“I do; he knows how I am circumstanced, and that my going home was merely because I was tired of looking after the Aurora.”

“We’ll go together and ask him to-morrow,” replied Jack.

“At all events, you’ll have a more gentlemanly companion than Mr. Oxbelly.”

“But not so steady, Ned.”

The first-lieutenant and officers came on board, and passed a merry evening. There’s nothing passes time more agreeably away than champagne, and if you do not affront this regal wine by mixing him with any other, he never punishes you next morning.