ADMIRAL TRITON AT PORTSMOUTH--THE THREE OLD MESSMATES MEET EACH OTHER, AND THEIR THREE YOUNG RELATIVES BECOME ACQUAINTED--THE DINNER AT THE "GEORGE" WITH ADMIRAL TRITON--ANECDOTES--AN ECCENTRIC COMMANDER--THE FRIGATE AND CORVETTE SAIL FOR THE WEST INDIES--A PHILOSOPHICAL BOATSWAIN--JOLLY TIME WITH FINE WEATHER--A HEAVY GALE--TIMES CHANGE-- MARINES AND MIDSHIPMEN ON THEIR BEAM ENDS--MEN LOST--THE MIDSHIPMEN REGAIN THEIR APPETITES. The Admiral and his two young friends were soon at Portsmouth. The former took up his quarters at the "George," while Jack, who had remained at home to the last day allowable, accompanied by Tom, at once went on board the _Plantagenet_, lying alongside a hulk off the dockyard. He was warmly welcomed by Captain Hemming, and, much to his satisfaction, he found that the newly appointed first-lieutenant of the frigate was his old acquaintance Nat Cherry, lately second of the _Dugong_ in the China Seas, from whence he had only just arrived. "The authorities give us but little time to enjoy the comforts and quiet of home," he observed, "but it's flattering to one's vanity to discover that one's services are considered of value; and so when Hemming applied for me I could not decline, on the plea that my health required recruiting after the hard work I went through in China, although my friends declare that I have become as thin as a lath, and have no more colour than a piece of brown leather. I cannot say that of you, Rogers, however." "Really, Cherry, you look to me as well filled out and as blooming as ever," answered Jack, surveying the rotund figure and rosy cheeks of his new messmate; "you and I afford proof that hard work seldom does people harm. Idleness is the greatest foe to health of the two. And who is to be third of the frigate?" "No one has as yet been appointed. The master and purser have joined-- very good fellows in their way--with an assistant-surgeon, and three or four youngsters; among them young Harry Bevan, who was with us in the _Dugong_." "I am very glad of that," said Jack; "Bevan is the style of lad I should wish as a companion for my young brother Tom." "Your brother, the youngster who came on board with you. I was sure of it; you are as like as two peas," said Mr Cherry. "I hope that he'll imitate you in all respects. It's a satisfaction to have steady youngsters on board who keep out of scrapes and don't give trouble."