ittle ball of fire, and as if it reflected more light
from the solitary candle than the candle gave.

"I don't like your looks," thought Jack--"we shall never be friends."

But here Jack fell into the common error of judging by appearances, as
will be proved hereafter.

"I'm glad to see you up again, youngster," said Jolliffe; "you've been
on your beam ends longer than usual, but those who are strongest suffer
most--you made your mind up but late to come to sea. However, they say,
`Better late than never.'"

"I feel very much inclined to argue the truth of that saying," replied
Jack; "but it's no use just now. I'm terribly hungry--when shall I get
some breakfast?"

"To-morrow morning at half-past eight," replied Mr Jolliffe.
"Breakfast for to-day has been over these two hours."

"But must I then go without?"

"No, I do not say that, as we must make allowances for your illness; but
it will not be breakfast."

"Call it what you please," replied Jack. "Only pray desire the servants
to give me something to eat. Dry toast or muffins--anything will do,
but I should prefer coffee."

"You forget that you are off Finisterre, in a midshipman's berth: coffee
we have none--muffins we never see--dry toast cannot be made, as we have
no soft bread; but a cup of tea, and ship's biscuit and butter, I can
desire the steward to get ready for you."

"Well then," replied Jack, "I will thank you to procure me that."

"Marine," cried Jolliffe, "call Mesty."

"Pass the word for Mesty," cried the marine--and the two syllables were
handed forward until lost in the fore part of the vessel.

The person so named must be introduced to the reader. He was a curious
anomaly--a black man who had been brought to America as a slave, and
there sold.

He was a very tall, spare-built, yet muscular form, and had a face by no
means common with his race. His head was long and narrow, high
cheek-bones, from whence his face descended down to almost a point at
the chin; his nose was very small, but it was straight and almost Roman;
his mouth also was unusually small; and his lips thin for an African;
his teeth very white, and filed to sharp points. He claimed the rank of
prince in his own country, with what truth could not of course be
substantiated. His master had settled at New York, and there Mesty had
learned English, if it could be so called: the fact is, that all the
emigrant labourers at New York being Irishmen, he had learned Engli