laugh sounded along the deck, and served as a gong to
summon an audience around him, though only a favoured few ventured into
his cabin.

"I was telling you about my maternal parent, the estimable Mrs Johnson.
I was alluding to times before she assumed that appellation, or became
my parent. I brought up my history to the period when she became
first-lieutenant of the gallant Thunder bomb. She did not remain in
that craft long, for the captain, officers, and crew, were turned over
to a dashing, slashing, thirty-six gun frigate, the Firegobbler. It is
extraordinary what a number of actions that frigate fought, and what
other wonders she performed all owing to my mother, I believe you. At
last, one day, not far off from the chops of the Channel, a large ship,
under Spanish colours, was sighted. The Firegobbler gave chase, and a
running fight ensued, during which a shot killed the captain, and of
course my mother, who took command, followed up the enemy.

"Before the day was over, another Spanish line-of-battle ship hove in
sight, and when the two closed each other, they hove-to, and waited for
the Firegobbler, which wasn't long in getting into action. Then, I
believe you, she did give them a hammering, in such right good earnest,
that, before the sun set, they cried _peccavi_, and struck their flags.
As I told you, the other day, she brought them both in triumph into
Plymouth. Now, by all the rules of the service, she ought to have been
promoted, you'll allow; but, by some means or other, the Lords
Commissioners of the Admiralty found out that she was a woman,--perhaps
some jealous fellow peached on her,--and, think of their ingratitude,
not only wouldn't they give her a commander's rank, but they superseded
her, and would by no manner of means allow her to remain in the ship.
To my mind, those big-wigs up in London have no consciences. What
encouragement is there for a spirited young woman to go and fight her
country's battles? None! that's a fact! Miss Nailor had to go on
shore. But she couldn't bear a quiet life; so, slipping on seamen's
clothes again, she shipped aboard another frigate, but, of course, she
had to go before the mast. That made little difference to her; she
loved the sea for itself, and didn't care where she was. For some time
she got on very well; but she didn't always remember that she was no
longer a first-lieutenant--which was natural, poor thing! Well, one
day, when off the coast of