did not see them.

The ship remained at Gibraltar Bay about three weeks, during which time
we had refitted the rigging fore and aft, restowed and cleaned the hold,
and painted the outside. She never looked more beautiful than she did
when, in obedience to our orders, we made sail to join the admiral. We
had very light winds, and a day or two afterwards we were off Valencia,
nearly becalmed. I was on the gangway, looking through a telescope at
the houses and gardens round the city, when Mr Chucks, the boatswain,
came up to me. "Mr Simple, oblige me with that glass a moment; I wish
to see if a building remains there, which I have some reason to
remember."

"What, were you ever on shore there?"

"Yes, I was, Mr Simple, and nearly _stranded_, but I got off again
without much damage."

"How do you mean--were you wrecked then?"

"Not my ship, Mr Simple, but my peace of mind was for some time; but
it's many years ago, when I was first made boatswain of a corvette"
(during this conversation he was looking through the telescope); "yes,
there it is," said he; "I have it in the field. Look, Mr Simple, do
you see a small church, with a spire of glazed tiles, shining like a
needle?"

"Yes, I do."

"Well, then, just above it, a little to the right, there is a long white
house, with four small windows--below the grove of orange-trees."

"I see it," replied I; "but what about that house, Mr Chucks?"

"Why, thereby hangs a tale," replied he, giving a sigh, which raised and
then lowered the frill of his shirt at least six inches.

"Why, what is the mystery, Mr Chucks?"

"I'll tell you, Mr Simple. With one who lived in that house, I was for
the first, and for the last time, in love."

"Indeed! I should like very much to hear the story."

"So you shall, Mr Simple. One evening, I was walking in the Plaza,
when I saw a female a-head, who appeared to be the prettiest-moulded
little vessel that I ever cast my eyes on. I followed in her wake, and
examined her; such a clean run I never beheld--so neat, too, in all her
rigging--everything so nicely stowed under hatches. And then, she
sailed along in such a style, at one moment lifting so lightly, just
like a frigate, with her topsails on the caps, that can't help going
along. At another time, as she turned a corner sharp up in the wind--
wake as straight as an arrow--no leeway--I made all sail to sheer
alongside of her, and, when under quarter, examined her close. Neve