“Yours, with best compliments to ‘Señor Carrambo,’

“Anson.”

“By George, Tom,” said I when we had both perused this letter, “you are in luck! He doesn’t call you Commander for nothing!”

“No, I suppose not,” said he, “at all events, Gerald, he’s a trump! I recollect my old father saying something once about asking him to put in a good word for me; but, I daresay he forgot all about it: but I am none the worse for it now, eh?”

“No,” said I, “thanks to Jocko!”

The next day Tom Finch had his commission made out by the admiral’s secretary as commander of the Blanche, while I was promoted to his place in the Porpoise, owing to the good word he put in for me when he breakfasted with the jolly old chief; and we both of us were busy enough the next few m. . . Read More