"It is of the greatest importance that we sail at five o'clock; the fact is, I must and will; but it's hard that I must starve for a whole cruise." "Indeed, Sir William," said Mr Small, "if it were possible; but two cows, so many sheep, hay, and everything to be got from the country; we never could manage it. To-morrow morning, perhaps." "Well, Mr Small, I have appointed no prize-agent yet; had you obliged me--" Our hero now stepped forward and ran over the list. "Can you inform me, sir," said he to the flag-captain, "whether the _Zenobia_ or _Orestes_ sail with the squadron?" "No, they do not," was the reply. "I beg your pardon, Mr Small," said Joey, "but I do think we can accomplish this with a little arrangement." "Indeed!" cried Sir William. "Yes, Sir William; if you would immediately make the signals for two boats to come on shore, with steady crews to assist me, I promise it shall be done." "Well said, O'Donahue!" cried the captain; "we are all right now, admiral; if he says it shall be done, it will be done." "May I depend upon you, Mr O'Donahue." "Yes, Sir William; everything shall be as you wish." "Well, Mr Small, if your young man keeps his word, you shall be my prize-agent. Good morning to you." "How could you promise?" cried Small, addressing our hero, when the admiral and suite had left the counting-house. "Because I can perform, sir," replied Joey; "I have the cows and sheep for the _Zenobia_ and _Orestes_, as well as the fodder, all ready in the town; we can get others for them to-morrow, and I know where to lay my hands on everything else." "Well, that's lucky! but there is no time to be lost." Our hero, with his usual promptitude and activity, kept his promise; and, as Mr Small said, it was lucky, for the prize-agency, in a few months afterwards, proved worth to him nearly 5,000 pounds. It is not to be supposed that Joey neglected his correspondence either with Mary or Spikeman, although with the latter it was not so frequent. Mary wrote to him every month; she had not many subjects to enter upon, chiefly replying to Joey's communications, and congratulating him upon his success. Indeed, now that our hero had been nearly four years with Mr Small, he might be said to be a very rising and independent person. His capital, which had increased very considerably, had been thrown into the business, and he was now a junior partner, instead of a clerk, and had long enjoyed the full confidence both of his superior and of Mr Sleek, who now entrusted him with almost everything. In short, Joey was in the fair way to competence and distinction. CHAPTER THIRTY NINE. CHAPTER OF INFINITE VARIETY, CONTAINING AGONY, LAW, LOVE, QUARRELLING, AND SUICIDE.