Willis, are all the old crew on board ?" "All that were in Havre, your honor; I commissioned Bill Stubbs to pick them up, and he managed to smuggle them all on board." "Then pipe all hands on deck." "Aye, aye, captain," said Willis, sounding his whistle.
When the men were mustered, Littlestone made a short speech to them, told them that they would receive pay for the time they had been in the enemy's power, and inquired whether they were all willing to continue the voyage under his command.

This question was responded to by a general assent.
"Then," he continued, turning to Willis, "the share you have had in the rescue of the _Nelson_ and its crew, conjointly with my interest at the Admiralty, will, I have not the slightest doubt, obtain for you the well-merited rank of lieutenant of his Majesty's navy.

I have, therefore, to request that you will assume that position on board during the voyage, until confirmed by the arrival of your commission." "Thank your honor," said Willis, bowing.
"And now, lieutenant, you will be kind enough to rate William Stubbs on the books as boatswain." "Aye, aye, captain," said Willis, handing his whistle to Bill.
"Pipe to breakfast," said the captain.
"Aye, aye, sir," replied the new boatswain, sounding the whistle.
"By the way," said Littlestone, turning to Jack, "I do not see the surgeon you spoke of on board.

How is this ?" "He is on board for all that," said Jack, drawing an official looking document out of his pocket; "be kind enough to read that." The captain accordingly read as follows:-- "_Havre, 15th October, 1812._ "This is to certify that Mr.Jack Becker has, for some time, been a student in the hospitals of this town, and that he has successfully passed through a stringent examination as to his acquaintance with the diagnosis and cure of various diseases; as also as to his knowledge of the practice of physic and surgery generally.
"He has specially directed his attention to the treatment of cancer, and has performed several operations for the eradication of that malady to the satisfaction of the surgeon in chief and my own.
(Signed) "GARAY DE NEVRES, M.D., Inspector of the Hospitals".
This document was countersigned, sealed, and stamped by the mayor, the prefect, and other authorities of the department.
"How have you contrived to obtain so satisfactory a certificate in so short a period ?" inquired the captain.
"I was introduced to the chief surgeon by the medical man on board the _Boudeuse_.

I stated my position to him, and, probably, he threw facilities in my way of obtaining the object I had in view that were, perhaps, rarely accorded to others.