it had wrought on me. I made, however, a great mistake;
for so far from raising myself in her estimation, on the score of
correct observation, I sunk, I fear, irrecoverably, in her good
graces, by presuming, as she alleged, to interfere with the wonder of
the miracle, the essence of which, according to her, I discovered to
consist, not in the recovery of "the man, who was made whole," but in
his being able to shoulder a four-post bed, and carry it off without
inconvenience!

CHAPTER XVII.

SIR SAMUEL HOOD.

As soon as the Volage was refitted, and her crew refreshed, after our
voyage from England of four months and a half, we sailed from Bombay
to the southward along the western coast of India; and having rounded
Ceylon, at Point de Galle, on the extreme south-western corner, where
we merely touched to land the governor's dispatches, before we hauled
up to the northward, and, after twelve days' passage, sailed into the
beautiful harbour of Trincomalee. There, to my great joy, we found the
commander-in-chief, Sir Samuel Hood; who, to my still greater joy,
informed me that a vacancy had been kept open for me in his flag ship,
the Illustrious. In a few minutes my traps were packed up, my
commission made out, and I had the honour of hailing myself a
professional follower of one of the first officers in his Majesty's
service. It is true, I was only fifth lieutenant, and not even fifth
on the Admiral's list for promotion; for I came after a number of old
officers who had served under Sir Samuel for many long years of
patient, or rather impatient, expectation: but my first and grand
purpose was attained, although my chance of advancement was very
small, and very remote.

In capstans, and other machines, there is a mechanical device, with
which every person is acquainted, termed a pall or catch, by which the
work gained in the effort last made shall be secured, and the machine
prevented from turning back again. Something of this kind takes place
in life, particularly in naval life; and happy is the officer who
hears the pall of his fortunes play "click! click!" as he spins
upwards in his profession. Proportionately deep is the despair of the
poor wretch who, after struggling and tugging with all his might at
the weary windlass of his hopes, can never bring it quite far enough
round to hear the joyous sound of the pall dropping into its berth! I
well remember most of these important moments of my own life; and I
cou