'Well, go aboard and report yourself to the Commander. I'll see you to-morrow.'
'Viva los Inglesas! Viva la Marina Inglesa!'[#] yelled the ragamuffins, as I solemnly marched back to the carriage, and drove back, trying to avoid the eyes of de Costa and his Secretary, who were tittering and grinning delightedly.
[#] Hurrah for the English Navy.
'Hi, lad! Get in here,' I called to Marchant, as we overtook the boys from the first gun. 'What's the matter with your right hand?'
'Jammed it in the breech-block, sir. They let me do cartridge number,' he answered proudly.
'Bad?' I asked.
'One finger's nearly off, I'm afraid, sir.'
'Tut! tut!' I said. 'You won't be much use for writing, boy, not for some weeks.'
'I'm afraid not, sir—I'm very sorry, sir.'
Dear, dear! If all this got known, I knew I should get into a terrible row at the Admiralty—it was very tiresome.