into poethry. It's not
yer natur--though ye think it is. Besides, av a man's heart an' brains
is all right, he can make good use of 'em widout much tongue. Me own
notion is that it's thim as hasn't got much to spake of, aither of heart
or brain, as is over-fond o' waggin' the tongue."

"That's so, Flynn. You're a living example of the truth of your own
opinion," retorted Miles.

"Och! is it angered ye are at gittin' the worst o' the argiment?"
rejoined the corporal. "Niver mind, boy, you'll do better by and by--"

As Flynn descended the ladder while he spoke, the sense of what he said
was lost, but the truth of his opinion still continued to receive
illustration from the rumbling of his voice, until it was swallowed up
in the depths of the vessel.

Next day our hero received a shock from which he never finally
recovered!

Be not alarmed, reader; it was not paralytic in its nature. It happened
on this wise:

Miles had occasion to go to the fore part of the ship on some culinary
business, without his coat, and with his sleeves rolled up above his
elbows. Arrived there, he found that the captain was taking the ladies
round the ship to point out some of its interesting details. As Miles
came up, the younger lady turned round so as to present her full face to
him. It was then that poor Miles received the shock above referred to.
At that moment a little boy with wings and a bow stepped right in front
of the young lady and shot straight at Miles Milton! The arrow entered
his heart, and he--no, he did not fall; true men in such circumstances
never fall! They stand transfixed, sometimes, or stupefied. Thus stood
Miles and stared. Yes, though naturally modest and polite, he stood and
stared!

And small blame to him, as Flynn might have said, for before him stood
his ideal of a fairy, an angel, a sylph--or anything beautiful that best
suits your fancy, reader! Sunny hair, sunny eyes--earnest and inquiring
eyes--sunny smiles, and eyebrows to match. Yes, she had eyebrows
distinctly darker than her hair, and well-defined over a pair of large
brown eyes.

Poor Miles was stricken, as we have said; but--would you believe it?--
there were men there looking at that girl at that time who, to use their
own phraseology, would not have accepted a dozen of her for the girls
they had left behind them! One young fellow in particular murmured to
himself as follows--"Yes, very well in her way, no doubt, but she
couldn't