“I believe he is very well, but I have not seen him.”
“How did you know, then, that I had left the service, Captain Sawbridge?”
“From Mr Gascoigne, who is now on board.”
“Gascoigne!” exclaimed our hero.
“Yes, he was sent up to join the Aurora by the Governor, but she had left the fleet, and having served his time, and a passing day being ordered, he passed, and thought he might as well go home with me and see if he could make any interest for his promotion.”
“Pray, Captain Sawbridge, is the gun-boat our prize or yours?”
“It ought to be wholly yours; but the fact is, by the regulations, we share.”
“With all my heart, sir. Will you send an assistant-surgeon on board to look after two of my men who are hurt?”
“Yes, directly; now send your boat away, Easy, with directions to your officer in command. We must go back to Gibraltar, for we have received some injury, and, I am sorry to say, lost some men. You are going then, I presume, to stay on board and dine with me: we shall be at anchor before night.”
“I will, with pleasure, sir. But now I will send my boat away and shake hands with Gascoigne.”