"You shan't," replied the little Wind. "Indeed I must," said Jack, "or I shall be turned back." The captains, surprised at this delay and the muttering of Jack, looked up, and one of them gently inquired if Mr Littlebrain had not dropped his handkerchief or something under the table! And then they again fixed their eyes upon the green cloth. "If you dare, I'll never see you again," cried "South West and by West three-quarters West,"--"never come to your hammock,--but I'll blow the ship on shore, every soul shall be lost, Admiral and all; recollect your promise!" "Then I shall never pass," replied Jack. "Do you think that any other point in the compass shall pass you except me?--never! I am too jealous for that. Come now, dearest!" and the Wind again deliciously trembled upon the lips of our hero, who could no longer resist. "South West and by West three-quarters West," exclaimed Jack firmly. "You have made a slight mistake, Mr Littlebrain," said one of the captains. "_Look_ again--I meant to say, _think again_." "South West and by West three-quarters West," again repeated Jack. "Dearest, how I love you!" whispered the soft Wind. "Why, Mr Littlebrain," said one of the captains--for Jack had actually laid the paper down on the table--"what's in the wind now?" "She's obstinate," replied Jack. "You appear to be so, at all events," replied the captain. "Pray try once more." "I have it!" thought Jack, who tore off the last answer from his paper. "I gained five guineas by that plan once before." He then handed the bit of paper to the passing captain: "I believe that's right, sir," said our hero. "Yes, that is right; but could you not have said it instead of writing it, Mr Littlebrain?" Jack made no reply; his little sweetheart pouted a little, but said nothing; it was an evasion which she did not like. A few seconds of consultation then took place, as a matter of form. Each captain asked of the other if he was perfectly satisfied as to Mr Littlebrain's capabilities, and the reply was in the affirmative; and they were perfectly satisfied, that he was either a fool or a madman. However, as we have had both in the service by way of precedent, Jack was added to the list, and the next day was appointed lieutenant. Our hero did his duty as lieutenant of the forecastle; and as all the duty of that officer is, when hailed from the quarterdeck, to answer, "_Ay, ay, sir_," he got on without making many mistakes. And now he was very happy; no one dared to call him a fool except his uncle; he had his own cabin, and many was the time, that his dear little "South West and by West three-quarters West" would come in by the scuttle, and nestle by his side. "You won't see so much of me soon, dearest," said she one morning, gravely. "Why not, my soft one?" replied Jack. "Don't you recollect that the winter months are coming on?" "So they are," replied Jack. "Well, I shall long for you back."