Part 16 (1/2)

To Reuben, Paul was more communicative

”But do you knohich were the men who came when you called for help?”

asked the former

Paul could not be positive as to one of them, on account of the darkness and confusion

”Then I s square,” muttered Reuben, as he walked away

The victors had plenty of hard work in putting the prize to rights, inafter the prisoners

However, not long after they had lost sight of land, a sail hove in sight Chase was er proved to be a Spanish schooner She quickly hauled down her colours, and a boat was sent to bring her captain on board The Don stood, hat in hand, tre sallow face dran to twice its usual length, expecting to be carried off a prisoner, and to have his vessel destroyed As Captain Walford was unable to come on deck, Mr Order received him If it had been possible for a Don to throw up his hat and to shout for joy, the Spanish skipper would have done it when the first-lieutenant told him, that if he would undertake to carry the prisoners back to Puerto Cabello in his schooner, he o free

He did not skip, or throw up his hat, or sing, but advancing with a deep bow, one hand holding his hat, and the other pressed on his heart, he gave the lieutenant an eway Mr Order did not exhibit any sign of satisfaction at this proceeding, but it was too ridiculous to et on board and prepare for the reception of his countrymen The Spanish prisoners were soon tulish seamen to be rid of them

”Their habits are filthy, and as to enerally formed of them on board

”Now, if we'd have had asaway asafore this,” observed Reuben to Paul, as the schooner h the captain's hurts were severe, he was, after some days, able to come on deck He looked pale and weak, but there was fire in his eye and a s at a few cables' length abeam

”Let the people come aft, Mr Order,” he said in a cheerful voice

The creere soon asseer countenances as he opened his lips

”My lads,” he said, ”I have been unable before to thank you, as I do froallant way in which you carried out ate, so disgracefully held by the Spaniards Where all did well, it is difficult to select thoseof praise, yet to the second-lieutenant and the boatswain and gunner eon for the able support he gave me They will, I trust, receive the reward they merit in due tirateful, and whom I have it in my power to reward, as he fully deserves, immediately To his presence of mind I find the preservation of the lives of all on board the prize is due, and I fully believe, that had it not been for his courage, I should not have been conscious of the glorious achievement we have accomplished Paul Gerrard, coht token of gratitude, and from henceforth consider yourself a quarter-deck officer--a , his countenance bea forward, helped on by the ars The captain shook hi him his dirk--an example followed by all the officers and midshi+pmen, and by none more cordially than by Devereux and O'Grady

They then took him by the arm and hurried him belohere he found a suit of uniform, in which they speedily clothed him and returned with hinal for the crew to give three as hearty cheers as ever burst from the throats of a man-of-war's crew Paul's heart was too full to speak, and he could with difficulty stammer out his thanks to his captain He felt indeed as if he had already reached the summit of his a way yet to cliot his foot on the lower ratline, but that, if he went on as he had begun, he would certainly, if he lived, get to the top The advice was indeed, froood, but need not be repeated Paul was so cordially received in the midshi+pmen's berth, that he soon felt hiet that he had a short time before served at the table at which he now sat

The frigates arrived without accident at Jamaica, where the officers and crew received all the honours and marks of respect they so justly merited The _Cerberus_ required no repairs, and the prize was quickly got ready for sea Captain Walford, however, suffered so severely froth Devereux and O'Grady had never entirely recovered froo ho aware how one through Three or four days before the shi+p was to sail, the doctor ca hard at hiht so,” he remarked ”You feel rather queer, my boy, don't you?”

”Yes, sir, very ill,” said Paul; ”I don't knohat is the matter withon, and the sooner you are out of this the better I'll speak to the captain about you”

The fever did come on Paul was sent to the hospital on shore, where he was tenderly nursed by Devereux, aided by O'Grady; the _Cerberus_,sailed on a cruise under the co hoar-laden ot Paul also invalided hoht that he should present himself to his mother and sisters as a real veritable midshi+pman, in the uniform he so often in his dreams had worn, and of the happiness he should afford theh she could carry a vast nuar, and was remarkably coood-natured tutor than most skippers, and they all had a very pleasant time of it Paul had had no time for study while he was a shi+p-boy, and so the captain advised hi; and he did so with so e, hethe mouth of the Channel

”In another e shall be at home,” said Paul

”Yes, it will be jolly,” answered Devereux ”You must come and see me, you know, at the Hall, and I'll introduce you to my family, and they'll make you amends somehow or other, if they can; they must, I am determined”

”Thank you heartily, Devereux,” answered Paul; ”but the short time I ah I know your kind wishes, people generally will not look with much respect on a person as till lately a mere shi+p-boy”

”No fear of that, Gerrard; but we'll see, we'll see,” answered Devereux

”A sail on the weather bow,” shouted the look-out fro across our course”

The West India on as before; the lass on the stranger After some time he came down, his countenance rather paler than usual