sideration of her general good conduct, I purpose reprieving her.
That will settle the matter, and show my leniency and consideration in
favourable colours."

Thus our worthy Captain was in the habit of arranging even more weighty
matters, by which mode of proceeding, in spite of his eccentricities, he
warmly attached the ship's company to him.

CHAPTER THREE.

Time passed by, as it does in youth as well as in old age. The ship's
company were looking forward to being relieved, for the frigate had
already been the best part of five years on the station. I was learning
to knot and splice, and could already perform a hornpipe, if not with
much grace, at all events with an exhibition of considerable elastic
power, and greatly to the admiration of Toby Kiddle, Pat Brady, and my
other friends, as well as my father and mother and Mrs King. They
would get round applauding me greatly, as I sprang up and down, shuffled
round and round and snapped my fingers, kicking out my legs in every
direction. Sometimes the officers would come forward to have a look at
me, and on several occasions I was invited aft to exhibit before the
Captain.

Several changes had taken place on board, one of the lieutenants having
invalided home, while another had died, their places being filled by
others whom I shall shortly have to describe. The brig we had captured
was ultimately brought into the service, and she was about to be
commissioned. She was fitting out at Macao, and it was understood that
Mr Schank would take the command of her. He had long been expecting
promotion, though frequently disappointed, and he now made sure that he
should obtain it. He might also hope, in so fine a vessel, to make a
fair amount of prize-money. He required it much, for he had an old
mother and several maiden sisters at home to support, besides two or
three younger brothers to educate and send out in the world. This was
generally known among his brother officers, and, although the cut of his
uniforms was somewhat antiquated, and his best coat was tolerably
threadbare, even the most thoughtless never ventured to quiz him. Every
sixpence he could save went to the cottage in Lincolnshire. There his
father had been the incumbent of a living of under a hundred and fifty
pounds a year, on which he had to bring up his family and pay certain
college debts, which had hung like a millstone round his neck all his
life. I mention these things now, although, o