moment of leaving the ship to that of rejoining her. I will not
repeat the flattering encomiums which my narrative elicited; suffice it
to say that I was greatly gratified by the approval expressed by them
all, and particularly by Mr Annesley's assurance that I had only to go
on as I had begun to become an ornament to the service, and a credit to
all connected with me.

The next day or two passed in a state of comparative inactivity with the
fleet, Lord Hood having arrived at the conclusion, through his
experience of the effects of the engagement between the "Fortitude" and
"Juno" and the Mortella Tower, that a further sea-attack upon that
battery would be useless, and that its reduction would have to be
effected by the land forces. I use the words "comparative inactivity"
advisedly, for though the ships themselves were idle, as far as the
prosecution of the campaign was concerned, the admiral was indefatigable
in drilling and exercising the crews, and in accustoming those of the
different ships to act in concert. And in addition to this there was an
immense amount of passing to and fro between the fleet and the shore, in
the transmission of despatches and the landing of stores and ammunition;
and in these services the little "Mouette" came in very useful,
sometimes rushing backward and forward with bulky packets of official
documents, and at other times making the passage with a whole fleet of
deeply-laden boats in tow. As might be supposed, my experience of her
capabilities naturally led to the craft being entrusted to me while thus
engaged, so that I was kept in a state of constant activity. I must,
however, do Captain Hood the justice to record that, before detailing me
for this service, he gave me the option of remaining on board the
"Juno," and being excused from duty until my arm had become completely
healed. But as I could take as much care of my wounded limb on board
the cutter as I could on board the frigate, I gratefully declined, to
the gratification of the skipper, I could easily see; and I thus had
frequent opportunities of seeing Francesca, as well as of making the
acquaintance of her uncle, General Paoli.

At length, after the interchange of a vast amount of correspondence
between Lord Hood and Major-General Dundas, the officer in command of
the land forces, it was one evening announced that an attack would be
made on the following day upon the Mortella Tower from some batteries
thrown up on the