cular power, manage to support one
midshipman, the weight of two was more than he could bear, and letting
go, down came Gerald, and over went Tom, with the monkey struggling and
scratching on the top of them, giving a revengeful nip on the most
exposed part of his new master's body. Master Spider hadn't long his
own way, however, for the reefers picking themselves up, Paddy gave him
a box on the ears, which though it made him show his teeth, brought him
to order, and the tired steed being found feeding close by, all hands
agreed that, unless they wished to be benighted, it was about time to
return shipward. Paddy declining the further companionship of Spider,
Tom took charge of him, and off they set down the mountain's side, for a
wonder reaching the plain without breaking their necks; their steeds
happily knowing the way better than they did. Darkness came on while
they were still galloping along.

"Och, sure our horses' hoofs are scattering the sparks all around us,"
cried Paddy. One of the more knowing of the party, however, discovered
that the sparks were fire-flies, flitting about above a damp spot
through which they were passing.

A good supper at the hotel quickly restored their exhausted spirits, and
they got safe on board with Master Spider. It was the last ride on
shore they enjoyed for many a long day. They were soon to be engaged in
more stirring and dangerous adventures.

We must now accompany the two lieutenants. On landing, having a bill to
get cashed, they repaired for that purpose to the establishment of a
certain Don Antonio Gomez, who acted as store-keeper and banker, and
was, they heard, one of the leading men in the place. He spoke English,
they found, remarkably well.

"Are you related to Mr Adair, of Ballymacree, in Ireland?" he asked, on
hearing Adair's name.

"I am his son," was the answer.

"Then I am truly delighted to see you, my dear sir," exclaimed the Don.
"My mother is the daughter of an uncle of yours--no; let me see--of a
great uncle who settled here some forty years ago or more, after the
island became a dependency of England. She will be charmed to welcome
you as a cousin. My wife, too, is Irish, and we have some guests also
who hail from the old country, so that you will be perfectly at home.
You will come up at once, and Lieutenant Rogers will, I hope, accompany
you."

Adair, of course, said all that could be expected; how enchanted he
should be to make the acquai