from the table, when the slight restraint their
presence imposed being removed, the bottle began to circulate even more
freely than before. Songs were sung, toasts were given, and the health
of the young heir of Kilfinnan was drunk with uproarious cheers. "May
he be as fine a man as his father, and an honour to the noble profession
he has chosen, though faith! I'd rather he followed it than I myself,"
exclaimed a red-nosed squire from the lower end of the table, "May he
live to see his grandchildren around him, and may the old castle stand
as long as the round world endures."

"Sure a finer young sailor never placed foot on the deck of a
man-of-war," echoed another landowner of the same stamp. "May he come
back a captain at the least, and take the lead in the field in many a
hard day's run." Similar compliments were uttered in succession for
some time. Fitz Barry took them very quietly, indeed he at length
became utterly weary of the proceedings. In truth also, the thoughts of
leaving home and his sweet young sister and his cousin Sophy, whom he
loved like one, made him somewhat sad, and little able to enter into the
conversation going forward. He did not, however, allow either Sophy or
Nora to discover how much he felt.

The next morning, farewells over, he went on board the frigate, without
much prospect of returning home for three years or more. As she under
all sail stood out of the bay, he cast many a lingering glance at the
old castle, and the well-known bold outlines of the shore. At Plymouth,
to which port the frigate had been ordered to proceed, several fresh
hands were entered to make up the complement of her proper crew. They
were of all descriptions, but Captain Falkner soon discovered that there
was scarcely a seaman among them. Officers in those days, when men were
scarce, had to form their crews out of the most heterogeneous materials.
He was receiving a report of them from his first lieutenant. "Here is
a fellow, sir. He has been sent to us from the tender, and has entered
under the name Higson, and says he is an Englishman, though he is
evidently Irish by his tongue, and the cut of his features and general
appearance from head to foot. He knows little enough of a seaman's
duties, but is a stout, strong fellow, and we may in time lick him into
shape. I am advised to keep an eye on him while we remain in harbour,
lest he should take French leave, and forget to return on board."

"We mus