rse, who had been confined in my uncle's
house. Where she had been sent, it was of course impossible to say; but
I gave up all chance of discovering my uncle's treachery; and, as I
thought of Celeste, sighed at the little hope I had of ever being united
to her. I wrote a long letter to O'Brien, and the next day we sailed
for our station in the North Sea.

The captain added a night order-book to the other, and sent it up every
evening, to be returned in the morning, with the signature of every
officer of the night watches. He also required all our signatures to
his general order-book, that we might not say we had not read them. I
had the first watch, when Swinburne came up to me.

"Well, Mr Simple, I do not think we have made much by our exchange of
captains; and I have a shrewd suspicion we shall have squalls ere long."

"We must not judge too hastily, Swinburne," replied I.

"No, no--I don't say that we should; but still, one must go a little by
looks in the world, and I'm sure his looks wouldn't help him much. He
is just like a winter's day, short and dirty; and he walks the decks as
if plank were not good enough for his feet. Mr William says, he looks
as if he were `big with the fate of Cato and of Rome:' what that means I
don't know--some joke, I suppose, for the youngsters are always joking.
Were you ever up the Baltic, Mr Simple? Now I think of it I know you
never were. I've seen some tight work up there with the gun-boats; and
so we should now, with Captain O'Brien; but as for this little man, I've
an idea 'twill be more talk than work."

"You appear to have taken a great dislike to the captain, Swinburne. I
do not know whether, as first lieutenant, I ought to listen to you."

"It's because you're first lieutenant that I tell it you, Mr Simple. I
never was mistaken, in the main, of an officer's character, when I could
look him in the face, and hear him talk for half-an-hour; and I came up
on purpose to put you on your guard: for I feel convinced, that towards
you he means mischief. What does he mean by having the greasy-faced
sergeant of marines in his cabin for half-an-hour every morning? His
reports as master-of-arms ought to come through you, as first
lieutenant; but he means him as a spy upon all, and upon you in
particular. The fellow has began to give himself airs already, and
speaks to the young gentlemen as if they were beneath him. I thought
you might not know it, Mr Simple, so I thoug