ourse he and his men will be rejoinin' directly. And I was
just sayin' that we shall all be very sorry to lose him."

"Sorry! by George I should say so!" cut in the general. "It would have
been a precious bad job for everybody in this ship if we had not been
lucky enough to pick up him and his men. Why, sir, we should, every man
jack of us, have been dead as mutton by this time. So you think that
craft yonder is your ship, do you?" he continued, turning to me. "Well,
if she is, you will have to join her--that goes without saying. But
Carter here speaks no more than the truth when he says that we shall all
be very sorry to lose you--I know that I shall be. And if it should be
that we must say good-bye to you now, that must not be the end of our
acquaintance, you know; that will never do. You and I have fought side
by side, my boy, and I shall expect you to write to me from time to time
to let me know how you are getting on; and I will write to you also, if
you can give me an address from which my letters can be forwarded on to
you. This will be my address for the next year or two, probably." And,
producing a card, he scribbled something upon it and handed it to me.

"And now," he continued, "about rejoining this ship of yours. Would it
be possible for me to accompany you on board? I should like to make the
acquaintance of your captain, and have a little talk with him."

I very clearly understood that the kind-hearted old fellow wished to do
me a good turn by making a much more favourable report of my conduct
than it would be possible for me personally to make; and I was not so
foolish as to regard lightly or neglect any help of which I could
legitimately avail myself in my professional career. I therefore said:

"Oh yes, Sir Thomas, I have no doubt that it can be very easily managed;
and I am quite sure that Captain Bentinck will be delighted to see you.
You can go aboard in the same boat with us, and your return to this ship
can be afterwards arranged for."

"Right! Then that is settled. Now I will leave you, for there is a
little matter that I wish to attend to before you and your people leave
the ship."

And with a very kindly smile and nod the old gentleman turned and left
me, and presently I noticed that he was deep in conversation with first
one and then another of the passengers who were now mustering on the
poop.

Meanwhile the breeze was freshening and the two craft were nearing each
other