upersede him."

Adair was beginning to sympathise with his benedict friend, hoping as he
did, in spite of adverse circumstances, ere long to belong to that
fraternity.

While in harbour, he had a strict eye kept on Tom, who, though by this
time he had regained his usual temper, might, he thought, if possible,
take it into his head to try and make his way back to the Crimea.

After getting through the Straits, and when to the northward of the
latitude of Cadiz, the ship encountered unusually bad weather. Instead
of improving, it became worse and worse; two of her boats were washed
away, the wheel and the steering apparatus damaged, and numerous other
injuries were received. She would, indeed, have been compelled to put
in to Cadiz, had not the wind shifted to the southward; when, setting
her close-reefed topsails, she ran on before the gale.

"Well, old fellow, our sweethearts and wives have got hold of the
tow-ropes, and are hauling us along at a famous rate," observed Desmond
to Tom.

"Don't talk about that sort of thing to me," answered Tom gloomily; "I
have no sweetheart or wife in England to tow me along--I am only getting
farther and farther from all I hold dear."

At hearing this, Gerald burst into a hearty fit of laughter. Tom at
first felt inclined to quarrel with him, but a poke in the ribs from his
messmate, and the word "humbug," made him instead join in Desmond's
cachinnations. Adair had invited his midshipmen to dine with him, and
had by his kind remarks succeeded in driving Tom's absurd notions out of
his head. Tom, who really felt grateful to him, talked cheerfully of
home, and of the pleasure he expected to enjoy on returning there.

It was Tom's first watch. Shortly after sunset he and the second
lieutenant, who was officer of the watch, were seen standing on the
bridge; the weather had somewhat moderated during the evening, but it
had now come on to blow harder than ever, and the ship seemed suddenly
to have entered a wild region of tossing, tumbling waves. Adair had
left the deck for a few minutes to obtain some refreshment, for he saw
that the night was likely to prove a boisterous one, and he intended, as
every good commander will do under such circumstances, to remain on
deck. He hurried over his meal; indeed, there was no temptation to
spend any longer time over it, as even the puddings and fiddles could
scarcely keep the articles on the table. He had rung for his steward to
clear