as crew. We had laid in all sorts of provisions, an
ample supply for the few days we were to be away. Port Louis, it must
be remembered, is on the north side of the island, and we had agreed to
make our cruise to the eastward, where there are some small islands--
Gunners Coin and Flat Island. If the wind should prove favourable we
hoped to circumnavigate the island. With a fair breeze off the land,
and Le Pouce seen standing up astern beyond the town, we sailed out of
the harbour, the weather being as fine as heart could desire. William
and Toby Trundle took it by turns to steer, Jacotot pointing out the
dangers to be avoided, for we kept close in shore for the sake of the
scenery. Toby Trundle sat aft steering, looking, in a broad-brimmed
straw hat, a white jacket and trowsers, contrasting with his sunburnt
complexion, more like a monkey than a midshipman. Jacotot, when not
engaged in any culinary matter below, was jabbering away at a rapid rate
to us, if we would listen; if not, he was addressing his son, whom he
kept constantly on the move, now scolding, now praising with terms of
tender endearment.

We enjoyed ourselves, and lunched and dined with great contentment,
voting Jacotot a first-rate _chef_, which he undoubtedly was. He was,
however, a better cook than seaman we before long discovered.

"The next prize we take I hope that we shall find some cooks on board;
we must secure one for our mess," observed Toby, helping himself to one
of the dishes Jacotot had sent aft. I had not been long on board before
I found out, what seemed to have escaped the midshipmen's observation
when they hired the boat, that the rigging was sadly rotten, and that
she herself was in a somewhat leaky condition. They, however, only
laughed at the leaking. "It will keep the boat sweet, and give Jack
Nobs and Auguste something to do," observed Master Trundle, cocking his
eye at me. Notwithstanding this, we stood on, the breeze shifting
conveniently in our favour till nightfall, when we put into a small
harbour, the entrance to which our pilot for a wonder knew. The next
day we continued our course, landing in a bay, up which we ran to have a
look at the country, and to get some goat's milk and fruit. We found a
small farm, the only white people being an old-fashioned Frenchman, with
a somewhat dingy wife, and two grown-up daughters. All the rest of the
people were either brown Orientals or black Africans. The old Frenchman