reater part of the time I
belonged to the ship I was away on detached duty. Scarcely had I joined
her, when I was sent on shore in command of a party of men to clear a
transport lying in Rhode Island. While I was engaged in this far from
pleasant duty I had to put up at the Cat and Fiddle Tavern, kept by a
certain Mrs Grimalkin. To cover her sympathy with the rebels she used
to exhibit on all public occasions an exuberance of loyalty which I
thought rather suspicious. By watching her narrowly I was not long in
discovering that she kept up a constant communication with the enemy,
and gave them notice of all our proceedings. However, once knowing
this, I was on my guard, and used to amuse myself by telling her all
sorts of wonderful tales of what we had done, and what it was proposed
to do to bring the country to subjection. I hope that I was the means
also of sending some of the American cruisers to look after merchantmen
which had gone in totally different directions, and of making others
keep clear of fleets which had no existence.

Mrs Grimalkin was a Dutch woman by extraction, and retained the
appearance and many of the habits of her ancestors. Numberless were the
petticoats she wore, and unceasing were the ablutions which her
clean-tiled floors received. She was in the main not a bad old soul,
and I dare say she considered herself perfectly justified, in
consideration of the cause I served, in charging me a preposterous
amount for my board and lodging while I resided under her roof.

Having cleared the transport, I returned on board. A few days
afterwards Sir Peter sent for me, and expressing his satisfactions with
what he had observed of my conduct, appointed me to the command of the
Pigot tender, the officer who had hitherto had charge of her being on
the sick list. A midshipman's berth is a very jolly place, but still
there is nothing like being captain of one's own ship, so thanking the
admiral for the good opinion he had formed of me, with a light heart I
hurried below to prepare for my change of quarters. I had not been thus
engaged many minutes, when I was joined by O'Driscoll, with a broad grin
on his countenance.

"Well, brother skipper," said he, "how do you feel with your new
dignity?"

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Why, faith, that I've got command of the `Lady Parker,' a very tidy
craft, and that we are to cruise in company. Arrah, now--won't we have
a jovial time of it, my jewel!"