He doesn't pretend to be anybody, though I can tell you he's a broth of a boy, and it's a pity he wasn't an Irishman, for he'd do honour to the old country; but he happens to be the tenth son of an English farmer, whose brother was a lieutenant in the navy, and took him to sea, but his uncle having been killed at the end of the last war, Nat has to shift for himself. Though he has tumbled into a good many scrapes, he has always managed to fall on his feet. Then we've got a young lord, Mountstephen; he is always called Molly, but he doesn't at all mind, and declares that he'll some day show the Frenchmen what an English Molly can do. In reality, he is the pet of the mess--not because he's a lord, but because he's a very nice little fellow, who looks as if he ought to be in the nursery instead of knocking about in a sloop of war. But I don't know, Norah, whether you'll care to hear about the rest of us." "Oh yes," answered Norah; "I am very much interested, especially in the little lord. I hope you'll help to take care of him." "Yes, that you may depend on it I will," said Gerald; "if I get into scrapes, I'll take care he doesn't--though I don't intend to get into any myself, notwithstanding that they say Irishmen always do. They've dubbed me Paddy already, but of course I'm proud of that, and shall always stick up for old Ireland, and sing `Erin-go-bragh' on all occasions. Well, I'll tell you about the rest of our mess another day, and something about the warrant officers. We've three of them, the gunner, boatswain, and carpenter--and as chance will have it, the first is a Scotchman, the second an Englishman, and the third an Irishman; and though they're mighty good friends, they are always wrangling about their respective countries, each one declaring his own to be superior to the others in every respect. Barney O'Rourke hailed me at once as a countryman, and was mighty pleased to see one young gentleman, at least, from the Emerald Isle who would stick up for our country's honour. `And, by my faith, that's what I intend to do,' I answered--and we became sworn friends. There now, Norah, I think you know a good deal about our ship already, and when Lieutenant Foley gets about again, which I hope he'll do in a few days, you will learn a good deal more; and when we're away, you'll be able to fancy me on board among my shipmates."