in at twelve o'clock with the resolution of sticking to his purpose and quitting His Majesty's service-in fact, of presenting His Majesty with his between two and three years' time served as midshipman all free gratis and for nothing, except his provisions and his pay, which some captains are bold enough to assert that they not only are not worth, but not even the salt that accompanies it, forgetting that they were once midshipmen themselves, and at the period were, of course, of about the same value. The next morning Captain Wilson came off. The ship's company were mustered, the service read by Mr. Hawkins, and Jack, as soon as all the official duties were over, was about to go up to the captain, when the captain said to him, and those pills of the doctor's don't agree with me. I always am ill if I am without air and exercise." Very true," said the first lieutenant; "people require air and exercise. I've no opinion of the doctor's remedies; the only thing that is worth a farthing is the universal medicine." "I should so long to try it, sir," replied Jack. "I read the book one day, and it said that if you took it daily for a fortnight or three weeks, and with plenty of air and exercise, it would do wonders." "And it's very true," replied Mr. Pottyfar; "and if you'd like to try it, you shall: I have plenty. Shall I give you a dose now?" "If you please, sir," replied Jack; "and tell me how often I am to take it, for my head aches all day." "Mr. Easy, the governor desired me to bring you on shore to dine with him, and he has a bed at your service.' Mr. Pottyfar took Jack down, and, putJack touched his hat and ran down below ting into his hand three or four bottles of to make his few preparations. the preparation, told him that he was to take thirty drops at night, when he went to bed, not to drink more than two glasses of wine, and to avoid the heat of the By the time that Mesty, who had taken charge of his chest, etc., had put his necessaries in the boat, Jack had almost made up his mind that His Majesty should not be deprived yet a while of so valuable an officer. Jack returned on deck, and found that the captain was not yet ready; he went up to Mr. Pottyfar and told him that the captain had ordered him to go on shore with. him, and Mr. Pottyfar, who had quite got over his spleen, said, "Very well, Mr. Easy; I wish you a great deal of pleasure.” "This is very different from yesterday," thought Jack. "Suppose I try the medicine?-I am not very well, Mr. Potty far, sun. But, sir," replied Jack, who had put the bottles in his pocket, "I am afraid that I cannot take it long; for, as the ship is ready for fitting, I shall be exposed to the sun all day." Yes, if you were wanted, Mr. Easy, but we have plenty here without you; and when you are unwell, you cannot be expected to work. Take care of your health. And I trust indeed, I am sure that you will find this medicine wonderfully efficacious.' "I will begin to-night, sir, if you please," replied Jack, "and I am very much obliged to you. I sleep at the governor's; shall I come on board to-morrow morning?" am "No, no! Take care of yourself and get well; I shall be glad to hear that you get better. Send me word how it acts." "I will, sir-send you word by the boat every day," replied Jack, delighted. "I very much obliged to you, sir. Gascoigne and I were thinking of asking you, but did not like to do so; he, poor fellow! suffers from headache almost as bad as I do, and the doctor's pills are of no use to him." "He shall have some too, Mr. Easy; I thought he looked pale. I'll see to it this afternoon. Recollect, moderate exercise, Mr. Easy, and avoid the sun at midday." "Yes, sir," replied Jack; "I'll not forget;" and off went Jack, delighted. He ordered Mesty to put up his whole portmanteau instead of the small bundle he put into the boat, and, telling Gascoigne what a spoke he had put into his wheel, was soon in the boat with the captain, and went on shore. "Sick-list'!" said Captain Wilson. "You were not in the report that Mr. Daly gave me this morning." No, I'm on Mr. Pottyfar's list; and I'm going through a course of the universal medicine." "What's all this, Jack? what's all this? There's some story here. Don't be afraid of the captain: you've me to back you," said the governor. Jack was not at all afraid of the captain, so he told him how the first lieutenant had refused him leave the evening before, and how he had now given him permission to remain and try the universal medicine; at which the governor laughed heartily, nor could Captain Wilson refrain from joining. "But, Mr. Easy," replied the captain, after a pause, "if Mr. Pottyfar will allow you to stay on shore, I cannot; you have your duty to learn. You must be aware that now is your time, and you must not lose opportunities that do not occur every day. You must acknowledge the truth of what I say." "Yes, sir," replied Jack; "I admit it all, provided I do intend to follow the profession;" and, so saying, our hero bowed and left the veranda, where they had been talking. This hint of Jack's, thrown out by him more with the intention of preventing his being sent on board than with any definite idea, was not lost upon either the captain or the governor. of his confidence. But still, what I propose would, I think, be the best, for then he will be at his duty in a way that will suit all parties you, because you employ him on most nobly in the gale, and there has not been one complaint against him. I never was more astonished; he must have meant something." "I tell you what he means, Wilson-service; the first lieutenant, because Jack that he does not like to be sent on board; nothing more. He's not to be cooped up; you may lead him, but not drive him." "Yes, but the service will not admit of it; I never could allow it. He must do his duty like the rest, and conform to the rules." 66 Exactly; so he must. But look ye, Wilson you must not lose him. It's all easily settled appoint him your orderly midshipman to and from the ship; that will be employment, and he can always remain here at night. I will tell him that I have asked, as a favor, what I now do, and leave me to find out what he is thinking about." "It may be done that way, certainly," replied Captain Wilson, musing, "and you are more likely to get his intentions from him than I am. I am afraid he has too great a command of money ever to be fond of the ship; it is the ruin of a junior officer to be so lavishly supplied." "He's a long way from ruin yet, Wilson. He's a very fine fellow, even by your own acknowledgment. You humored him, out of gratitude to his father, when he first came into the service; humor him a little now to keep him in it. Besides, if your first lieutenant is such a fool with his universal medicine, can you wonder at a midshipman taking advantage of it?" can take his medicine; and Jack, because he can dine with me every day." "Well, I suppose it must be so," replied Captain Wilson, laughing; "but still, I trust you will discover what is working in his mind, to induce him to give me that answer, governor.' "Never fear; Jack shall confess." The party sat down to dinner, and, what with the governor's aid-de-camp and those invited, it was pretty numerous. After the cloth had been removed the governor called upon Jack for his stories, whereupon, much to the surprise of Captain Wilson, who had never heard one word of it-for the admiral had not mentioned anything about it to him during the short time the Aurora was with the Toulon fleet-our hero gave the governor and that company the narrative of all that happened in the Eliza Ann transport-the loves of Captain Hogg and Miss Hicks, the adventures of Gascoigne, and his plan by which he balked them all. The governor was delighted, and Captain Wilson not a little astonished. "You prevented a very foolish thing, Mr. Easy, and behaved very well," observed the captain, laughing again at the idea; "but you never told me of this." "No, sir," replied Jack; "I have always reserved my stories for the governor's table, where I am sure to meet you, and then telling once does for all." Jack received his appointment as orderly midshipman, and everything went on well; for of his own accord he stayed on board the major part of the day to learn his duty, which very much pleased the captain and Mr. Pottyfar. In this Jack showed a great deal of good sense, and Captain Wilson did not repent of the indulgence he had shown him. Jack's health improved daily, much to Mr. Pottyfar's satisfaction, who imagined that he took the universal medicine night and morning. Gascoigne also was a patient under the first lieutenant's hands and often on shore with our hero, who thought no more of quitting the service. For seven weeks they had now remained in harbor, for even the masts had to be made, when one day Captain Wilson opened a letter he received at break fast-time, and, having read it, laid it down with the greatest surprise depicted in his counte nance. What can this mean?" said he. Jack heard the letter read, rose quietly, whistled low, as if not attending to it, and then slipped out of the room unperceived by the governor or Captain Wilson. As The fact was that, although Jack had longed to tell the governor about his adventures after the masquerade, he did not like yet a while, until he was sure that there were no consequences because he had given the captain's name instead of his own. soon as he had heard the letter read he at once perceived that it had been the old lady, and not the priests, who had made the inquiry, and that by giving Captain Wilson's name he had obtained for him this fine. legacy. Jack was delighted, but still puzzled; so he walked out of the room to reflect a little. "What can it mean?" said Captain Wilson. "I never rendered any services to any one on the 12th of August or after it. It What's the matter, Wilson?" said the is some mistake. The 12th of August: that was the day of the grand masquerade." governor. 'Just hear its contents, Sir Thomas." Captain Wilson then read in Spanish as follows: "A lucky one for you, at all events; for, you know, mistake or not, no one else can touch the legacy. It can be paid only to you." 66 'I never heard of anything taking place at the masquerade: I was there, but I left early, for I was not very well.-Mr. Easy," said Captain Wilson, turning round; but Jack was gone. "Was he at the masquerade?" asked the governor. "Yes, I know he was, for the first lieutenant told me that he requested not to come on board till the next day." "Depend upon it," replied the governor, striking his fist on the table, "that Jack's at the bottom of it." been for Captain Wilson, who supported her, and she was very thankful to him." You're right, Jack," replied the gov"that will, "I should not be surprised at his being at the bottom of anything," replied Captain Wilson, laughing. "Leave it to me, Wilson; I'll find it ernor, after a short pause; out." After a little more conversation Captain Wilson went on board, leaving Jack on purpose that the governor might pump him. But this Sir Thomas had no occasion to do, for Jack had made up his mind to make the governor his confidant, and he immediately told him the whole story. The governor held his sides at our hero's description, especially at his ruse of giving the captain's name instead of his own. "You'll kill me, Jack, before you've done with me," said old Tom, at last. But now what's to be done?" Our hero now became grave; he pointed out to the governor that he himself had plenty of money and would come into a large fortune, and that Captain Wilson was poor, with a large family. All Jack wished the governor to manage was that Captain Wilson might consent to accept the legacy. "Right, boy, right! You're my own boy," replied the governor. But we must think of this, for Wilson is the very soul of honor, and there may be some difficulty about it. You have told nobody?" "Not a soul but you, Sir Thomas." "It never would do to tell him all this, Jack, for he would insist that the legacy belonged to you." "I have it, sir," replied Jack. "When I was going into the masquerade, I offered to hand this very old lady, who was covered with diamonds, out of her carriage, and she was so frightened at my dress of a devil that she would have fallen down had it not I think, do. I must tell him the story of the friars, because I swore you had something to do with it, but I'll tell him no more. Leave it all to me." Captain Wilson returned in the afternoon, and found the governor in the veranda. "I have had some talk with young Easy," said the governor, "and he has told me a strange story about that night which he was afraid to tell to everybody." The governor then narrated the history of the friars and the will. a very dowager-like old personage from "Yes; why not? Have you not heard of a man having a fortune left him for merely opening the pew door of a church to an old gentleman ?" Yes, but it appears so strange!" "There's nothing strange in this world, Wilson-nothing at all. We may slave for years and get no reward, and do a trifle out |