The Three Lieutenants | Page 9

clothes before his
return, and only at his mother's request did he venture to resume his
uniform at dinner, not again for many a day to appear in mufti.
Admiral Triton insisted on accompanying Jack and Tom to Portsmouth,
where he was always glad of an excuse for going. It was a consolation
to Lady Rogers to see Tom go off under Jack's wing, as she knew that,
as far as one human being can take care of another, Jack would watch
over Tom. Jack left Halliburton without having, by word or look,
confessed an attachment, even if he felt it, for Julia Giffard, or for any
other young lady among his sisters' dear friends. He and Tom were
much missed, and certainly Julia Giffard, who came to stay there, took
considerable interest in listening to his sisters' accounts of Jack's
numerous exploits--so at least these young ladies fancied.
CHAPTER TWO.
ADMIRAL TRITON AT PORTSMOUTH--THE THREE OLD

MESSMATES MEET EACH OTHER, AND THEIR THREE YOUNG
RELATIVES BECOME ACQUAINTED--THE DINNER AT THE
"GEORGE" WITH ADMIRAL TRITON--ANECDOTES--AN
ECCENTRIC COMMANDER--THE FRIGATE AND CORVETTE
SAIL FOR THE WEST INDIES--A PHILOSOPHICAL
BOATSWAIN--JOLLY TIME WITH FINE WEATHER--A HEAVY
GALE--TIMES CHANGE-- MARINES AND MIDSHIPMEN ON
THEIR BEAM ENDS--MEN LOST--THE MIDSHIPMEN REGAIN
THEIR APPETITES.
The Admiral and his two young friends were soon at Portsmouth. The
former took up his quarters at the "George," while Jack, who had
remained at home to the last day allowable, accompanied by Tom, at
once went on board the Plantagenet, lying alongside a hulk off the
dockyard. He was warmly welcomed by Captain Hemming, and, much
to his satisfaction, he found that the newly appointed first-lieutenant of
the frigate was his old acquaintance Nat Cherry, lately second of the
Dugong in the China Seas, from whence he had only just arrived. "The
authorities give us but little time to enjoy the comforts and quiet of
home," he observed, "but it's flattering to one's vanity to discover that
one's services are considered of value; and so when Hemming applied
for me I could not decline, on the plea that my health required
recruiting after the hard work I went through in China, although my
friends declare that I have become as thin as a lath, and have no more
colour than a piece of brown leather. I cannot say that of you, Rogers,
however."
"Really, Cherry, you look to me as well filled out and as blooming as
ever," answered Jack, surveying the rotund figure and rosy cheeks of
his new messmate; "you and I afford proof that hard work seldom does
people harm. Idleness is the greatest foe to health of the two. And who
is to be third of the frigate?"
"No one has as yet been appointed. The master and purser have joined--
very good fellows in their way--with an assistant-surgeon, and three or
four youngsters; among them young Harry Bevan, who was with us in
the Dugong."

"I am very glad of that," said Jack; "Bevan is the style of lad I should
wish as a companion for my young brother Tom."
"Your brother, the youngster who came on board with you. I was sure
of it; you are as like as two peas," said Mr Cherry. "I hope that he'll
imitate you in all respects. It's a satisfaction to have steady youngsters
on board who keep out of scrapes and don't give trouble."
Tom--who had already made himself known to Harry Bevan--was
called aft, and introduced by Jack to Mr Cherry, and felt very happy
and proud as he looked along the deck of the fine frigate to which he
belonged. It was no dream; there he was in reality, walking about and
talking to Bevan and other fellows dressed like himself in
midshipmen's uniforms; and then he went into the berth, and took his
seat among the others at dinner. It was just as Jack had described it; not
very large, but, till the rest of the mess had joined, with just sufficient
elbow-room. They had plenty of good things, for the caterer, old
Higson, was something of an epicure; and Tom tasted grog for the first
time, which he thought very nasty stuff, though he did not say so, as he
knew that sailors liked it; and besides it would not be polite to express
his opinion to Higson, who had evidently no objection to its taste.
Altogether Tom was convinced that midshipmen, as he had always
supposed, must lead very jolly lives. That very night, too, he was to
sleep in a hammock, which he thought would be rare fun. He and his
new messmates soon returned on deck, when the men who had been at
dinner came tumbling up from below, and set to swaying up yards and
hoisting in stores, the boatswain sounding his shrill