down the
blood-stained deck of the _Zebra_. But it all ended in naught; and I
turned over wearily on my pillow, sick in body and mind, and longing, as
prisoner never longed, for wings.

Glad enough I was when one day, early in January, the doctor pronounced
me cured, and put me on board a ship for Dublin, there to report myself
to the Admiralty, and take my new sailing orders.

"But first," said I to myself, "cost what it may, I will have a peep at
Fanad."

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR.

A STEP UP THE LADDER.

A strange thing befell me as soon as I landed in Dublin. I was prowling
along the quay, wondering whether I should present myself then and there
at the Admiralty, or take French leave for Donegal while I was free and
had money in my pocket, when I was startled out of my wits by what
seemed to be a veritable ghost in my path. Unless I had been certain
that I was the only survivor out of the ill-starred _Zebra_, I could
have sworn I saw Mr Felton, the second lieutenant, leaning over the
rails, watching the dressing of a smart-looking revenue cutter that lay
out in the water-way. The more I looked the less like a ghost did he
appear, until at last I ventured to walk up to him with a salute.

"Good-morrow, Lieutenant Felton," said I.

"Captain, if you please," said he, turning round. "What! is that you,
Gallagher, or your ghost? I thought I was the only man that saved his
life out of that fated ship."

"I thought the same of myself, till this moment," said I.

"I hung on to a cask for close on twenty-four hours, till an English
lugger picked me up. But I'll tell you of that later. Where do you
spring from?"

"From hospital; I was on Duncan's ship at the battle of Camperdown--"

"You were! Lucky dog!" interjected he.

"Where I got a crack in the shoulder, and am only just out."

"And what are you going to do?"

"I am going to report myself at the Admiralty, and apply for a berth. I
have my papers, and a letter from the admiral himself."

"It strikes me they'll have to build a ship for you," said he, with a
laugh; "for, supposing you to be dead, I gave such an extravagantly
glowing account of your conduct on the _Zebra_, that I dare swear
they'll want to make a vice-admiral of you straight away. But what do
you say to serve under me? Just at the time when I called at the
Admiralty they had received a pressing request from the Customs to find
them an officer to take charge of a cutter--there sh