iaman's passengers in those days. Everything seemed done in
princely style on board her. She had a crew of a hundred men, a
captain, and four officers, mates, a surgeon, and purser; besides
midshipmen, a boatswain, carpenter, and other petty officers. I was
invited to come on board whenever there was an opportunity during the
voyage.

"We are not cramped, you see," observed Newall, casting his eye over the
spacious decks, "so you will not crowd us; and if you cannot bring us
news, we can exchange ideas."

True to his word, old Bob came alongside the next morning, and told me
that he had found out the _Barbara_, and would put me on board in good
time for breakfast.

I found Captain Hassall very anxious at my non-appearance, and on the
point of sending the second officer on shore to look for me, as it was
expected that the convoy would sail at noon; indeed, the _Active_
frigate, which was to convoy us, had Blue Peter flying at her mast-head,
as had all the merchantmen.

"You'd have time to take a cruise about the fleet, and I'll spin you no
end of yarns if you like to come, sir," said old Bob, with a twinkle in
his eye, as his wherry was see-sawing alongside in a manner most
uncomfortable to a landsman.

"No, thank you, Bob; I must hear the end of your yarns when I come back
again to old England; I'll not forget you, depend on it."

Captain Hassall had not recovered his equanimity of temper, which had
been sorely ruffled at having had two of his best men taken off by a
press-gang. He had arrived on board in time to save two more who would
otherwise also have been taken. He inveighed strongly against the
system, and declared that if it was continued he would give up England
and go over to the United States. It certainly created a very bad
feeling both among officers and men in the merchant service. While we
were talking, the frigate which was to convoy us loosed her topsails and
fired a gun, followed soon after by another, as a signal to way. The
merchantmen at once began to make sail, not so quick an operation as on
board the man-of-war. The pipe played cheerily, round went the capstan,
and in short time we, with fully fifty other vessels, many of them
first-class Indiamen, with a fair breeze, were standing down Channel;
the sky bright, the sea blue, while their white sails, towering upwards
to the heavens, shone in the sunbeams like pillars of snow.

The _Barbara_ proved herself a fast sailer, and could