ero and Gascoigne fully admitted the wisdom of this measure, and
prepared for their departure; indeed, now that Don Rebiera's resolution
had been made known to our hero, he cared more for obtaining his
father's consent than he did for remaining to enjoy himself at Palermo,
and before noon of the next day all was ready, the vessel had been
procured, Jack took his leave of Agnes and her mother, and accompanied
by Don Rebiera and Don Philip (for Don Martin was on duty a few miles
from Palermo), went down to the beach, and having bid them farewell
embarked with Gascoigne and Mesty on board of the two-masted lateen
which had been engaged, and before sunset not a steeple of Palermo was
to be seen.

"What are you thinking of, Jack?" said Gascoigne, after our hero had
been silent half an hour.

"I have been thinking, Ned, that we are well out of it."

"So do I," replied Gascoigne; and here the conversation dropped for a
time.

"What are you thinking of now, Jack?" said Gascoigne after a long pause.

"I've been thinking that I've a good story for the old Governor."

"Very true," replied Gascoigne; and both were again silent for some
time.

"What are you thinking of now, Jack?" said Gascoigne, after another long
interval.

"I've been thinking that I shall leave the service," replied Jack.

"I wish you would take me with you," replied Gascoigne, with a sigh; and
again they were both in deep contemplation.

"What are you thinking of now, Jack?" said Gascoigne again.

"Of Agnes," replied our hero.

"Well, if that's the case I'll call you when supper's ready. In the
meantime I'll go and talk with Mesty."

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR.

JACK LEAVES THE SERVICE, IN WHICH HE HAD NO BUSINESS, AND GOES HOME TO
MIND HIS OWN BUSINESS.

On the fourth day they arrived at Malta, and our two midshipmen, as soon
as they had settled with the padrone of the vessel, went up to the
government-house. They found the Governor in the veranda, Who held out
both his hands, one to each.

"Glad to see you, my lads. Well, Jack, how's the leg, all right? don't
limp. And your arm, Gascoigne?"

"All right, sir, and as sound as ever it was," replied they both.

"Then you're in luck, and have made more baste than you deserve, after
your mad pranks; but now sit down, and I suppose, my friend Jack, you
have a story to tell me."

"Oh, yes, Sir Thomas, and a very long one."

"Then I won't have it now, for I expect people on business; we'll ha