I
went up after him, when a man dressed in a blue coat with yellow buttons
came up to me and told me to go below. Saying this, he called to another,
who told me he would show me the way, which he soon did, and I was forced
into a dark place where I found seven more half-ragged, half-starved
looking animals. Two of them were countrymen. 'Who have we here?' said one
of them. 'I am all the way from Ireland,' said I, 'and I have come to see
this ship.' 'The devil you have, my honey; and what do you come here for?'
'Shure enough,' replied I, 'that's true. I'll go and see arter my frinds.'
At this they all laughed. I went to the door, but found a sodjer there
with a drawn sword. 'What do you want?' demanded he. 'To go, and plase
you.' 'To-morrow, my lad,' replied he; 'to-night you stay where you are.'
'Why, what a bother you are making, Pat,' said one of my companions; 'you
know you are going to serve the King.' 'And pray,' said I, 'who is the
King? I never saw or heard of him before. How can I serve him?' 'That's a
good one,' said the one who first spoke. 'Where were you born and
baptized?' 'About the bogs of Ireland,' replied I, 'and I was baptized
over a bowl of buttermilk and praters by Father Murphy in a stable among a
parcel of cows.' 'You'll do,' said another; 'have you any dibbs?' 'Yes,'
answered I, 'I have got two shillings and fourpence.' 'That will do. Send
for a pot of the right sort, and we'll drink a long life to Ireland.' I
gave the one who spoke some money. We had our pot, drew ourselves up like
pigs in a trough, and went to sleep. Next morning at daylight we were put
on board a tender--not very tenderly, your honour, for I lost my waistcoat
and my money, and when I complained I was forced over the ship's side.
They said the boat could not wait, as the tender was under weigh. We
arrived at Plymouth about a fortnight ago, and here I am, your honour."
"Well," said I, "if you behave yourself well and endeavour to do your
duty, you will be happy enough; and as I brought you on board, I will, if
you deserve it, keep sight of you, and in time you may become a good
seaman, and perhaps a petty officer." "Long life to your honour! I'll be
shure and take your advice." And so he did, and in a few months after was
made captain of the waist.

We were now tolerably in order, and soon after joined the Channel fleet
off Ushant. The second day after leaving Plymouth Sound we fell in with
the _Franchise_, a large French frigate