Page:The Naval Officer (1829), vol. 2.djvu/17

 "Indeed I did, Sir," said I.

"And the jollies fired tolerably well, did they?"

"They did, Sir; would they had had a better mark."

"I understand you," said the lieutenant; "but as you have not served your time, the vacancy would be of no use to you. I must report the affair to the captain, though I do not think he will take any notice of it; he is too fond of enterprize himself to check it in others. Besides, a lady is always a justifiable object, but we hope soon to shew you some higher game."

The captain came on board shortly after, and took no notice of my haying been absent without leave; he made some remark as he glanced his eye at me, which I afterwards learned was in my favour. In a few days we sailed, and arrived in a few more in Basque Roads. The British fleet was at anchor outside the French ships moored in a line off the Isle d'Aix. The ship I belonged to had an-active part in the work