"Make room for Mr Terence O'Finnahan, of Castle Ballinahone, County Tipperary, Ireland," cried an old master's mate from the further end of the table; "but let all understand that it's the last time such a designation is to be applied to him. It's much too long a name for any practical purpose, and from henceforth he's to be known on board this ship as Paddy Finn, the Irish midshipman; and so, Paddy Finn, old boy, I'll drink your health. Gentlemen, fill your glasses; here's to the health of Paddy Finn." Every one in the berth filled up their mugs and cups with rum and water, in which they pledged me with mock gravity. Having in the meantime taken my seat, I rose and begged to return my thanks to them for the honour they had done me, assuring them that I should be happy to be known by the new name they had given me, or by any other which might sound as sweet. "Only, gentlemen, there's one point I must bargain for," I added; "let me be called Paddy, whatever other designation you may in your judgment think fit to bestow on me, for let me tell you that I consider it an honour to be an Irishman, and I am as proud of my native land as you can be of yours." "Bravo, Paddy!" cried several. "You're a trump," observed the president. "The chief has got pluck in him," said the Scotch assistant surgeon, who sat opposite to the president, a man whose grizzled hair showed that he had been long in the service. "Where did you get those clothes from?" asked a young gentleman, whom I afterwards found to be the purser's clerk. "He picked them up at a theatrical property shop as he passed through Cork," remarked another. "Haul in the slack of your impudence," cried the president, whose favour I had won. "If his friends had never seen a naval uniform, how should they know how to rig him out?" "I'm mightily obliged to you, sir," I said, for I was by this time getting heartily ashamed of my gay feathers; "and as the ship won't be sailing yet, I hope to get fitted out properly before I return on board." "All right, youngster," said the president. "Now, I will have the pleasure of helping you to a slice of mutton. Hand the greens and potatoes up to Paddy Finn." The plate was passed round to me, and I was allowed, without being further bantered, to discuss the viands placed under my nose, which I did with a good appetite. I was not silent, however, but introducing my journey to Cork, amused my messmates with an account of the various incidents which had occurred. When, at length, one of the midshipmen who had being doing duty on deck appeared at the door to say that Major McMahon was about to return on shore, and wanted his nephew, my new friends shook me warmly by the hand, and the president again proposed three hearty cheers for their new messmate, Paddy Finn. CHAPTER FIVE. I MAKE THE ACQUAINTANCE OF ONE OF MY NEW MESSMATES.