in what we had to say. These
questions, on more than one occasion, took quite the form of a severe
cross-examination, the post-captains in particular seeming determined to
arrive at a clear and distinct understanding as to the motives which
prompted us in many of our actions and decisions. I was somewhat at a
loss at first to comprehend the meaning of all this cross-questioning;
but it became apparent later on in the evening when the three captains
and the commander each formally offered to receive us on board their
ships, one of which happened to be a seventy-four, whilst the other
three were fine dashing frigates. These offers were all, of course, of
a most advantageous character, and had we accepted them I feel sure
that, joining either ship with the reputations which we had honestly won
for ourselves, our advancement in the service would have been certain
and rapid. But something in the admiral's manner caused me to hesitate,
so, with hearty thanks to each for his kind offer, I begged the favour
of a few hours for consideration; and Courtenay, taking his cue from me,
did the same. When at length we all rose to take leave of our host and
return to our respective ships the admiral drew Courtenay and me aside,
and said, as he shook hands with us:

"Before you decide to accept or to refuse either of the offers which
have been made to you to-night come and see me. I shall be on board the
flag-ship to-morrow at noon."

We promised that we would do so, and shortly afterwards got under weigh
in company with our fellow guests, the whole party being on horseback,
for Kingston; our road, or rather the bush path along which we travelled
for the greater part of the way, being brilliantly lighted by the rays
of a glorious full moon.

The "autocrats of the quarter-deck" with whom we thus found ourselves
privileged to ride cheek by jowl all proved to be splendid fellows, very
gentlemanly in their manner, yet--having evidently sunk the quarter-deck
for the nonce--frank and hearty as I believe only sailors can be. They
permitted, or rather they _invited_ us by their cordial manner, to join
freely in the conversation, instead of relegating us to the rear, as
some captains would undoubtedly have done in like circumstances, and
held out so many inducements for us to join that I at length got the
idea into my head that they actually _wanted_ us. This frank and
friendly treatment served one good purpose at least; it gave us a