ng each other all
sorts of tricks. No one would have supposed that they had only just met
for the first time in their lives. As they turned into the High Street
the lieutenants encountered Admiral Triton stumping along in his
flushing coat and weather-beaten hat. He recognised Murray and Adair at
once, and invited them and Jack, with Tom and his two friends to dine
with him at the "George" at six.

"I shall then hear how you like being a sailor. It isn't too late to
give it up," said the Admiral, looking at Tom.

"Wouldn't change if they would make me a judge or Archbishop of York,"
answered Tom, in a positive tone.

"Just like Jack," observed the Admiral, smiling, "I hope at the end of
your cruise you'll have no reason to repent your resolution."

Jack during the day picked up several more men, and returned early on
board; when Tom, with no little pride, introduced his new friend to the
mess, as Mr Gerald Desmond, of Ballymacree Castle, County Clare,
Ireland.

"Mr Gerald Desmond be hanged!" exclaimed old Higson, who had come down
tired, after having worked hard all day, and was out of humour. "Call
him Paddy Desmond at once. We have no misters in this berth."

"And sure, so I am Paddy Desmond, and if it's to show that I come from
old Ireland, I'm proud of the title," said Gerald, taking his seat, and
looking about him with an air of unconcern.

"I told you so," whispered Tom. "I knew from the first that they would
call you Paddy."

Gerald quickly made himself at home, and took in good part all the
quizzing his messmates chose to bestow on him.

The dinner at the "George" went off capitally. The Admiral put his
young guests at their ease, and let them talk and laugh away to their
hearts' content, telling them all sorts of amusing anecdotes, and though
he took good care not to allow them to drink more wine than their heads
could carry, they unanimously declared that he was the jolliest old
fellow they had ever met. Of course, he did not forget to tell all the
company boxy Adair had made him carry his portmanteau, and to chuckle
over the story for five minutes at least.

"A pretty pass the service has come to when midshipmen take such
liberties with their superiors, eh, Captain Sourcrout?" he exclaimed,
giving a poke in the ribs with his elbow to a stiff, old, martinet style
of post-captain, who sat next to him, and had looked utterly horrified
at his story.

"The world's turned upside down, isn't i