"No; somebody else has turned up; there is one of the Nelson's crew on board this ship."
"One of the Nelson's crew?"
"Aye, and if you only knew how my heart beat when I saw him."
"I can easily conceive your feelings," said Jack, "for my own heart has almost leaped into my mouth."
"And I am thunderstruck," added Fritz.
"I went towards my old friend," continued Willis, "with tears in my eyes, threw my arms round him, and gave him a hearty but affectionate hug."
"And what did he say?"
"Nothing, at first; but, as soon as I left his arms at liberty, he gave me such a punch in the ribs as almost doubled me in two; it was enough to knock the in'ards out of a rhinoceros—ugh!"
"A blow in earnest?" exclaimed Fritz in astonishment.
"Yes; there was no mistake about it; it was a real, good, earnest John Bull knock-down thump; it put me in mind of Portsmouth on a pay day—ugh!"