aging this little ceremony without offence, he must needs tug and tug away until eventually he tugged the bride off her chair, and he almost disappeared beneath her petticoats.

This little episode almost capsized Will; he did not much relish the joke, and very probably the little grocer did not know how very narrowly he escaped with a sound skin. Jack is ever ready for a row, and at the least hint from Jarvis, his brother tars would very quickly have cleared the course. Fortunately the postmaster had great weight with them all; he explained the matter satisfactorily, and at last all settled down fair and smooth once more. The tables were cleared away, and dancing became the order of the day. The tradesmen's wives of course were rigged out in their best, and really looked remarkably fresh and nice. Sailors are fond of a joke, and so when the husbands retired for a short time to do their yard of clay and blow a cloud, Jack remained and did the amiable to the ladies. Well, Jarvis and his new wife were too busy to think of any but themselves; why should they on their wedding day? The little cherub, now their joint property, had been brought in, and the two were discussing his future career, she wishing that he might turn out a handsome sailor, and all this

while they remained perfectly in the dark respecting the movements of their friends, until suddenly the door was pushed violently open, and in rushed the tradesmen, looking furious. Some hint had been given them that it was time for them to appear, and there they stood with their eyes shining like a cat's in the dark, blows were struck, collars were seized, and very soon Harmony was dethroned by Discord.

Strong ale and grog had got into all their heads, the coarsest of coarse jests had been passed and received with row enough to crack all the windows; in fact, it was a continual running fire of broad witticisms that admitted of no double meaning whatever, because all was so unmistakably detailed. No wonder, then, that the sailors took advantage of such a fine opportunity to form a closer acquaintance with their neighbours, more especially as those neighbours appeared nothing loath. So they addressed themselves in earnest to their task, and the women took their jokes and advances in good part (they were fond of laughing). All would have ended harmlessly enough, but for the sudden appearance of their worse halves. Then came the attack, that settled the business; the wives endeavoured to part the combatants, and so pushed down their husbands, who pulled the

women on top of them. The sailors wanted to get at their assailants, and so got tumbling over the wives. This at all events will pass muster as a reason, and on these occasions we must not examine too closely.

Jarvis managed to get his bride and her child out of the room, and then set to work in real earnest, getting all on their pins again. This was a difficult job, inasmuch as the tradesmen, being at the bottom of all, were the only ones anxious to be released, neither the tradesmen's wives nor the sailors cared much about it. However, after much kicking and spluttering, laughing and swearing, they all permitted Jarvis to help raise them, and then the postmaster, a fellow about the size of a hogshead, and jolly withal, swore that it was a capital joke, and laughed heartily; his satellites did not quite see the affair by the same light, but being in the minority made a virtue of necessity, and joined chorus, thereby removing all unpleasantness.

It being now dusk, lights were brought into the big room of the inn, the young men and maidens of the village, all rigged out in Sunday clothes, poured in to dance at Will's wedding. The bride having been home and put her child to bed, and left him in good hands, returned, and she and Will opened the ball, according to

the fashion of the place.

Dancing was kept up to a late hour; then Will took his wife's hand, and passed out, escorted home by the whole company, who were very anxious to put the bride to bed. However, that was overruled, and all remained outside, surrounding the newly married pair until Jarvis threw up his bedroom window, then the bride appeared at it with her stockings, which she threw down among them; then there was a loud burst of applause. The villagers cheered. The bedroom window was closed, the blind pulled down, and so ended Will Jarvis's wedding, or at least all we have to do with the matter.

CHAPTER VII.

You remember the French soldier who embarked so unceremoniously with our friends in the little fishing-boat. Well, when Boodle's boat ranged up alongside of her, instead of leaving him adrift as they did the little craft. Monsieur was carefully transferred, or transhipped if you prefer the term, and conveyed on board the Brilliant.'

Next morning Schneider appeared in the Commander's cabin pretty early, and wished to know what he was to do with him. Boodle had forgotten the circumstance.

"How far are we off land, Mr. Schneider?" he inquired.

"About six miles, sir," was the reply.

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Very well," said Boodle, "shove her nose in, Mr. Schneider, and by the time you have sufficiently lessened the distance, I shall be on deck."

Accordingly, the brig's nose was shoved the other way, and she stood in towards land on an easy bow line, with about a three-knot breeze.