in Lascelles.
He, however, reserved a still more detailed account to give to his
messmates in full conclave assembled in the midshipmen's berth. The
only person on board who had not heard of Adair's arrival was Pigeon.
He had laid down after breakfast on a sofa in the first lieutenant's
cabin, and gone fast asleep. About luncheon-time he awoke, and rubbing
his eyes sat up, and feeling hungry after all the excitement and fright
he had gone through, arose and went into the gun-room. Finding no one
there, he bethought him that he would go and honour the midshipmen with
a visit, and talk of what he would have done if the ship had gone into
action, and his services had actually been required. He was, somewhat
to his surprise, welcomed with a cordiality to which he was not much
accustomed. In a short time the conversation turned to the loss of the
_Onyx_, and to the character of Paddy Adair. One said one thing of him,
and one or two hazarded slightly disparaging observations. The bait
took.

"Oh, he was, I remember, always a foolish dunder-headed Irishman,"
observed Pigeon; "I could thrash a dozen such fellows as he was. No one
thought anything of him at school, I remember."

"Oh, bully Pigeon, oh, bully Pigeon, that you know right well wasn't the
case," exclaimed Paddy, popping his head in at the door of the berth.

Pigeon looked up at hearing the voice, and turning very pale, while his
countenance exhibited a look of intense horror, fell back in a fainting
fit, which afforded an excellent excuse to several of the youngsters for
throwing half a dozen tumblers of water over him. Some of the water was
cold, and some was rather hot, but the effect was the same. He got a
thorough ducking, and after spluttering not a little, and coughing as
the water dashed into his mouth, he quickly recovered his senses. It
was some little time, however, before he could be convinced that Paddy
Adair in _propria persona_ sat before him. Harmony was soon restored,
and Paddy assured him that he did not intend to frighten him so much,
and that he hoped he would forgive him. Never was a happier party
assembled in the berth at dinner than on that occasion. Paddy's health
was drunk, and he was warmly congratulated on his escape and return on
board, even by the seniors of the mess.

"And now, Adair, let us hear all about it," said Hemming, when the cloth
had been removed and the young gentlemen were discussing their walnuts
and wine.