vice with our natural enemies.

However, I learned nothing further of our destination till we reached
the Nore, which we did about the end of the third day. Here we found
the rest of the squadron a-waiting us, and, the _Talisman_ being the
biggest ship in company, Admiral Watson immediately hauled down his
pennant off the _Victory_, of fifty guns, and came aboard of us.

I was leaning over the chains with Sullivan when the barge came
alongside, and could see a gentleman in the stern, sitting beside the
Admiral, in a military uniform, and having a very resolute and
commanding countenance.

"Who is that?" I asked.

"That? Why that's Charlie Watson," he replied, mistaking my meaning.
"It's myself that ought to know, for I sailed under him against the
Spaniards in '44, and a devil of a beating we gave them. Hooray!"

The cheer was taken up by the rest of the crew as they caught sight of
this gallant seaman, who had been made Rear-Admiral of the Blue in his
thirty-fifth year, and that without any influence at his back, but
solely on account of his splendid services in the Spanish wars. Mr.
Wilding, who had come up on deck to receive the Admiral, looked round
very sourly when he heard the cheer, but was ashamed to openly rebuke
us.

"Nay, but who is the other beside him," I went on to ask, being
strongly moved to interest by the sight of this gentleman. He appeared
to be by some years junior to Mr. Watson, who was now somewhat over
forty, but in spite of that, and of his treating the Admiral with much
ceremony, there was that in the air of this officer which made an
impression of authority, and which drew all eyes towards him as soon
as they were arrived upon the quarterdeck.

Sullivan professed himself as ignorant as to the stranger's identity
as I was myself, nor was I near enough to hear what passed when
Admiral Watson presented him to Mr. Wilding and the other officers.
Nevertheless, I could see that they received him with extraordinary
respect, even the captain seeming to brisk up and to put on a more
manly carriage under this gentleman's eye.

After giving one or two keen glances round the deck, which set us all
on the alert, the officer walked quickly forward, and the whole party
following him, they went below, immediately after which the signal for
weighing anchor was made to the squadron, and the crew was set to work
putting on all sail. In the midst of which business the report ran
round the ship, and reac