heard distinctly by all present, " My precious old uncle, by everything ugly!"

Sir Octavius screwed his one dark eye earnestly into Oliver's fallen countenance, and flourished about his iron fin most fearfully, as he stood before his nephew, firmly upright, with not a vestige of his gout remaining.

Captain Oliphant took off his hat; and never, before or since, has been known to make so religiously respectful a bow, as he then did to his grim old uncle. The storm is coming, thought all; and so said many of those who stood within sight and hearing. The old boy is going to be himself again.

"Well ?" was the gruff and monosyllabic greeting of the commander-in-chief.

"There," said the impudent nephew, a little recovered from the effects of his surprise, and extending his hand, in order to shake that of his relative.

"No!" was the Commodore's reply, suddenly substituting, for his right and living

hand, the iron hook and spike at the end of his left arm, which the young captain found himself grasping, ludicrously enough.

"I hope I have not offended you, Sir Octavius," said the nephew, drawing back, proudly enough, and letting go the cold iron, as if it had burned him.

"Come here," said the other, hooking him by the collar, with a jerk; "why were you yesterday off your station-at this crisis, especially?"

"Sir Octavius, the master of the Belladonna thought that, if the sea got up high enough, she might roll away her lower masts, if the lower rigging were not set up afresh."

"Hum!" All this time, the old gentleman had been edging him nearer and nearer under the break of the poop, and out of the hearing of the officers" hum! you have been setting up-a bad excuse. Now, you young dog, you have been after some girl or other. Neither I nor his majesty's service will stand that, you

know; and now that we are fairly within the cabin, you may as well shut the door, and tell me all about it.”

But Captain Oliphant had so much to tell, and much of this so much, he feared, would be so little to his listener's liking, that he knew not how to begin.

"Well, nephew, I can tell you that you have been very indiscreet. We have good glasses on board; and, though you might not have seen us, that white house, and those grounds, with a lady in white, hanging on the arm of a gentleman with a gold-laced cocked-hat, were very visible. Captain Egerton' would be very glad to have your frigate; and, take my word for it, there have been many ungainly remarks made at your expense. Now, mark you me, Noll; I must reprimand you. You'll breakfast here, of course, and, afterwards, we must have some private conversation. Underdown is with me."

"I shall be most happy to see him, uncle."

"Very well. Set up your lower rigging,

indeed! Just ring the bell.

Steward, my

compliments to Captain Egerton, and all the officers of the morning watch: and shall be happy in their company to breakfast. Here comes Underdown, looking as grave as a man who is going to be married."

The meeting between Captain Oliphant and Horace Underdown was cordial; and, as they had much to communicate to each other, they paced up and down together, in private, on the stern walk, whilst the Commodore's guests assembled in the fore-cabin to breakfast.

When they had all arrived, and had placed themselves at the table, a little to the surprise of Captain Oliphant, Sir Octavius addressing Captain Egerton, said, "Captain Egerton, I was a little angry with Captain Oliphant this morning, but he has fully explained to me the very important consideration that induced him to remain at anchor the greater part of yester

day-considerations of a very secret nature, and which may compromise the interests of highcontracting parties, and lead to negociations that may terminate in most consequential results."

spy.

"God bless me, Sir Octavius, waiting perhaps to convey some secret mission or important Well, fair and open fighting for me, Commodore. What sort of fellow is this clandestine person, Captain Oliphant-got him on board ?"

"I cannot say that he is on board the frigate exactly just now, but he soon will be. I must say it, who should not say it, that this clandes tine, plotting person, whom the Commodore is so good as to allude to, is a very honest person; and I don't feel much disposed to hear him quizzed.”

"No," said one of the lieutenants, "he may be employed to do a dirty act, for the good of his country; but the motive must cover the dishonour of it. What sort of looking personage is he?"