ted, and before morning we had a reef out of the topsails.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

NEWS FROM HOME--A "FATIGUE" PARTY EMPLOYED AT GIBRALTAR--MORE
PARTICULARS IN THE LIFE OF MR. CHUCKS--A BRUSH WITH THE ENEMY--A
COURT-MARTIAL AND A LASTING IMPRESSION.

A few days afterwards, a cutter joined us from Plymouth with orders for
the frigate to proceed forthwith to Gibraltar, where we should learn our
destination. We were all very glad of this: for we had had quite enough
of cruising in the Bay of Biscay; and, as we understood that we were to
be stationed in the Mediterranean, we hoped to exchange gales of wind
and severe weather for fine breezes and a bright sky. The cutter
brought out our letters and newspapers. I never felt more happy than I
did when I found one put into my hands. It is necessary to be far from
home and friends, to feel the real delight of receiving a letter. I
went down into the most solitary place in the steerage, that I might
enjoy it without interruption. I cried with pleasure before I opened
it; but I cried a great deal more with grief, after I had read the
contents--for my eldest brother Tom was dead of a typhus fever. Poor
Tom. When I called to mind what tricks he used to play me--how he used
to borrow my money and never pay me--and how he used to thrash me and
make me obey him, because he was my elder brother--I shed a torrent of
tears at his loss; and then I reflected how miserable my poor mother
must be, and I cried still more.

I was very melancholy for a few days; but it was so delightful running
down the Portuguese and Spanish coasts, the weather was so warm, and the
sea so smooth, that I am afraid I forgot my brother's death sooner than
I ought to have done; but my spirits were cheered up, and the novelty of
the scene prevented me from thinking. Every one, too, was so gay and
happy, that I could not well be otherwise. In a fortnight, we anchored
in Gibraltar Bay, and the ship was stripped to refit. There was so much
duty to be done, that I did not like to go on shore. Indeed, Mr Falcon
had refused some of my messmates, and I thought it better not to ask,
although I was very anxious to see a place which was considered so
extraordinary. One afternoon, I was looking over the gangway as the
people were at supper, and Mr Falcon came up to me and said, "Well, Mr
Simple, what are you thinking of?" I replied, touching my hat, that I
was wondering how they had cut out the solid rocks into