in no way infringed the
articles of war by saying that, though you _are_ my commander."

"I am not quite certain that you have not, by the tone in which you
speak," answered Jack; "however, I am very sorry for it, Tom, and warn
you that as you are obstinate, I must take measures accordingly."

What those measures were, Jack did not tell his brother. Having
dismissed him, he sent for Dick Needham, and desired him to keep a
watchful eye on the youngster, lest he might take French leave and quit
the ship.

"Ay, ay, sir," answered Dick; "though they're not a bad sort of people
in the main, I shouldn't like Mr Tom to turn into a Russian--it won't
be my fault if he gives leg-bail."

Satisfied on this point, Jack, ordering his gig, pulled on board the
_Gleam_, which ship was to sail the next day for England. The _Giaour_
had gone home some time before, and Murray hoped to pay her off and to
be allowed to remain on shore with his beloved Stella. Jack explained
his anxieties about Tom to Adair, who at once agreed to take him home,
and not to lose sight of him till he had handed him over either to
Admiral Triton or Sir John and Lady Rogers.

"Take him in the first instance to the admiral," said Jack, "he will
consider his opinion as less biassed than that of our father and mother,
and be more likely to yield submission to it."

On his return to the _Tornado_, Jack ordered Tom's marine to pack up his
chest, and have it lowered into his gig alongside; he then summoned Tom,
and, allowing him to wish his messmates good-bye, told him to follow his
chest. Tom looked, as he felt, very unhappy; Dicky Duff and Billy
Blueblazes, especially, thought him a hardly-used individual--though his
older messmates were more inclined to laugh than to sympathise with him.
Adair received him on board in a very kind way, and Desmond acted the
part of a true friend by listening to all he had to say--though he
avoided giving him any encouragement, and when Tom declared his
intention of making his escape in the first caique which came alongside,
he warned him that he could not possibly succeed.

Next morning the _Gleam_ steamed away down the Bosphorus. Tom had not
been many hours at sea before he recovered his spirits, and was able to
admire the beautiful scenery amid which the ship was steering her
course.

Having now settled this matter to his satisfaction, Jack turned his
attention to the affair of his first lieutenant. Higson's intervie