sail-locker was emptied, the sails unloosed and examined, and, wherever faulty, were set about being repaired-other hands were employed

in setting up the lower rigging, under the direction of the gunner, and seizing it afresh-while parties of the topmen were aloft, examining and repairing the slings of the yards, restropping blocks, &c. &c. In short, all hands were busily employed in making everything ready for sea.

The sails were barely stowed away, and matters assuming some degree of order, when a lighter came alongside, out of which suddenly sprung Mr Nailparing, evidently in a high fume of ill humour.

"So he has hunted you off, Nailparing?" cried Lieutenant Fyke, laughing. "Well, positively I must give him the credit of saying that he has an excellent nose-a better, indeed, never left Bow Street; for he has done more in a few hours than I could have done in a month. But how did he contrive to ferret you out so readily; where did he pull you up, Nailparing?"

"Pull me up!" exclaimed the purser, breathless with rage; "Pull me up, say you! D-n me, he has pulled me up, and pulled me off, too, sir, with a vengeance, I can tell you. But pshaw!" cried he, breaking away, "don't bother me now, Fyke, for I'm not in the humour of talking. send your people to clear that confounded lighter, and leave me to recover myself."

Go

This was soon done; and the first lieutenant, whose curiosity was roused to no common pitch at seeing the sedate, cool, and politic Nailparing so completely overcome with passion, immediately returned to the charge, with a Come, Nailparing, my dear fellow, I am positively dying of curiosity-tell me, where the devil did Switchem ferret you out so readily ?"

"Ferret me out;- well may you say so, Fyke," cried the enraged purser, "for, 'pon my soul, I never was so publicly affronted in my life before. By G-, was it not a shame, or was it like a gentleman, to burst in upon us like a country hobnail, and break up, sans ceremonie, a nice comfortable dinner-party-the only discount, too, I ever receive from that fat, blowsy brute of a biscuit-baker, Peasebran, for all the money I pay him-and not only so, but actually to order-ay, Mr Fyke, to order me off, like a dog, to the pier, to ship your lousy stores, there, forsooth! D-n me, such rascally treatment is enough to make a

fellow mad. But what need I expect from him a fellow who has no education, and never took a degree in his life-one of no family worth the naming-and, at the very best, but the skipper of a paltry sloop of war."

"Come, come, Nailparing, you forget yourself, my good sir," cried Lieutenant Fyke; "always recollect, that be he what he may, he has the honour of being at present your commanding officer."

"The more is the shame, Fyke," cried the exasperated purser, that a man of my family should be under such a thrall. D-n me, he's no gentleman, however, nor is there a gentle drop of blood in his plebeian carcase. Such a fellow-——————’

"Pshaw, pshaw, Nailparing, you get foolish," cried the first lieutenant, interrupting him; "you know as well as I do, that I shall not, must not, will not, listen to such calumnies against my first in command. Be so good, therefore, as have done with these peevish nonsensicals of yours, for to me, I assure you, they are highly disagreeable."

"Highly disagreeable, Mr Fyke!" cried the purser, "did you say highly disagreeable, sir?" Lieutenant Fyke coolly nodded as

sent.

“Ah, well, sir, I did not-really I did not expect this-I mean-I should say, I thought you were my friend, Mr Fyke-that's all," stuttered the

purser.

"Mr Nailparing," said Lieutenant Fyke, gravely, "I flatter myself, you never had other occasion to think of me than as a friend; although, as a man of honour, who bears his Majesty's commission, I again repeat, I will not, cannot, stand by and hear my commander abused so mercilessly without a cause.'

Well, but hear me, Fyke-just for one moment hear me," cried the purser, descending a note or two from his overstretched alto;-"Was it not shameful-ay, disgraceful-to affront me before a whole company-to tear me, neck and limb, from an excellent dinner-the only discount, as I said before, that scoundrel Peasebran ever allows me just, forsooth, as if I had been his footman or his shoe-blackand, more than all this, not only to make me superintend, along with him, the loading of that confounded lighter VOL. XVIII.

there, but never to leave me, nor it, until we were a good musket-shot clear of the pier-head? D-n me, you may say what you like, Fyke, but it was very, very unhandsome treatment, I assure you, sir. If I had been a convicted felon, he could have done no more."

"Ha, ha, ha-ho, ho, ho!" roared Lieutenant Fyke, stamping the deck, and holding his sides until the water came into his eyes.

""Tis mighty well, Lieutenant Fyke-mighty well, indeed, sir," growled out the purser, sulkily; then added, with a very low bow, "I'm exceedingly glad to see you so very, very merry, Lieutenant Fyke."

"Excuse me, excuse me, my dear fellow," cried the first lieutenant, smoothing down his merry muscles into a good-humoured smile, "but really your whole story is so completely ridiculous, that it is next to impossible to forbear laughing. But harkye, Nailparing, you say he accompanied you in the lighter clear of the pierhead, pray how did he contrive to leave you there?"

Nothing easier-his gig was in attendance," answered the purser doggedly.

"Yo hoy!-ha, ha, ha!" again roared Lieutenant Fyke.

-n!

"I'm mighty glad, Mr Fyke," said the purser, testily, "mighty glad, indeed, sir, to be the cause of such amazing amusement to you.-D— you're all alike. But I'll not endure such treatment, that I won't-I'll throw up my commission, that I will, and retire for ever from such a villainous slavery.-I'm of a good family, thank God, and can live independent of you all, so I can. It never shall be said no, never-that the eldest son of Nicol Nailparing of that ilk was obliged or beholden to one of you."

"Why, now, what a fume you have wrought yourself into, my dear fellow, for a mere nothing!" said Lieutenant Fyke, forgetting his mirth in the commiseration he felt for the agonized and outrageous purser.-"Do go below, Nailparing, for a minute or two, and compose yourself. By my honour, I had not the smallest idea you were so completely heart-struck. Pshaw, now, don't be a fool-why, you're quite womanish-Go down below, there's a good fellow, take a glass of grog or two, and that will soon bring you round again.— Why, man, you're attracting the no

G

tice of the people.-Come, now, do go down, like a hero, at once.-Ay, now, that's something like yourself.I'll see all the stores properly stowed, and bring you the bill of lading." "Well, well, Fyke, let me alone, and I will go below, since you insist upon it," said the purser, mournfully, and almost reduced to tears; "but you must you cannot but acknowledgethat I've been most confoundedly affronted."

Very nearly, sir-d-d hurry, sir ---I'll tell you directly, sir," answered the bustling Bird, in detached morsels:-"On deck there, whip!-whip, I say, whip!-d-n the fellows, what are they thinking on ?-whip, you lubbers, whip-high enough-now lower away-gently, gently, though. -Below there-d'ye hear me, you Sykes-how much is to come yet?"

Why, Bill, not a vast deal now, as one may say," answered Sykes, squirting out a mouthful of tobaccojuice. "Let me see, you've got all the bread, flour, pease, cocoa, and them there other dry gear; and, as far as I can see, you've got all the beef and pork. Why, dang it, Bird, I do supposes we've got nothing here now but the good stuff; and I don't care although they should send it ashore again, and you and I along with it My eye! what a blow-out we should have!"

my heart," said Lieutenant Fyke, “for, mind me, there will be no grog allowed until all is stowed, and the hatches on."

Bird made a slight inclination of his body, and again touched his hat, in token of complete understanding; then raising his stentorian voice, he bawled out, "D'ye all hear that, men ? -no grog till all's stowed, and the hatches on-so you may be as long as you please about this here clearance. Come, d-n me, cheerly, my hearts, and run them up. Blow away, you whistling lubber-blast me, but you've the easiest birth in the hooker, stuck up there on the top of the nettings like another officer, with that morsel of yellow wattle in your fist-come, blow like blazes, and give us something cheery-High enough-lower away!"

In this rude but animating manner did matters gaily proceed, until the lighter was completely emptied of her cargo; and as the stowers on board had been equally active under the direction of the master all this while, the hatches were in no long time put on, and the keys delivered by the captain of the hold to the first lieutenant in form. Grog was then piped, and all hands went to supper. Twilight was now well advanced, the hammocks were piped down, and nothing occurring worthy of notice, the approaching night gradually consigned the wearicd ship's company into the arms of sleep.

Our hero never loved to be in Leith Roads he was too near what Leyden emphatically calls the scenery of his infancy-which, of course, were fraught with so many associations-so many fond remembrances of better and more joyous days-in all their various aspects, as were ever sure to make him melancholy, and to create a certain disgust for his present profession he could not account for. He had now been long in his hammock-had had an overhaul with busy meddling memory, and, after a severe conflict, had beat the skillet off.

He was now,

therefore, gladly composing himself for a nap, when a sudden noise of bustling feet on the deck attracted his attention, which in no long time was followed by the unusual call of-All hands ahoy!-He knew Bird's voice, and, springing from his hammock, slipped on trowsers and shoes, and flew on deck jacket-in-hand. Here he beheld a scene of the most uncom