"Shure I'm mighty plased to see you made an officer, Mr Hartley," said Mike; "when you are a commander, as you will be sartain one of these days, I'd be proud to be your coxswain." "I'm not a midshipman yet," answered Owen, laughing, "though I truly thank you for your good wishes." Owen drew up a faithful report of the loss of the "Druid," which, meeting with the approbation of Captain Stanhope, was forwarded by the first opportunity. The repairs to the frigate and her prize having been made, they sailed to Batavia, where several other men-of-war were found at anchor. Not without some, difficulty a crew was collected to man the "Venus," partly from the seamen of merchant vessels in port, as also from some who had been shipwrecked, with a few men-of-war's men from the "Sylvia" and other ships. Mr Hawkins, the first lieutenant of the "Sylvia," who had just been promoted to the rank of commander, received an acting order as captain of the "Venus," and Mr Leigh returned to the "Sylvia" as her first lieutenant. Owen was very glad to have Mr Leigh on board, as he had shown him so much kindness, and equally well pleased that Ashurst remained in the "Venus." Ashurst, however, paid two or three visits to the "Sylvia," during which he made disparaging remarks about Owen in the mess. Although several of the things were said in his presence, Owen took no notice of them. He trusted that he might win the regard of his new messmates by his uniform good conduct and gentlemanly bearing towards them. Still, he found that he had much to put up with. Ashurst possessed considerable influence in the berth, and there is an old saying, that "dirt cannot be thrown without some of it sticking." Owen was often treated in a contemptuous manner by several of the mates and midshipmen. He heard himself called a wretched young quill-driver, Cheeseparings, junior--Cheeseparings being the name gived to the purser--the captain's spy, or licenced talebearer, with many similar uncomplimentary epithets. He made no complaint even when Mr Leigh once kindly asked him if he was happy in the berth, nor did he reply in a way to excite the anger of those who were endeavouring to annoy him.