The lugger which had been built for McElvina by his employer was now ready, and, bidding farewell to Debriseau, who continued in the Cherbourg trade, our hero and his protector journeyed _en diligence_ to Havre. CHAPTER THIRTEEN. Through the haze of the night a bright flash now appearing, "Oh, ho!" cried Will Watch, "the Philistines bear down; Bear a hand, my tight lads, ere we think about sheering, One broadside pour in, should we swim, boys, or drown." SEA SONG. "Now, Willy, what do you think of _La Belle Susanne_?" said McElvina, as they stood on the pier, about a stone's throw from the vessel, which lay with her broadside towards them. Not that McElvina had any opinion of Willy's judgment, but, from the affectionate feeling which every sailor imbibes for his own ship, he expected gratification even in the admiration of a child. The lugger was certainly as beautiful a model of that description of vessel as had ever been launched from a slip. At the distance of a mile, with the sea running, it was but occasionally that you could perceive her long black hull--so low was she in the water, and so completely were her bulwarks pared down; yet her breadth of beam was very great, and her tonnage considerable, as may be inferred when it is stated that she mounted sixteen long brass nine-pounders, and was manned with one hundred and thirty men. But now that she was lying at anchor in smooth water, you had an opportunity of examining, with the severest scrutiny, the beautiful run of the vessel, as she sat graceful as a diver, and appeared, like that aquatic bird, ready to plunge in at a moment, and disappear under the wave cleft by her sharp forefoot, and rippling under her bows. "When shall we sail?" inquired Willy, after bestowing more judicious encomiums upon the vessel than might be expected. "To-morrow night, if the wind holds to the southward. We took in our powder this morning. Where were you stationed at quarters on board the ---?" "Nowhere. I was not on the ship's books until a day or two before I left her." "Then you must be a powder-monkey with me; you can hand powder up, if you can do nothing else." "I can do more," replied Willy, proudly; "I can roll shells overboard." "Ay, ay, so you can: I forgot that. I suppose I must put you on the quarter-deck, and make an officer of you, as Captain M--- intended to do." "I mean to stand by you when we fight," said Willy, taking McElvina's hand. "Thank you--that may not be so lucky. I'm rather superstitious; and, if I recollect right, your old friend Adams had that honour when he was killed." The name of old Adams being mentioned, made Willy silent and unhappy. McElvina perceived it; the conversation was dropped, and they returned home.