“I saw you fall.”

“I believe, but that he was observed, he would have murdered me.”

“Indeed!”

“What, do you mean to say that lankey, horse-marine looking fellow is as bad as that!” said the admiral.

Marchdale now turned his attention to the two new comers, upon whom he looked with some surprise, and then, turning to George, he said,—­

“Is this gentleman a visitor?”

“To Mr. Holland, I believe he is,” said George; “but I have not the pleasure of knowing his name.”

“Oh, you may know my name as soon as you like,” cried the admiral.  “The enemies of old England know it, and I don’t care if all the world knows it.  I’m old Admiral Bell, something of a hulk now, but still able to head a quarter-deck if there was any need to do so.”

“Ay, ay,” cried Jack, and taking from his pocket a boatswain’s whistle, he blew a blast so long, and loud, and shrill, that George was fain to cover his ears with his hands to shut out the brain-piercing, and, to him unusual sound.

“And are you, then, a relative,” said Marchdale, “of Mr. Holland’s, sir, may I ask?”

“I’m his uncle, and be d——­d to him, if you must know, and some one has told me that the young scamp thinks of marrying a mermaid, or a ghost, or a vampyre, or some such thing, so, for the sake of the memory of his poor mother, I’ve come to say no to the bargain, and d—­n me, who cares.”

“Come in, sir,” said George, “I will conduct you to Mr. Holland.  I presume this is your servant?”

“Why, not exactly.  That’s Jack Pringle, he was my boatswain, you see, and now he’s a kind o’ something betwixt and between.  Not exactly a servant.”

“Ay, ay, sir,” said Jack.  “Have it all your own way, though we is paid off.”

“Hold your tongue, you audacious scoundrel, will you.”

“Oh, I forgot, you don’t like anything said about paying off, cos it puts you In mind of—­”

“Now, d—­n you, I’ll have you strung up to the yard-arm, you dog, if you don’t belay there.”

“I’m done.  All’s right.”

By this time the party, including the admiral, Jack, George Bannerworth, and Marchdale, had got more than half-way across the garden, and were observed by Charles Holland and Henry, who had come to the steps of the hall to see what was going on.  The moment Charles saw the admiral a change of colour came over his face, and he exclaimed,—­

“By all that’s surprising, there is my uncle!”

“Your uncle!” said Henry.

“Yes, as good a hearted a man as ever drew breath, and yet, withal, as full of prejudices, and as ignorant of life, as a child.”

Without waiting for any reply from Henry, Charles Holland rushed forward, and seizing his uncle by the hand, he cried, in tones of genuine affection,—­

“Uncle, dear uncle, how came you to find me out?”

“Charley, my boy,” cried the old man, “bless you; I mean, confound your d——­d impudence; you rascal, I’m glad to see you; no, I ain’t, you young mutineer.  What do you mean by it, you ugly, ill-looking, d——­d fine fellow—­my dear boy.  Oh, you infernal scoundrel.”