"That was just a dream, Captain O'Grady; but mine is a reality, you know. I don't think that you are looking quite well yourself." "I am perfectly well as far as the sea goes, Terence; never was better in my life; but that pork we had for dinner yesterday was worse than usual, and I think perhaps I ought to have taken another glass or two to correct it." "It must have been the pork," Terence said, as seriously as O'Grady himself; "and it is unfortunate that you are such an abstemious man, or, as you say, its effects might have been corrected." "It's me opinion, Terence, my boy, that you are a humbug." "Then, Captain O'Grady, it is clear that evil communications must have corrupted my good manners." "It must have been in your infancy then, Terence, for divil a bit of manners good or bad have I ever seen in you; you have not even the good manners to take a glass of the cratur when you are asked." "That is true enough," Terence laughed. "Having been brought up in the regiment, I have learned, at least, that the best thing to do with whisky is to leave it alone." "I am afraid you will never be a credit to us, Terence." "Not in the way of being able to make a heavy night of it and then turn out as fresh as paint in the morning," Terence retorted; "but you see, Captain O'Grady, even my abstinence has its advantages, for at least there will always be one officer in the corps able to go the round of the sentries at night." At this moment the vessel gave such a heavy lurch that they were both thrown off their feet and rolled into the lee-scuppers, while, at the same moment, a rush of water swept over them. Amidst shouts of laughter from the other officers the two scrambled to their feet. [Illustration: TWO FRENCH PRIVATEERS BEAR DOWN UPON THE _SEA-HORSE_] "Holy Moses!" O'Grady exclaimed, "I am drowned entirely, and I sha'n't get the taste of the salt water out of me mouth for a week." "There is one comfort," Terence said; "it might have been worse." "How could it have been worse?" O'Grady asked, angrily. "Why, if we hadn't been in the steadiest ship in the whole fleet we might have been washed overboard." There was another shout of laughter. O'Grady made a dash at Terence, but the latter easily avoided him and went down below to change his clothes.