oubt you will. Now, run along and get aboard your ship, and the sooner
you can report yourself ready for sea, the better I shall be pleased
with you. Don't forget to-night--seven sharp!"

I was probably the most elated young man on the West Coast that
afternoon as I hurried from the commodore's presence and made my way
aboard the sweet little _Francesca_, where I found the whole of my
former crew, Keene included, already installed.

"Hullo, Grenvile, what is the meaning of this?" was his enquiry as I
went up the vessel's low side and passed through the gangway. "What's
in the wind? Here have we all been turned over at a moment's notice,
and there are already rumours floating about that we sail to-night."

"No," said I, "it is not quite so bad as that, but it means that we are
bound to the West Indies at the earliest possible moment, and it also
means, Jack, you villain, that I have received strict orders from the
commodore to work you down until you are as fine and as sharp as a
needle. You will hear more about it to-night, my lad, when you and I go
to dine with him, so stand by and look out for squalls!"

"The West Indies? Hooray!" cried Jack. "The land of beauty and
romance, of solitary cays with snug little harbours, each of them
sheltering a slashing pirate schooner patiently waiting for us to go and
cut her out; the land of fair women and hospitable men, the land of
sugar plantations, lovely flowers, and delicious fruits, the land of--
of--"

"Disastrous hurricanes, furious thunderstorms, yellow fever, poisonous
reptiles, the horrible mysteries of voodoo worship, and so on, and so
on," I cut in.

"Oh, you be hanged!" retorted Jack recklessly. "It's a precious sight
better than this pestilential West Coast at all events, say what you
will. And as to work, that's all right; I don't care how hard you work
me in reason, Dick. I know that I've been an atrociously lazy beggar,
always more ready to skylark than to do anything useful, but I'm going
to turn over a new leaf now; I am, indeed--you needn't look incredulous;
I've wasted time enough, and I intend now to buckle to and make myself
useful. And the commodore may `jacket' me as much as he pleases to-
night--I know I deserve it--and I'll say nothing, but just promise to be
a good boy in future. He's a jolly, kind-hearted old chap, and I don't
care who hears me say so!"

"Well done, Jack!" said I; "I've not heard you talk so much in earnest
for a lo