The duty notwithstanding had been well and closely performed; several West India, and one valuable East India convoy having been effectually protected, as well as a few straggling frigates of the enemy picked up; but the service had been excessively laborious to all engaged in it, and replete with privations.

Most of those who now landed, had not trod terra firma for half a year, and it was not wonderful that all the officers whose duties did not confine them to the vessels, gladly seized the occasion to feast their senses with the verdure and odours of their native island.

Quite a hundred guests of this character were also pouring into the street of Wychecombe, or spreading themselves among the surrounding farm-houses; flirting with the awkward and blushing girls, and keeping an eye at the same time to the main chance of the mess-table.
"Our boys have already found out your village, Sir Wycherly, in spite of the fog," the vice-admiral remarked, good-humouredly, as he cast his eyes around at the movement of the street; "and the locusts of Egypt will not come nearer to breeding a famine.

One would think there was a great dinner _in petto_, in every cabin of the fleet, by the number of the captain's stewards that are ashore, hey! Atwood?
I have seen nine of the harpies, myself, and the other seven can't be far off." "Here is Galleygo, Sir Gervaise," returned the secretary, smiling; "though _he_ can scarcely be called a captain's steward, having the honour to serve a vice-admiral and a commander-in-chief." "Ay, but _we_ feed the whole fleet at times, and have some excuse for being a little exacting--harkee, Galleygo--get a horse-cart, and push off at once, four or five miles further into the country; you might as well expect to find real pearls in fishes' eyes, as hope to pick up any thing nice among so many gun-room and cock-pit boys.

I dine ashore to-day, but Captain Greenly is fond of mutton-chops, you'll remember." This was said kindly, and in the manner of a man accustomed to treat his domestics with the familiarity of humble friends.