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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Hunting the Skipper, by George Manville Fenn
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Hunting the Skipper
+       The Cruise of the "Seafowl" Sloop
+
+Author: George Manville Fenn
+
+Illustrator: Harold Piffard
+
+Release Date: January 27, 2009 [EBook #27907]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HUNTING THE SKIPPER ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England
+
+
+
+
+Hunting the Skipper, by George Manville Fenn.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER ONE.
+
+H.M.S. "SEAFOWL."
+
+"Dicky, dear boy, it's my impression that we shall see no blackbird's
+cage to-day."
+
+"And it's my impression, Frank Murray, that if you call me Dicky again I
+shall punch your head."
+
+"Poor fellow!  Liver, decidedly," said the first speaker, in a mock
+sympathetic tone.  "Look here, old chap, if I were you, I'd go and ask
+Jones to give me a blue pill, to be followed eight hours later by one of
+his delicious liqueurs, all syrup of senna."
+
+"Ugh!" came in a grunt of disgust, followed by a shudder.  "Look here,
+Frank, if you can't speak sense, have the goodness to hold your tongue."
+
+The speakers were two manly looking lads in the uniform of midshipmen of
+the Royal Navy, each furnished with a telescope, through which he had
+been trying to pierce the hot thick haze which pretty well shut them in,
+while as they leaned over the side of Her Majesty's ship _Seafowl_, her
+sails seemed to be as sleepy as the generally smart-looking crew, the
+light wind which filled them one minute gliding off the next, and
+leaving them to flap idly as they apparently dozed off into a heavy
+sleep.
+
+"There, don't be rusty, old fellow," said the first speaker.
+
+"Then don't call me by that absurd name--_Dicky_--as if I were a bird!"
+
+"Ha, ha!  Why not?" said Frank merrily.  "You wouldn't have minded if I
+had said `old cock.'"
+
+"Humph!  Perhaps not," said the young man sourly.
+
+"There, I don't wonder at your being upset; this heat somehow seems to
+soak into a fellow and melt all the go out of one.  I'm as soft as one
+of those medusae--jellyfish--what do you call them?--that float by
+opening and shutting themselves, all of a wet gasp, as one might say."
+
+"It's horrible," said the other, speaking now more sociably.
+
+"Horrible it is, sir, as our fellows say.  Well, live and learn, and
+I've learned one thing, and that is if I retire from the service as
+Captain--no, I'll be modest--Commander Murray, R.N., I shall not come
+and settle on the West Coast of Africa."
+
+"Settle on the West Coast of Africa, with its fevers and horrors?  I
+should think not!" said the other.  "Phew!  How hot it is!  Bah!" he
+half snorted angrily.
+
+"What's the matter now?"
+
+"That brass rail.  I placed my hand upon it--regularly burned me."
+
+"Mem for you, old chap--don't do it again.  But, I say, what is the good
+of our hanging about here?  We shall do no good, and it's completely
+spoiling the skipper's temper."
+
+"Nonsense!  Can't be done."
+
+"Oh, can't it, Ricardo!"
+
+"There you go again."
+
+"_Pardon, mon ami_!  Forgot myself.  Plain Richard--there.  But that's
+wrong.  One can't call you plain Richard, because you're such a
+good-looking chap."
+
+"Bah!" in a deep angry growl.
+
+"What's that wrong too?  Oh, what an unlucky beggar I am!  But I say,
+didn't you see the skipper?"
+
+"I saw him, of course.  But what about him?  I saw nothing particular."
+
+"Old Anderson went up to him as politely as a first lieutenant could--"
+
+"I say, Frank, look here," cried the other; "can't you say downright
+what you have to say, without prosing about like the jolly old preface
+to an uninteresting book?"
+
+"No, dear boy," replied the young fellow addressed; "I can't really.
+It's the weather."
+
+"Hang the weather!" cried the other petulantly.
+
+"Not to be done, dear boy.  To hang calls for a rope and the yard-arm,
+and there's nothing tangible about the weather.  You should say--that
+is, if you wish to be ungentlemanly and use language unbecoming to an
+officer in His Majesty's service--Blow the weather!"
+
+"Oh, bosh, bosh, bosh!  You will not be satisfied till I've kicked you,
+Frank."
+
+"Oh, don't--pray don't, my dear fellow, because you will force me to
+kick you again, and it would make me so hot.  But I say, wasn't I going
+to tell you something about old Anderson and the skipper?"
+
+"No--yes!--There, I don't know.  Well, what was it?"
+
+"Nothing," said Frank Murray, yawning.  "Oh, dear me, how sleepy I am!"
+
+"Well, of all the aggravating--"
+
+"That's right: go on.  Say it," said Murray.  "I don't know what you
+were going to call me, dear boy, but I'm sure it would be correct.
+That's just what I am.  Pray go on.  I'm too hot to hit back."
+
+"You're not too hot to talk back, Franky."
+
+"Eh?  Hullo!  Why, I ought to fly at you now for calling me by that
+ridiculous name _Franky_."
+
+"Bah!  Here, do talk sense.  What were you going to tell me about old
+Anderson and the skipper?"
+
+"I don't know, dear boy.  You've bullied it all out of me, or else the
+weather has taken it out.  Oh, I know now: old Anderson went up to him
+and said something--what it was I don't know--unless it was about
+changing our course--and he snarled, turned his back and went below to
+cool himself, I think.  I say, though, it is hot, Dick."
+
+"Well, do you think I hadn't found that out?"
+
+"No, it is all plain to see.  You are all in a state of trickle, old
+chap.  I say, though, isn't it a sort of midsummer madness to expect to
+catch one of these brutal craft on a day like this?"
+
+There was an angry grunt.
+
+"Quite right, old fellow.  Bother the slavers!  They're all shut up
+snugly in the horrible muddy creeks waiting for night, I believe.  Then
+they'll steal out and we shall go on sailing away north or south as it
+pleases the skipper.  Here, Dicky--I mean, Dick--what will you give me
+for my share of the prize money?"
+
+"Bah!" ejaculated the youth addressed.  "Can't you be quiet, Frank?
+_Buss, buss, buss_!  It's just for the sake of talking.  Can't you
+realise the fact?"
+
+"No, dear boy; it's too hot to realise anything?"
+
+"Well, then, let me tell you a home truth."
+
+"Ah, do!  Anything about home and the truth would be delicious here.
+Wish I could have an ice!"
+
+"There you go!  I say, can't you get tired of talking?"
+
+"No, dear boy.  I suppose it is my nature to.  What is a fellow to do?
+You won't."
+
+"No, I'm too hot.  I wish every slaver that sails these muddy seas was
+hung at the yard-arm of his own nasty rakish schooner."
+
+"Hee-ah, hee-ah, hee-ah! as we say in Parliament."
+
+"_Parliament!  Parler_, to talk!" grunted the other.  "That's where you
+ought to be, Frank, and then you'd be in your element."
+
+"Oh, I say!  I was only politely agreeing with you.  That was a splendid
+wish.  The beasts!  The wretches!  But somehow they don't get their
+deserts.  Here have we been two months on this station, and I haven't
+had so much as a squint of a slaver.  I don't believe there are any.
+All myths or fancies--bits of imagination."
+
+"Oh, there are plenty of them, lad, but they know every in and out of
+these mangrove-infested shores, and I'll be bound to say they are
+watching us day by day, and as soon as we are lost in one of these foggy
+hazes it's up with their lug sails, and they glide away like--like--
+like--here, what do they glide away like?  I'm not as clever as you.
+I'm at a loss for words.  Give me one--something poetic, Frank."
+
+"Steam out of a copper."
+
+"Bah!"
+
+"What, won't that do?"
+
+"Do?  No!  There--like a dream."
+
+"Brayvo!  Werry pretty, as Sam Weller said.  Oh, here's Tommy May--Here,
+Tom, what do you think of the weather?" said the lad, addressing a
+bluff-looking seaman.
+
+"Weather, sir?" said the man, screwing up his face till it was one maze
+of wrinkles.  "Beg pardon, sir, but did you mean that as one of your
+jokes, sir, or was it a conundydrum?"
+
+"Oh, don't ask questions, Tom, but just tell us plainly what you think
+of the weather."
+
+"Nothing, sir; it's too hot to think," replied the man.
+
+"Quite right, May," said the other midshipman.  "Don't bother the poor
+fellow, Murray.  Here, May, what do you fellows before the mast think
+about the slavers?"
+
+"Slippery as the mud of the river banks, sir."
+
+"Good," said Murray.  "Well spoken, Tom.  But do you think there are any
+about here?"
+
+"Oh yes, sir," said the man; "no doubt about it.  They on'y want
+catching."
+
+"No, no," cried Murray.  "That's just what they don't want."
+
+"Right you are, sir; but you know what I mean."
+
+"I suppose so," said Murray; "but do you chaps, when you are chewing it
+all over along with your quids, believe that we shall come upon any of
+them?"
+
+"Oh yes, sir; but do you see, they sail in those long, low, swift
+schooners that can come and go where they like, while we in the
+_Seafowl_ seem to be thinking about it."
+
+"Poor sluggish sloop of war!" said Roberts.
+
+"Nay, nay, sir," said the man, "begging your pardon, she's as smart a
+vessel as ever I sailed in, with as fine a captain and officers,
+'specially the young gentlemen."
+
+"Now, none of your flattering gammon, Tom."
+
+"Begging your pardon, gentlemen," said the man sturdily, "that it arn't.
+I says what I says, and I sticks to it, and if we only get these here
+blackbird catchers on the hop we'll let 'em see what the _Seafowl_ can
+do."
+
+"If!" said Roberts bitterly.
+
+"Yes, sir, _if_.  That's it, sir, and one of these days we shall drop
+upon them and make them stare.  We shall do it, gentlemen, you see if we
+shan't."
+
+"That's what we want to see, Tom," said Murray.
+
+"Course you do, gentlemen, and all we lads forrard are itching for it,
+that we are--just about half mad."
+
+"For prize money?" said Roberts sourly.
+
+"Prize money, sir?" replied the man.  "Why, of course, sir.  It's a
+Bri'sh sailor's nature to like a bit of prize money at the end of a
+v'y'ge; but, begging your pardon, sir, don't you make no mistake.  There
+arn't a messmate o' mine as wouldn't give up his prize money for the
+sake of overhauling a slaver and reskying a load o' them poor black
+beggars.  It's horrid; that's what it just is."
+
+"Quite right, May," said Roberts.
+
+"Thankye, sir," said the man; "and as we was a-saying on'y last night--
+talking together we was as we lay out on the deck because it was too
+stuffycatin' to sleep."
+
+"So it was, May," said Roberts.
+
+"Yes, sir; reg'lar stifler.  Well, what we all agreed was that what we
+should like to do was to set the tables upside down."
+
+"What for?" said Murray, giving his comrade a peculiar glance from the
+corner of his eye.
+
+"Why, to give the poor niggers a chance to have a pop at some of the
+slavers' crews, sir, to drive 'em with the whip and make 'em work in the
+plantations, sir, like dumb beasts.  I should like to see it, sir."
+
+"Well said, Tom!" cried Murray.
+
+"Thankye, sir.  But it's slow work ketching, sir, for you see it's their
+swift craft."
+
+"Which makes them so crafty, eh, Tom?" cried Murray.
+
+"Yes, sir.  I don't quite understand what you mean, sir, but I suppose
+it's all right, and--"
+
+"Sail on the lee bow!" sang out a voice from the main-top.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWO.
+
+BOTHER THE FOG.
+
+A minute before those words were shouted from the main-top, the
+low-toned conversation carried on by the two young officers, with an
+occasional creak or rattle from a swinging sail was all that broke the
+silence of the drowsy vessel; now from everywhere came the buzz of
+voices and the hurrying trample of feet.
+
+"It's just as if some one had thrust a stick into a wasp's nest,"
+whispered Frank Murray to his companion, as they saw that the captain
+and officers had hurried up on deck to follow the two lads' example of
+bringing their spy-glasses to bear upon a faintly seen sail upon the
+horizon, where it was plainly marked for a few minutes--long enough to
+be made out as a low schooner with raking masts, carrying a heavy spread
+of canvas, which gradually grew fainter and fainter before it died away
+in the silvery haze.  The time was short, but quite long enough for
+orders to be sharply given, men to spring up aloft, and the sloop's
+course to be altered, when shuddering sails began to fill out, making
+the _Seafowl_ careen over lightly, and a slight foam formed on either
+side of the cut-water.
+
+"That's woke us up, Richard, my son," said Murray.
+
+"Yes, and it means a chance at last."
+
+"If."
+
+"Only this; we just managed to sight that schooner before she died away
+again in the haze."
+
+"Well, that gave us long enough to notice her and send the _Seafowl_
+gliding along upon her course.  Isn't that enough?"
+
+"Not quite, old fellow."
+
+"Bah!  What a fellow you are, Frank!  You're never satisfied," cried
+Roberts.  "What have you got in your head now?"
+
+"Only this; we had long enough before the haze closed in to sight the
+schooner well."
+
+"Of course.  We agreed to that."
+
+"Well, suppose it gave them time enough to see us?"
+
+"Doubtful.  A vessel like that is not likely to have a man aloft on the
+lookout."
+
+"There I don't agree with you, Dick.  It strikes me that they must keep
+a very sharp lookout on board these schooners, or else we must have
+overhauled one of them before now."
+
+"Humph!" said Roberts shortly.  "Well, we shall see.  According to my
+ideas it won't be very long before we shall be sending a shot across
+that schooner's bows, and then a boat aboard.  Hurrah!  Our bad luck is
+broken at last."
+
+"Doesn't look like it," said Murray, who had dropped all light flippancy
+and banter, to speak now as the eager young officer deeply interested in
+everything connected with his profession.
+
+"Oh, get out!" cried Roberts.  "What do you mean by your croaking?  Look
+at the way in which our duck has spread her wings and is following in
+the schooner's wake.  It's glorious, and the very air seems in our
+favour, for it isn't half so hot."
+
+"I mean," said Murray quietly, "that the mist is growing more dense."
+
+"So much in our favour."
+
+"Yes," said Murray, "if the schooner's skipper did not sight us first."
+
+"Oh, bother!  I don't believe he would."
+
+"What's that?" said a gruff voice.
+
+"Only this, sir," said Roberts to the first lieutenant, who had drawn
+near unobserved; "only Murray croaking, sir."
+
+"What about, Murray?" asked the elderly officer.
+
+"I was only saying, sir, that we shall not overhaul the schooner if her
+people sighted us first."
+
+"That's what I'm afraid of, my lads," said the old officer.  "This haze
+may be very good for us, but it may be very good for them and give their
+skipper a chance to double and run for one or other of the wretched
+muddy creeks or rivers which they know by heart.  There must be one
+somewhere near, or she would not have ventured out by daylight, and when
+we get within striking distance we may find her gone."
+
+The lieutenant passed the two lads and went forward, where he was heard
+to give an order or two which resulted in a man being stationed in the
+fore chains ready to take soundings; and soon after he was in eager
+conversation with the captain.
+
+"Feeling our way," said Murray, almost in a whisper, as he and his
+companion stood together where the man in the chains heaved the lead,
+singing out the soundings cheerily till he was checked by an order which
+resulted in his marking off the number of fathoms in a speaking voice,
+and later on in quite a subdued tone, for the haze had thickened into a
+sea fog, and the distance sailed ought to have brought the _Seafowl_
+pretty near to the schooner, whose commander might possibly take alarm
+at the announcement of a strange vessel's approach.
+
+"I'm afraid they must have heard us before now," said Roberts softly.
+"Ah, hark at that!"
+
+For as the man in the chains gave out the soundings it was evident that
+the depth was rapidly shoaling, when, in obedience to an order to the
+helmsman a turn or two was given to the wheel, the sloop of war was
+thrown up into the wind, the sails began to shiver, and the _Seafowl_
+lay rocking gently upon the swell.
+
+"Bother the fog!" said Murray fretfully.  "It's growing worse."
+
+"No, sir," said the seaman who was close at hand.  "Seems to me that
+it's on the move, and afore long we shall be in the clear, sir, and see
+where we are."
+
+The man's words proved to be correct sooner than could have been
+expected, for before many minutes had passed, and just when the mist
+which shut them in was at its worst, the solid-looking bank of cloud
+began to open, and passed away aft; the sun shot out torrid rays, and
+those on board the _Seafowl_ were seeing the need there had been for
+care, for they were gazing across the clear sea at the wide-spreading
+mangrove-covered shore, which, monotonous and of a dingy green,
+stretched away to north and south as far as eye could reach.
+
+"Where's the schooner?" exclaimed Murray excitedly, for the _Seafowl_
+seemed to be alone upon the dazzling waters.
+
+"In the fog behind us," said Roberts, in a disappointed tone.  "We've
+overdone it.  I expected we should; the skipper was in such a jolly
+hurry."
+
+Frank Murray took his companion's words as being the correct explanation
+of the state of affairs; but they soon proved to be wrong, for the soft
+breeze that had sprung up from the shore rapidly swept the fog away
+seaward, and though all on board the sloop watched eagerly for the
+moment when the smart schooner should emerge, it at last became plain
+that she had eluded them--how, no one on board could say.
+
+"It's plain enough that she can't have gone seaward," said Roberts
+thoughtfully.  "She must have sailed right away to the east."
+
+"Yes," said Murray thoughtfully.
+
+"Of course!  Right over the tops of the mangroves," said Roberts
+mockingly.  "They hang very close, and there's a heavy dew lying upon
+them, I'll be bound."
+
+"Oh, yes, of course," said Murray.  "She couldn't have passed in through
+some opening, I suppose?"
+
+"Where is the opening, then?" cried Roberts shortly.
+
+"I don't know," replied his companion coolly; "but there must be one,
+and the captain of the schooner must be quite at home here and know his
+way."
+
+"I wish my young officers would learn to know their way about this
+horrible shore instead of spending their time in talking," cried an
+angry voice, and the two midshipmen started apart as they awoke to the
+fact that the captain had approached them unheard while they were
+intently sweeping the shore.
+
+"Higher, my lad--higher up," cried the captain.  "The cross-trees, and
+be smart about it.--Yes, Mr Murray, you're right; there's a narrow
+river somewhere about, or perhaps it's a wide one.  Take your glass,
+sir--the opening is waiting to be found.  What do you think of it, Mr
+Anderson?"
+
+"I don't think, sir.  I feel sure the schooner has come out of some
+river along here, caught sight of us, and taken advantage of the mist to
+make her way back, and for aught we know she is lying snugly enough,
+waiting till we are gone."
+
+"Thank you, Mr Anderson," said the captain, with studied politeness,
+"but unfortunately I knew all this before you spoke.  What I want to
+know is where our friend is lying so snugly.  What do you say to that?"
+
+"Only this, sir--that we must run in as far as we can and sail along
+close inshore till we come to the opening of the river."
+
+"And while we sail south we shall be leaving the mouth behind, Mr
+Anderson, eh?"
+
+"If it proves to be so, sir," replied the first lieutenant gravely, "we
+must sail north again and again too, until we find the entrance."
+
+"Humph!  Yes, sir; but hang it all, are my officers asleep, that we are
+sailing up and down here month after month without doing anything?
+Here, Mr Murray, what are you thinking about, sir?"
+
+The lad started, for his chief had suddenly fired his question at him
+like a shot.
+
+"Well, sir, why don't you answer my question?"
+
+"I beg your pardon, sir," replied Murray now.  "I was thinking."
+
+"Yes, sir, you were thinking," cried the captain passionately.  "I know
+you were thinking, and saying to yourself that you had a most
+unreasonable captain."
+
+Murray was silent, and the first lieutenant and the other midshipman,
+after exchanging a glance, fixed their eyes upon the monotonous shore.
+
+"Do you hear me, sir?" thundered the captain, as if he were speaking to
+the lookout at the mast-head instead of the lad close to him.  "That was
+what you were thinking, was it not?  Come: the truth."
+
+He bent forward to gaze straight into the boy's eyes as if determined to
+get an answer.
+
+"Yes, sir," said the lad desperately, "something of that sort;" and then
+to himself, "Oh, murder!  I'm in for it now!"
+
+"Yes, I knew you were, Mr Murray," cried the captain.  "Thank you.  I
+like my junior officers to speak out truthfully and well.  Makes us
+place confidence in them, Mr Anderson, eh?"
+
+"Yes, sir," growled the chief officer, "but it isn't always pleasant."
+
+"Quite right, Mr Anderson, and it sounds like confounded impudence,
+too.  But we're wasting time, and it is valuable.  I'm going to have
+that schooner found.  The sea's as smooth as an inland lake, so man and
+lower down the cutters.  You take the first cutter, Mr Anderson, Munday
+the second.  Row or sail to north and south as the wind serves, and I'll
+stand out a bit to see that you don't start the game so that it escapes.
+You young gentlemen had better go with the boats."
+
+Murray glanced at the old officer, and to the question in his eyes there
+came a nod by way of answer.
+
+"You always have the luck, Franky," grumbled Roberts, as soon as they
+were alone.
+
+"Nonsense!  You have as good a chance as I have of finding the
+schooner."
+
+"What, with prosy old Munday!  Why, he'll most likely go to sleep."
+
+"So much the better for you.  You can take command of the boat and
+discover the schooner's hiding-place."
+
+"Of course.  Board her, capture the Spanish--"
+
+"Or Yankee," said Murray.
+
+"Captain!" snapped out Roberts.  "Oh yes, I know.  Bother!  I do get so
+tired of all this."
+
+Tired or no, the young man seemed well on the alert as he stepped into
+the second cutter, and soon after each of the boats had run up their
+little sail, for a light breeze was blowing, and, leaving the sloop
+behind, all the men full of excitement as every eye was fixed upon the
+long stretches of mangrove north and south in search of the hidden
+opening which might mean the way into some creek, or perhaps the
+half-choked-up entrance into one of the muddy rivers of the vast African
+shore.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THREE.
+
+THE CUTE VISITOR.
+
+The first cutter had the wind in her favour and glided northward mile
+after mile along a shore thickly covered with the peculiar growth of the
+mangrove, those dense bird-affecting, reptile-haunted coverts, whose
+sole use seems to be that of keeping the muddy soil of the West Afric
+shores from being washed away.
+
+The heat was terrible, and the men were congratulating themselves on the
+fact that the wind held out and saved them from the painful task of
+rowing hard in the blistering sunshine.
+
+Murray's duty was to handle the tiller lines as he sat in the stern
+sheets beside the first lieutenant, and after being out close upon three
+hours he began to feel that he could keep awake no longer--for his
+companion sat silent and stern, his gaze bent upon the dark green shore,
+searching vainly for the hidden opening--and in a half torpid state the
+midshipman was about to turn to his silent companion and ask to be
+relieved of the lines, when he uttered a gasp of thankfulness, and,
+forgetting discipline, gripped the officer by the knee.
+
+"What the something, Mr Murray, do you mean by that?" cried the
+lieutenant angrily.
+
+"Look!" was the reply, accompanied by a hand stretched out with pointing
+index finger.
+
+"Stand by, my lads, ready to pull for all you know," cried the
+lieutenant.  "The wind may drop at any moment.  You, Tom May, take a
+pull at that sheet; Mr Murray, tighten that port line.  That's better;
+we must cut that lugger off.  Did you see where she came out?"
+
+"Not quite, sir," said Murray, as he altered the boat's course a trifle,
+"but it must have been close hereabouts.  What are you going to do,
+sir?"
+
+"Do, my lad?  Why, take her and make the master or whatever he is, act
+as guide."
+
+"I see, sir.  Then you think he must have come out of the river where
+the schooner has taken refuge?"
+
+"That's what I think," said the lieutenant grimly; "and if I am right I
+fancy the captain will not be quite so hard upon us as he has been of
+late."
+
+"It will be a glorious triumph for us--I mean for you, sir," said Murray
+hurriedly.
+
+"Quite right, Mr Murray," said his companion, smiling.  "I can well
+afford to share the honours with you, for I shall have owed it to your
+sharp eyes.  But there, don't let's talk.  We must act and strain every
+nerve, for I'm doubtful about that lugger; she sails well and may escape
+us after all."
+
+Murray set his teeth as he steered so as to get every foot of speed
+possible out of the cutter, while, sheet in hand, Tom May sat eagerly
+watching the steersman, ready to obey the slightest sign as the boat's
+crew sat fast with the oars in the rowlocks ready to dip together and
+pull for all they were worth, should the wind fail.
+
+"That's good, my lads," said the lieutenant--"most seamanlike.  It's a
+pleasure to command such a crew."
+
+There was a low hissing sound as of men drawing their breath hard, and
+the old officer went on.
+
+"We're not losing ground, Mr Murray," he said.
+
+"No, sir; gaining upon her, I think."
+
+"So do I--think, Mr Murray," said the lieutenant shortly, "but I'm not
+sure.  Ah, she's changing her course," he added excitedly, "and we shall
+lose her.  Oh, these luggers, these luggers!  How they can skim over the
+waves!  Here, marines," he said sharply, as he turned to a couple of the
+rifle-armed men who sat in the stern sheets, "be ready to send a shot
+through the lugger's foresail if I give the order; the skipper may
+understand what I mean."  And the speaker, sat frowning heavily at the
+lightly-built lugger they were following.  "I don't see what more I can
+do, Mr Murray."
+
+"No, sir," said the midshipman hoarsely.  "Oh, give the order, sir--pray
+do!  We mustn't lose that boat."
+
+"Fire!" said the lieutenant sharply; and one marine's rifle cracked,
+while as the smoke rose lightly in the air Murray uttered a low cry of
+exultation.
+
+"Right through the foresail, sir, and the skipper knows what we mean."
+
+"Yes, capital!  Good shot, marine."
+
+The man's face shone with pleasure as he thrust in a fresh cartridge
+before ramming it down, and the crew looked as if they were panting to
+give out a loud cheer at the success of the lieutenant's manoeuvre, for
+the little lugger, which was just beginning to creep away from them
+after a change in her course, now obeyed a touch of her helm and bore
+round into the wind till the big lug sails shivered and she gradually
+settled down to rock softly upon the long heaving swell that swept in
+landward.
+
+As the cutter neared, Murray noted that the strange boat was manned by a
+little crew of keen-looking blacks, not the heavy, protuberant-lipped,
+flat-nosed, West Coast "niggers," but men of the fierce-looking tribes
+who seem to have come from the east in the course of ages and have
+preserved somewhat of the Arabic type and its keen, sharp intelligence
+of expression.
+
+But the midshipman had not much time for observation of the little crew,
+his attention being taken up directly by the dramatic-looking entrance
+upon the scene of one who was apparently the skipper or owner of the
+lugger, and who had evidently been having a nap in the shade cast by the
+aft lugsail, and been awakened by the shot to give the order which had
+thrown the lugger up into the wind.
+
+He surprised both the lieutenant and Murray as he popped into sight to
+seize the side of his swift little vessel and lean over towards the
+approaching cutter, as, snatching off his wide white Panama hat, he
+passed one duck-covered white arm across his yellowish-looking hairless
+face and shouted fiercely and in a peculiar twang--
+
+"Here, I say, you, whoever you are, do you know you have sent a bullet
+through my fores'l?"
+
+"Yes, sir.  Heave to," said the lieutenant angrily.
+
+"Wal, I have hev to, hevn't I, sirr?  But just you look here; I don't
+know what you thought you was shooting at, but I suppose you are a
+Britisher, and I'm sure your laws don't give you leave to shoot peaceful
+traders to fill your bags."
+
+"That will do," said the lieutenant sternly.  "What boat's that?"
+
+"I guess it's mine, for I had it built to my order, and paid for it.
+Perhaps you wouldn't mind telling me what your boat is and what you was
+shooting at?"
+
+"This is the first cutter of Her Majesty's sloop of war _Seafowl_," said
+the lieutenant sternly, "and--"
+
+But the American cut what was about to be said in two by crying in his
+sharp nasal twang--
+
+"Then just you look here, stranger; yew've got hold of a boat as is just
+about as wrong as it can be for these waters.  I've studied it and
+ciphered it out, and I tell yew that if yew don't look out yew'll be
+took by one of the waves we have off this here coast, and down yew'll
+go.  I don't want to offend yew, mister, for I can see that yew're an
+officer, but I tell yew that yew ought to be ashamed of yewrself to
+bring your men along here in such a hen cock-shell as that boat of
+yourn."
+
+"Why, it's as seaworthy as yours, sir," said the lieutenant
+good-humouredly.
+
+"Not it, mister; and besides, I never go far from home in mine."
+
+"From home!" said the lieutenant keenly.  "Where do you call home?"
+
+"Yonder," said the American, with a jerk of his head.  "You ain't got no
+home here, and it's a mercy that you haven't been swamped before now.
+Where have you come from?--the Cape?"
+
+"No," said the lieutenant; "but look here, sir, what are you, and what
+are you doing out here?"
+
+"Sailing now," said the American.
+
+"But when you are ashore?"
+
+"Rubber," said the man.
+
+"What, trading in indiarubber?"
+
+"Shall be bimeby.  Growing it now--plantation."
+
+"Oh," said the lieutenant, looking at the speaker dubiously.  "Where is
+your plantation?"
+
+"Up the creek yonder," replied the American, with another nod of his
+head towards the coast.
+
+"Oh," said the lieutenant quietly; "you have a plantation, have you, for
+the production of rubber, and you work that with slaves?"
+
+"Ha, ha, ha, ha!" laughed the American, showing a set of very yellow
+teeth.  "That's what you're after, then?  I see through you now,
+cyaptain.  You're after slave-traders."
+
+"Perhaps so; and you confess yourself to be one," said the lieutenant.
+
+"Me?" said the American, laughing boisterously again.  "Hev another try,
+cyaptain.  Yew're out this time.  Ketch me trying to work a plantation
+with West Coast niggers!  See those boys o' mine?"
+
+"Yes; I see your men," replied the lieutenant.
+
+"Them's the stuff I work with.  Pay 'em well and they work well.  No
+work, no pay.  Why, one of those fellows'd do more work for me in a day
+than one of the blacks they come here to buy up could do in a week."
+
+"Then slave-traders come here to buy, eh?"
+
+"Yes, they do," replied the man, "but 'tain't none of my business.  They
+don't interfere with me, and I don't interfere with them.  Plenty of
+room here for both.  Yew're after them, then?"
+
+"Yes," said the lieutenant frankly.
+
+"Phew!" whistled the man, giving his knees a slap.  "Why, you'll be
+after the schooner that came into this river this morning?"
+
+"Possibly," said the lieutenant, while Murray felt his blood thrill in
+his veins with the excitement of the position.  "What schooner was it?"
+
+"Smart sailing craft, with long rakish masts?"
+
+"Yes, yes," said the lieutenant; "I know all about that.  A slaver, eh?"
+
+The American half shut his eyes as he peered out of their corners at the
+British officer, and a queer smile puckered up his countenance.
+
+"Slaving ain't lawful, is it, mister?" he said.
+
+"You answer my question," said the lieutenant testily.
+
+"Means confiscation, don't it?"
+
+"And that is not an answer," cried the lieutenant angrily.
+
+"Yew making a prize of that theer smart schooner from her top-masts down
+to her keel, eh?"
+
+"Will you reply to what I say?" cried the lieutenant.  "Is she a
+slaver?"
+
+"Lookye here, mister," said the American, grinning.  "S'pose I say
+_yes_, you'll jest confiscate that there schooner when her skipper and
+her crew slips over the side into the boats and pulls ashore."
+
+"Perhaps I may," said the lieutenant shortly.
+
+"Exackly so, mister.  Then you sails away with her for a prize, eh?"
+
+"Possibly," said the lieutenant coldly.
+
+"And what about me?"
+
+"Well, what about you?"
+
+"I can't pull back to my rubber plantations and sail them away, can I?"
+
+"I do not understand you, sir," said the lieutenant sharply.
+
+"No, and you don't care to understand me, mister.  `No,' says you, `it's
+no business of mine about his pesky injyrubby fields.'"
+
+"Why should it be, sir?" said the lieutenant shortly.
+
+"Exackly so, mister; but it means a deal to me.  How shall I look after
+you're gone when the slaver's skipper--"
+
+"Ah!" cried Murray excitedly.  "Then she is a slaver!"
+
+The American's eyes twinkled as he turned upon the young man.
+
+"Yew're a sharp 'un, yew are," he said, showing his yellow teeth.  "Did
+I say she was a slaver?"
+
+"Yes, you did," cried Murray.
+
+"Slipped out then because your boss began saying slaver, I suppose.
+That was your word and I give it to yew back again.  I want to live
+peaceable like on my plantation and make my dollahs out of that there
+elastic and far-stretching projuice of the injyrubbery trees.  That's my
+business, misters, and I'm not going to take away any man's crackter."
+
+"You have given me the clue I want, sir," said the lieutenant, "and it
+is of no use for you to shirk any longer from telling me the plain truth
+about what is going on up this river or creek."
+
+"Oh, isn't it, mister officer?  Perhaps I know my business better than
+you can tell me.  I dessay yew're a very smart officer, but I could give
+you fits over growing rubber, and I'm not going to interfere with my
+neighbours who may carry on a elastic trade of their own in black rubber
+or they may not.  'Tain't my business.  As I said afore, or was going to
+say afore when this here young shaver as hain't begun to shave yet put
+his oar in and stopped me, how should I look when yew'd gone and that
+half-breed black and yaller Portygee schooner skipper comes back with
+three or four boat-loads of his cut-throats and says to me in his bad
+language that ain't nayther English, 'Murrican, nor nothing else but
+hashed swearing, `Look here,' he says, `won't injyrubber burn like fire,
+eh?'  `Yes,' I says, civil and smooth, `it is rayther rum-combustible.'
+`So I thought,' he says.  `Well, you've been letting that tongue of
+yours go running along and showing those cusses of Britishers where I
+anchor my boat and load up with plantation stuff for the West Injies; so
+jes' look here,' he sez, `I've lost thousands o' dollars threw yew, and
+so I'm just going to make yew pay for it by burning up your plantations
+and putting a stop to your trade, same as yew've put a stop to mine.  I
+shan't hurt yew, because I'm a kind-hearted gentle sorter man, but I
+can't answer for my crew.  I can't pay them, because yew've took my ship
+and my marchandise, so I shall tell them they must take it outer yew.
+And they will, stranger.  I don't say as they'll use their knives over
+the job, and I don't say as they won't, but what I do say is that I
+shouldn't like to be yew.'  There, Mister Officer, that's about what's
+the matter with me, and now yew understand why I don't keer about
+meddling with my neighbours' business."
+
+"Yes, I understand perfectly," said the lieutenant, "but I want you to
+see that it is your duty to help to put a stop to this horrible traffic
+in human beings.  Have you no pity for the poor blacks who are made
+prisoners, and are dragged away from their homes to be taken across the
+sea and sold like so many cattle?"
+
+"Me?  Pity!  Mister, I'm full of it.  I'm sorry as sorrow for the poor
+niggers, and whenever I know that yon schooner is loading up with black
+stuff I shuts my eyes and looks t'other way."
+
+"Indeed!" cried Murray.  "And pray how do you manage to do that?"
+
+"Why, ain't I telling on you, youngster?  I shuts my eyes so as I can't
+see."
+
+"Then how can you look another way?"
+
+The American displayed every tooth in his head and winked at the
+lieutenant.
+
+"Yew've got a sharp 'un here, mister.  I should keep him covered up, or
+shut him up somehow, 'fore he cuts anybody or himself.  But yew
+understand what I mean, mister, and I dessay you can see now why I feel
+it my business to be very sorry for the black niggers, but more sorry
+for myself and my people.  I don't want to be knifed by a set o' hangdog
+rubbish from all parts o' the world.  I'm a peaceable man, mister, but
+you're a cap'en of a man-o'-war, I suppose?"
+
+"Chief officer," said the lieutenant.
+
+"And what's him?" said the American, jerking his thumb over his shoulder
+in the direction of the midshipman.  "Young chief officer?"
+
+"Junior officer."
+
+"Oh, his he?  Well, I tell you what: yew both go and act like
+men-o'-war.  Sail up close to that schooner, fire your big guns, and
+send her to the bottom of the river."
+
+"And what about the poor slaves?" said Murray excitedly.
+
+"Eh, the black stuff?" said the American, scratching his chin with his
+forefinger.  "Oh, I forgot all about them.  Rather bad for them, eh,
+mister?"
+
+"Of course," said the lieutenant.  "No, sir, that will not do.  I want
+to take the schooner, and make her captain and crew prisoners."
+
+"Yew'll have to look slippery then, mister.  But what about the
+niggers?"
+
+"I shall take them with the vessel to Lagos or some other port where a
+prize court is held, and the judge will no doubt order the best to be
+done with them."
+
+"Which means put an end to the lot, eh?" said the American.
+
+"Bah!  Nonsense!" cried Murray indignantly.
+
+"Is it, young mister?  Well, I didn't know.  It ain't my business.  Yew
+go on and do what's right.  It's your business.  I don't keer so long as
+I'm not mixed up with it.  I've on'y got one life, and I want to take
+keer on it.  Now we understand one another?"
+
+"Not quite," said the lieutenant.
+
+"Why, what is there as yew can't take in?"
+
+"Nothing," said the lieutenant.  "I quite see your position, and that
+you do not wish to run any risks with the slaver captain and his men."
+
+"Not a cent's worth if I can help it."
+
+"And quite right, sir," said the lieutenant; "but I take it that you
+know this slaver skipper by sight?"
+
+"Oh, yes, I know him, mister--quite as much as I want to."
+
+"And you know where he trades to?"
+
+"West Injies."
+
+"No, no; I mean his place here."
+
+"Oh, you mean his barracks and sheds where the chief stores up all the
+black stuff for him to come and fetch away?"
+
+"Yes, that's it," cried Murray excitedly.
+
+"Have the goodness to let me conclude this important business, Mr
+Murray," said the lieutenant coldly.
+
+"I beg your pardon, sir," said Murray, turning scarlet; "I was so
+excited."
+
+"That's one for you, mister young chief officer," said the American,
+grinning at the midshipman, and then turning to the lieutenant.  "These
+young uns want sitting upon a bit sometimes, eh, mister?"
+
+"Look here, sir," said the lieutenant, ignoring the remark; "just listen
+to me.  I want you to guide me and my men to the foul nest of this
+slave-trader and the town of the black chief."
+
+The American shook his head.
+
+"You need not shrink, for you will be under the protection of the
+English Government."
+
+"That's a long way off, mister."
+
+"But very far-reaching, sir," continued the lieutenant, "and I promise
+you full protection for all that you do.  Why, surely, man, you will be
+able to cultivate your plantation far more peacefully and with greater
+satisfaction with the river cleared of this abominable traffic."
+
+"Well, if you put it in that way, mister, I should," said the man, "and
+that's a fine range of rich land where the black chief has his people
+and their huts.  I could do wonders with that bit if I could hold it
+safely.  The rubber I'd plant there would be enough to--"
+
+"Rub out all the black marks that the slave-trade has made."
+
+"Very good, Mr Murray," said the lieutenant, smiling pleasantly, "but
+this is no time to try and be smart."
+
+"Eh?" said the American.  "Was that what he was aiming at?  I didn't
+understand; but I tell yew that there is about a mile of rich syle there
+which if I had I could make it projuice a fortune."
+
+"Look here, sir," said the lieutenant, "I have no doubt about the
+possibility of your being helped by the British Government to take
+possession of such a tract after we have done with it."
+
+"Why, you don't mean, Mister Chief Officer, that you will let your
+British Lion put his paw upon it and stick to it till you've done with
+it, as you say?"
+
+"No, no, no," said the lieutenant, smiling.  "I mean that the British
+Lion will put its paw upon the horrible settlement in this way and will
+root out the traffic, and we shall only be too glad to encourage the
+rise of a peaceful honest culture such as you are carrying on."
+
+"You mean then that you'll root out the slaves and burn the chief's
+town?"
+
+"Most certainly," said the lieutenant.  "And help me to get hold of that
+there land?"
+
+"I believe I may promise that."
+
+"And take care that the Portygee slaver cock has his comb cut so as he
+dursen't meddle with me?"
+
+"I feel sure that all this will follow if you help us to capture the
+slaver, and point out where the abominable traffic is carried on."
+
+"Shake on it," said the American, thrusting out a thin yellow hand with
+unpleasantly long nails.
+
+"Shake hands upon the compact?" said the lieutenant good-humouredly.
+"Very good;" and he gave the yellow hand a good manly grip.
+
+"Then I'm on!" cried the man effusively.  "But look here, yew're in this
+too;" and he stretched out his hand to Murray.  "Yew're a witness to all
+your chief said."
+
+"Oh, all right," said Murray, and he let the long, thin, unpleasantly
+cold and dank fingers close round his hand, but not without a feeling of
+disgust which was expressed by the making of a grimace as soon as the
+American turned to the lieutenant again.
+
+"That's settled, then," said the latter, "so go on at once and lead
+while we follow."
+
+"What!" said the American, with a look of wonder.
+
+"I say, go on and guide us to the slaver's nest."
+
+"What, just alone like this here?"
+
+"Yes, of course.  You see we are well-armed and ready to board and take
+the schooner at once.  Fire will destroy the chief's town."
+
+"Well, you do 'maze me," said the American, showing his teeth.
+
+"What do you mean?" said the lieutenant sternly.  "Are you going to draw
+back?"
+
+"Not me, mister.  That's a bargain," said the man, grinning.  "I mean
+that you 'maze me, you Englishers do, by your cheek.  I don't doubt you
+a bit.  You mean it, and yew'll dew it.  Why, I dessay if yew yewrself
+wasn't here this here young shaver of an officer would have a try at it
+hisself.  You would, wouldn't you, youngster?"
+
+"Why, of course I would," said Murray proudly; and then, feeling afraid
+that his assertion might be looked upon as braggadocio, he hastened to
+add, "I--I--er--meant to say that I would try, and our brave fellows
+would take the prisoners."
+
+"Nay, nay, yew would," said the American.  "There ain't nothing to be
+ashamed on in being brave, is there, mister?"
+
+"Of course not," said the lieutenant.
+
+"Of course not," said the American; "but look here, sirree, it's no good
+to lose brave men by trying to do things that's a bit too strong and
+starky for you."
+
+"What, do you mean that the schooner's crew would be too strong for us?"
+
+"Nay, not me, mister.  Yew'd chaw them up safe.  But there's the black
+king; he's got close upon a hundred fighting men, chaps with spears.
+He'd fight too, for though they ain't got much brains, these niggers,
+he'd know you'd be going to do away with his bread and cheese, as you
+may say.  No, sirree, I ain't a fighting man; rubber's my line, but I
+want to _get_ hold of that bit of syle--make sewer of it, as you may
+say; and if I'd got that job to do I should get another boatful of men
+if you could.  Don't know of a British ship handy, do you?"
+
+"Of course.  My captain is off the coast not far away.  You did not
+suppose that we came alone?"
+
+"Oh, I didn't know, mister.  Could you bring your captain then?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And another boat?"
+
+"Of course."
+
+"Then if I was you I should tell him to sail up the river."
+
+"What, is there water enough--deep water?" asked the lieutenant.
+
+"Whatcher talking about?" said the man contemptuously.  "Why, didn't you
+see me sail out?"
+
+The lieutenant shook his head.
+
+"Think o' that!" said the American.  "Way in's bit narrer, but as soon
+as you get threw the trees you're in a big mighty river you can sail up
+for months if yew like.  I have heerd that there's some falls somewhere,
+but I've never seem 'em.  Water enough?  My snakes!  There's water
+enough to make a flood, if you want one, as soon as you get by the
+winding bits."
+
+"The river winds?" said the lieutenant.
+
+"Winds?  I should think she does!  Why, look yonder, mister," continued
+the man, pointing.  "It's all trees like that for miles.  You've got to
+get through them."
+
+"Deep water?" asked the lieutenant.
+
+"Orful!  On'y it's 'bout as muddy as rivers can be made."
+
+"And you assure me that you could pilot us in and right up to the
+slaver's stronghold?"
+
+"Pilot yew?  Yew don't want no piloting; all yew've got to do is to sail
+up in and out through the big wilderness of trees.  Yew wouldn't want no
+piloting, but if you undertake to see that I have that chief's land, and
+clear him and his black crews away, I'll lay _yew_ off his front door
+where you can blow his palm-tree palace all to smithers without losing a
+man."
+
+"And what about the slaver?" asked Murray.
+
+"What about her?  She'll be lying anchored there, of course."
+
+"With any colleagues?" asked the lieutenant.
+
+"Whatche'r mean--t'others?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Not now, mister.  There's as many as four or five sometimes, but I only
+see her go up the river this time.  Yew should have come later on if you
+wanted more."
+
+"The slaver is up the river now, then?" said the lieutenant, looking at
+the man searchingly.
+
+"Yes, of course," was the reply, as the American involuntarily gave a
+look round, and then, as if taking himself to task for an act of folly,
+he added laughingly.  "If she wasn't up there she'd be out here, and you
+can see for yourselves that she ain't."
+
+"You could show us the way in?" said Murray.
+
+"Why, didn't I say I could?" replied the man sharply.
+
+"Yes; but I should like to have a glimpse of her first," said Murray.
+
+"What for, youngster?  To let her know that you're coming?  You take my
+advice, mister, and come upon her sudden like."
+
+The lieutenant gazed intently upon the man.
+
+"Yes; I should like to reconnoitre a bit first.  With your assistance we
+ought to be able to run our boats close up under the shelter of the
+trees and see what she is like."
+
+"See what she's like, mister?  Why, like any other schooner.  You take
+my advice; you'll slip off and fetch your ship, and I'll wait here till
+you come back."
+
+Murray looked at the man searchingly, for somehow a sense of doubt began
+to trouble him as to the man's trustworthiness, and the lad began to
+turn over the position in his mind.  For though the man's story seemed
+to be reasonable enough, an element of suspicion began to creep in and
+he began to long to ask the lieutenant as to what he thought about the
+matter.
+
+But he did not speak, for the keen-looking American's eyes were upon
+him, and when they shifted it was only for them to be turned upon the
+lieutenant.
+
+"Wal," he said at last, "whatcher thinking about, mister?"
+
+"About your running me up to where you could point out the schooner."
+
+"But I don't want to," said the man frankly.
+
+"Why?" asked the lieutenant sharply.
+
+"'Cause I don't want to lose the chance of getting that there mile of
+plantation."
+
+"There ought to be no risk, sir, if we were careful."
+
+"I dunno so much about that there, mister.  Them slaver chaps always
+sleep with one eye open, and there's no knowing what might happen."
+
+"What might happen!  What could happen?"
+
+"Nothing; but the skipper might hyste sail and run his craft right up
+towards the falls.  As I said, I never see them, but there must be falls
+to keep this river so full."
+
+"But we could follow him."
+
+"Part of the way p'raps, mister, but he could go in his light craft much
+further than you could in a man-o'-war."
+
+"True," said the lieutenant; "you are right."
+
+"Somewhere about," said the man, showing his teeth.  "There, you slip
+off and fetch your ship, and I'll cruise up and down off the mouth of
+the river here so as to make sure that the schooner don't slip off.
+She's just as like as not to hyste sail now that the fog's all gone.
+She'd have been off before if it hadn't come on as thick as soup.  Say,
+'bout how far off is your ship?"
+
+"Half-a-dozen miles away," said the lieutenant.
+
+"That ain't far.  Why not be off at once?"
+
+"Why not come with us?" asked Murray.
+
+"Ain't I telled yer, youngster?  Think I want to come back and find the
+schooner gone?"
+
+The lieutenant gazed from the American to the midshipman and back again,
+with his doubts here and there, veering like a weather vane, for the
+thought would keep attacking him--suppose all this about the slave
+schooner was Yankee bunkum, and as soon as he had got rid of them, the
+lugger would sail away and be seen no more?
+
+"You won't trust him, will you?" said Murray, taking advantage of a puff
+of wind which separated the two boats for a few minutes.
+
+"I can't," said the lieutenant, in a whisper.  "I was nearly placing
+confidence in him, but your doubt has steered me in the other direction.
+Hah!" he added quickly.  "That will prove him."  And just then the
+lugger glided alongside again, and the opportunity for further communing
+between the two officers was gone.
+
+"That's what yew have to be on the lookout for, mister, when yew get
+sailing out here.  Sharp cat's-paws o' wind hot as fire sometimes.
+Well, ain't you going to fetch your ship?"
+
+"And what about you?" said the lieutenant.
+
+"Me?" said the man wonderingly, and looking as innocent as a child.
+
+"Yes; where am I to pick you up again?"
+
+"Oh!  I'll show you.  I'll be hanging just inside one of the mouths of
+the river, and then lead yew in when yew get back with yewr ship."
+
+Murray softly pressed his foot against his officer's without seeming to
+move, and felt the pressure returned, as if to say--All right; I'm not
+going to trust him--and the lieutenant then said aloud--
+
+"But why shouldn't you sail with us as far as our sloop?"
+
+"Ah, why shouldn't I, after all?" said the man.  "You might show me your
+skipper, and we could talk to him about what we're going to do.  All
+right; sail away if you like to chance it."
+
+The lieutenant nodded, and a few minutes later the two boats were
+gliding about half a mile abreast of the dense mangrove-covered shore in
+the direction of the _Seafowl_, and only about fifty yards apart.
+
+"You'll be keeping a sharp lookout for treachery in any shape, sir?"
+said Murray, in a low tone.
+
+"The fellow's willingness to fall in with my proposal has disarmed me,
+Mr Murray," said the lieutenant quietly, "but all the same I felt bound
+to be cautious.  I have given the marines orders to be ready to fire at
+the slightest sign of an attempt to get away."
+
+"You have, sir?  Bravo!" said Murray, in the same low tone, and without
+seeming to be talking to his chief if they were observed.  "But I did
+not hear you speak to the jollies."
+
+"No, Mr Murray; I did not mean you to, and I did not shout.  But this
+caution is, after all, unnecessary, for there comes the sloop to look
+after us.  Look; she is rounding that tree-covered headland."
+
+"Better and better, sir!" cried Murray excitedly.  "I was beginning to
+fidget about the lugger."
+
+"What about her, Mr Murray?"
+
+"Beginning to feel afraid of her slipping away as soon as we were out of
+sight."
+
+"You think, then, that the lugger's people might be on the watch?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Quite possible," said the lieutenant.  "Well, we have her safe now."
+
+"Yes, sir; but won't you heave to and wait?"
+
+"To be sure, yes, Mr Murray; a good idea; and let the sloop sail up to
+us?"
+
+"Won't it make the captain storm a bit, sir, and ask sharply why we
+didn't make haste and join?"
+
+"Most likely, Mr Murray," said the lieutenant quietly; "but if he does
+we have two answers."
+
+"The lugger, sir."
+
+"Yes, Mr Murray, and the discovery of the schooner."
+
+"Waiting to be boarded, sir," said the midshipman.
+
+"Exactly, Mr Murray.  Any one make out the second cutter?"
+
+"Ay, ay, sir!" cried Tom May.  "There she is, sir--miles astarn of the
+_Seafowl_, sir."
+
+"I wish we could signal to her to lay off and on where she is."
+
+"What for, sir?"
+
+"There may be one of the narrow entrances to the great river
+thereabouts, and the wider the space we can cover, the greater chance we
+shall have of preventing the slaver from stealing away."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FOUR.
+
+THE YANKEE'S FOOD.
+
+"Grand, Mr Anderson," said the captain, after a time.  But his first
+words had come pouring out like a storm of blame, which gave the first
+lieutenant no opportunity to report what he had done.  "Yes: could not
+be better sir.  There, we are going to capture a slaver at last!"
+
+"Yes, sir, if we have luck; and to stamp out one of the strongholds of
+the accursed trade."
+
+Then the captain became silent, and stood thoughtfully looking over the
+side at the indiarubber planter's lugger.
+
+"Humph!" he ejaculated, at last.  "Rather a serious risk to run, to
+trust to this stranger and make him our guide."
+
+"So it struck me, sir, as I told you," said the lieutenant.
+
+"Let me see, Mr Anderson, did you tell me that?"
+
+"Yes, sir, if you will recall it."
+
+"Humph!  Yes, I suppose you did.  But I was thinking.  Suppose he plays
+us false."
+
+"Why should he, sir?"
+
+"To be sure, why should he, Mr Anderson?  All the same, we must be
+careful."
+
+Meanwhile, Murray was being cross-examined by his brother midshipman,
+who looked out of temper, and expressed himself sourly upon coming
+aboard.
+
+"You have all the luck," he said.  "You drop into all the spirited
+adventures, while I am packed off with prosy old Munday."
+
+"Oh, nonsense!  It is all chance.  But didn't you see anything, old
+chap?"
+
+"Yes--muddy water; dingy mangroves; the tail of a croc as the filthy
+reptile slid off the tree roots into the water.  That was all, while
+there I was cooking in the heat, and listening to old Munday prose,
+prose, prose, till I dropped off to sleep, when the disagreeable beggar
+woke me up, to bully me about neglecting my duty, and told me that I
+should never _get to_ be a smart officer if I took so little interest in
+my profession that I could not keep awake when out on duty."
+
+"Well, it did seem hard, Dick, when he sent you off to sleep.  I
+couldn't have kept awake, I know."
+
+"I'm sure you couldn't.  But there: bother!  You couldn't help getting
+all the luck."
+
+"No; and you are going to share it now."
+
+"Not so sure, Frank.  As like as not the skipper will send me away in a
+boat to watch some hole where the slaver might slip out.  So this Yankee
+is going to act as pilot and lead us up the river to where the schooner
+is hiding?"
+
+"Yes, and to show us the chief's town, and the place where he collects
+the poor unfortunate blacks ready for being shipped away to the Spanish
+plantations."
+
+"My word, it's fine!" cried Roberts excitedly.  "And hooroar, as Tom May
+has it.  Why, the lads will be half mad with delight."
+
+"And enough to make them," said Murray.  "But I say, how does it strike
+you?"
+
+"As being glorious.  Franky, old fellow, if it wasn't for the look of
+the thing I could chuck up my cap and break out into a hornpipe.  Dance
+it without music."
+
+"To the delight of the men, and make Anderson or Munday say that it was
+not like the conduct of an officer and a gentleman."
+
+"Yes, that's the worst of it.  But though of course we're men now--"
+
+"Midshipmen," said Murray drily.
+
+"Don't sneer, old chap!  And don't interrupt when I'm talking."
+
+"Say on, O sage," said the lad.
+
+"I was going to say that of course, though we are men now, one does feel
+a bit of the boy sometimes, and as if it was pleasant now and then to
+have a good lark."  As the young fellow spoke he passed his hand
+thoughtfully over his cheeks and chin.  "What are you grinning at?" he
+continued.
+
+"Not grinning, old fellow; it was only a smile."
+
+"Now, none of your gammon.  You were laughing at me."
+
+"Oh!  Nothing!" said Murray, with the smile deepening at the corners of
+his mouth.
+
+"There you go again!" cried Roberts.  "Who's to keep friends with you,
+Frank Murray, when you are always trying to pick a quarrel with a
+fellow?"
+
+"What, by smiling?"
+
+"No, by laughing at a fellow and then pretending you were not.  Now
+then, what was it?"
+
+"Oh, all right; I only smiled at you about your shaving so carefully
+this morning."
+
+"How did you know I shaved this morning?" cried the midshipman,
+flushing.
+
+"You told me so."
+
+"That I'll swear I didn't."
+
+"Not with your lips, Dicky--_Dick_--but with your fingers."
+
+"Oh!  Bother!  I never did see such a fellow as you are to spy out
+things," cried Roberts petulantly.
+
+"Not spy, old chap.  I only try to put that and that together, and I
+want you to do the same.  So you think this is all glorious about yonder
+planter chap piloting us to the slaver's place?"
+
+"Of course!  Don't you?"
+
+"Well, I don't know, Dick," said Murray, filling his forehead with
+wrinkles.
+
+"Oh, I never did see such a fellow for pouring a souse of cold water
+down a fellow's back," cried Roberts passionately.  "You don't mean to
+say that you think he's a fraud?"
+
+"Can't help thinking something of the kind, old man."
+
+"Oh!" ejaculated Roberts.  "I say, here, tell us what makes you think
+so."
+
+"He's too easy and ready, Dick," said Murray, throwing off his ordinary
+merry ways and speaking seriously and with his face full of thought.
+
+"But what does Anderson say to it?"
+
+"He seemed to be suspicious once, but it all passed off, and then the
+skipper when he heard everything too talked as if he had his doubts.
+But now he treats it as if it is all right, and we are to follow this
+American chap wherever he leads us."
+
+"Yes, to-morrow morning, isn't it?"
+
+"No, Dick; to-night."
+
+"To-night--in the dark?"
+
+"I suppose so."
+
+"Oh!" said Roberts thoughtfully, and he began to shave himself with his
+finger once more, but without provoking the faintest smile from his
+companion.  "I say, Franky, I don't like that."
+
+"No; neither do I, Dick."
+
+"It does seem like putting ourselves into his hands," continued Roberts
+thoughtfully.  "Oh, but I don't know," he continued, as if snatching at
+anything that told for the success of the expedition; "you know what
+Anderson often tells us."
+
+"I know what he says sometimes about our being thoughtless boys."
+
+"Yes, that's what I mean, old fellow; and it isn't true, for I think a
+deal about my duties, and as for you--you're a beggar to think, just
+like the monkey who wouldn't speak for fear he should be set to work."
+
+"Thanks for the compliment," said Murray drily.
+
+"Oh, you know what I mean.  But I suppose we can't think so well now as
+we shall by and by.  I mean, older fellows can think better, and I
+suppose that the skipper and old Anderson really do know better than we
+do.  It will be all right, old fellow.  They wouldn't let themselves be
+led into any trap; and besides, look at the Yankee--I mean, look at his
+position; he must be sharp enough."
+
+"Oh yes, he's sharp enough," said Murray.  "Hear him talk, and you'd
+think he was brought up on pap made of boiled-down razor-strops."
+
+"Well, then, he must know well enough that if he did the slightest thing
+in the way of playing fast and loose with us, he'd get a bullet through
+his head."
+
+"Yes--if he wasn't too sharp for us."
+
+"Oh, it will be all right," cried Roberts.  "Don't be too cautious,
+Franky.  Put your faith in your superior officers; that's the way to
+succeed."
+
+"Then you think I am too cautious here, Dick?"
+
+"Of course I do," cried Roberts, patting his brother middy on the
+shoulder.  "It will be all right, so don't be dumpy.  I feel as if we
+are going to have a fine time of it."
+
+"Think we shall have any fighting?"
+
+"Afraid not; but you do as I do.  I mean to get hold of a cutlass and
+pistols.  I'm not going to risk my valuable life with nothing to
+preserve it but a ridiculous dirk.  Don't you be downhearted and think
+that the expedition is coming to grief."
+
+"Not I," said Murray cheerily.  "I suppose it's all right; but I
+couldn't help thinking what I have told you.  I wish I didn't think such
+things; but it's a way I have."
+
+"Yes," said his companion, "and any one wouldn't expect it of you,
+Franky, seeing what a light-hearted chap you are.  It's a fault in your
+nature, a thing you ought to correct.  If you don't get over it you'll
+never make a dashing officer."
+
+"Be too cautious, eh?" said Murray good-humouredly.
+
+"That's it, old chap.  Oh, I say, though, I wish it was nearly night,
+and that we were going off at once.  But I say, where's the Yankee?"
+
+"What!" cried Murray, starting.  "Isn't he alongside in his boat?"
+
+"No; didn't you see?  He came aboard half-an-hour ago.  Old Bosun
+Dempsey fetched him out of his lugger; and look yonder, you croaking old
+cock raven.  We always have one jolly as sentry at the gangway, don't
+we?"
+
+"Of course."
+
+"Very well, look now; there are two loaded and primed ready for any
+pranks the lugger men might play; and there are the two cutters ready
+for lowering down at a moment's notice, and it wouldn't take long for
+Dempsey to fizzle out his tune on his pipe and send the crews into
+them."
+
+"Bah!  Pish!  Pooh! and the rest of it.  What do you mean by that?
+Look, the lugger is a fast sailer."
+
+"Well, I dare say she is, but one of our little brass guns can send
+balls that sail through the air much faster.  So drop all those dismal
+prophecies and damping thoughts about danger.  Our officers know their
+way about and have got their eyes open.  The skipper knows about
+everything, and what he doesn't know bully Anderson tells him.  It's all
+right, Franky.  Just look at the lads!  Why, there's Tom May smiling as
+if he'd filled his pockets full of prize money."
+
+"Yes," assented Murray, "and the other lads have shaped their phizzes to
+match.  But let's get closer to the lugger."
+
+"What for?" said Roberts sharply.
+
+"To have a good look at her Indiarubber-cultivating crew."
+
+"Not I!" cried Roberts.  "If we go there you'll begin to see something
+wrong again, and begin to croak."
+
+"No, no; honour bright!  If I do think anything, I won't say a word."
+
+"I'd better keep you here out of temptation," said Roberts dubiously.
+
+"Nonsense!  It's all right, I tell you.  There, come along."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FIVE.
+
+TRUSTING A GUIDE.
+
+The two lads made for where they could get a good view of the lugger
+swinging by a rope abreast of the starboard gangway, and as they passed
+along the quarter-deck, the shrill strident tones of the American's
+voice reached them through one of the open cabin skylights, while
+directly after, Murray, keen and observant of everything, noted that the
+two marines of whom his companion had spoken were standing apparently
+simply on duty, but thoroughly upon the alert and ready for anything,
+their whole bearing suggesting that they had received the strictest of
+orders, and were prepared for anything that might occur.
+
+Roberts gave his companion a nudge with his elbow and a quick glance of
+the eye, which produced "Yes, all right; I see," from Murray.  "I'm
+afraid--I mean I'm glad to see that I was only croaking; but I say,
+Dick, have a good quiet look at those fellows and see if you don't find
+some excuse for what I thought."
+
+"Bah!  Beginning to croak again."
+
+"That I'm not," said Murray.  "I only say have a look at them,
+especially at that fellow smoking."
+
+"Wait a moment.  I have focussed my eye upon that beauty getting his
+quid ready--disgusting!"
+
+"Yes, it does look nasty," said Murray, with the corners of his lips
+turning up.  "The regular Malay fashion.  That fellow never came from
+these parts."
+
+"Suppose not.  Why can't the nasty wretch cut a quid off a bit of black
+twist tobacco like an ordinary British sailor?"
+
+"Instead of taking a leaf out of his pouch," continued Murray, "smearing
+it with that mess of white lime paste out of his shell--"
+
+"Putting a bit of broken betel nut inside--" said Roberts.
+
+"Rolling it up together--" continued Murray.
+
+"And popping the whole ball into his pretty mouth," said Roberts.  "Bah!
+Look at his black teeth and the stained corners of his lips.  Talk
+about a dirty habit!  Our jacks are bad enough.  Ugh!"
+
+"I say, Dick," whispered Murray, as the Malay occupant of the boat
+realised the fact that he was being watched, and rolled his opal
+eyeballs round with a peculiar leer up at the two young officers.
+
+"Now then," was the reply, "you promised that you wouldn't croak."
+
+"To be sure.  I only wanted to say that fellow looks a beauty."
+
+"Beauty is only skin deep," said Roberts softly.
+
+"And ugliness goes to the bone," whispered Murray, smiling.  "Yes, he
+looks a nice fellow to be a cultivator of the indiarubber plant."
+
+"Eh?  Who said he was?" said Roberts sharply.
+
+"His skipper.  That's what they all are.  Splendid workers too.  Do more
+than regular niggers."
+
+"Do more, no doubt," said Roberts thoughtfully.  "But they certainly
+don't look like agricultural labourers.  Why, they're a regular crew of
+all sorts."
+
+"Irregular crew, you mean," said Murray.  "That one to the left looks
+like an Arab."
+
+"Yes, and the one asleep with his mouth open and the flies buzzing about
+him looks to me like a Krooboy.  Well, upon my word, old Croaker, they
+do look--I say, do you see that blackest one?"
+
+"Yes; and I've seen them before, you know."
+
+"But he opened and shut his mouth just now.  You didn't see that, did
+you?"
+
+"Yes, I saw it; he has had his teeth filed like a saw."
+
+"That's what I meant, and it makes him look like a crocodile when he
+gapes."
+
+"Or a shark."
+
+"Well," said Roberts, after a pause, "upon my word, Frank, they do look
+about as ugly a set of cut-throat scoundrels as ever I saw in my life."
+
+"Right," said Murray eagerly.  "Well, what do you say now?"
+
+"That I should like to point out their peculiarities to the skipper and
+old Anderson, and tell them what we think.  Go and ask them to come and
+look."
+
+"I have already done so to Anderson."
+
+"But you ought to do it to the skipper as well.  Look here, go at once
+and fetch him here to look."
+
+"While the American is with him?  Thank you; I'd rather not."
+
+"Do you mean that?"
+
+"To be sure I do.  What would he say to me?"
+
+"Oh, he'd cut up rough, of course; but you wouldn't mind that in the
+cause of duty."
+
+Murray laughed softly.
+
+"Why, Dick, I can almost hear what he would say about my impudence to
+attempt to teach him his duty.  No, thank you, my dear boy; if he and
+Anderson think it right to trust the American, why, it must be right.
+If you feel that the nature of these fellows ought to be pointed out,
+why, you go and do it."
+
+Roberts took another look at the lugger's crew, and then shrugged his
+shoulders, just as the captain came on deck, followed by the American
+and the first lieutenant.
+
+The American was talking away volubly, and every word of the
+conversation came plainly to the ears of the two lads.
+
+"Of course, cyaptain, I'll stop on board your craft if yew like, but I
+put it to yew, how am I going to play pilot and lead you in through the
+mouth if I stop here?  I can sail my lugger easy enough, but I should
+get into a tarnation mess if I tried to con your big ship.  Better let
+me lead in aboard my own craft, and you follow."
+
+"In the darkness of night?" said the captain.
+
+"There ain't no darkness to-night, mister.  It'll be full moon, and it's
+morning pretty early--just soon enough for you to begin business at
+daybreak.  I shall lead you right up to where the schooner's lying, and
+then you'll be ready to waken the skipper up by giving him a good round
+up with your big guns."
+
+"And what about the slaves?"
+
+"Oh, you must fire high, sir, and then yew won't touch them.  High
+firing's just what yew want so as to cripple his sails and leave him
+broken-winged like a shot bird on the water."
+
+The captain nodded, and the two midshipmen, after a glance at the first
+lieutenant, to see that he was listening attentively with half-closed
+eyes, gazed at the American again.
+
+"Lookye here, mister," he said, "yew must make no mistake over this job.
+If yew do, it's going to be pretty bad for me, and instead of me being
+rid of a bad neighbour or two, and coming in for a long strip of rich
+rubber-growing land, I shall find myself dropped upon for letting on to
+him yewr craft; and I tell yew he's a coon, this slave cyaptain, as
+won't forgive anything of that kind.  He's just this sort of fellow.  If
+he finds I've done him such an on-neighbourly act, he'll just give his
+fellows a nod, and in less time than yew can wink there'll be no
+rubber-grower anywhere above ground, for there'll be a fine rich
+plantation to sell and no bidders, while this 'ere industrious
+enterprising party will be somewhere down the river, put aside into some
+hole in the bank to get nice and mellow by one of the crockydiles, who
+object to their meat being too fresh."
+
+"Ugh!" shuddered Roberts.
+
+"Oh, that's right enough, young squire," said the man, turning upon him
+sharply.  "I ain't telling you no travellers' tales.  It's all true
+enough.  Wal, cyaptain, don't you see the sense of what I am saying?"
+
+"Yes, sir.  But tell me this; do you guarantee that there are no shoals
+anywhere about the mouth of the river?"
+
+"Shoals, no; sands, no, sir.  All deep water without any bottom to speak
+of.  But where you find it all deep mud yew can't take no harm, sir.
+The river's made its way right threw the forest, and the bank's cut
+right straight down and up perpendicular like, while if _you_ were to go
+ashore it would only be to send your jib boom right in among the trees
+and your cut-water against the soft muddy bank.  Why, it's mostly a
+hundred feet deep.  Yew trust me, and yew'll find plenty of room; but if
+yew don't feel quite comf'table, if I was yew I'd just lie off for a bit
+while you send in one of your boats and Squire First Lieutenant there,
+to see what it's like, and the sooner the better, for the sun's getting
+low, and as I dessay yew know better than I can tell _yew_, it ain't
+long after the sun sinks before it's tidy dark.  Now then, what do yew
+say?  I'm ready as soon as yew are."
+
+"How long will it take us to get up to the chief's town?"
+
+"'Bout till daylight to-morrow morn', mister.  That's what I'm telling
+of yew."
+
+"Then it's quite a big river?"
+
+"Mighty big, sir."
+
+"And the current?"
+
+"None at all hardly, mister.  Yew'll just ketch the night wind as blows
+off the sea, and that'll take yew up as far as yew want to go.  Then
+morrow mornin' if yew're done all yew want to do yew'll have the land
+wind to take yew out to sea again.  Though I'm thinking that yew won't
+be able to do all yew want in one day, for there's a lot of black folk
+to deal with, and I wouldn't be in too great a hurry.  Yew take my
+advice, cyaptain; do it well while yew're about it, and yew won't
+repent."
+
+"Never fear, sir," said the captain sternly.  "I shall do my work
+thoroughly.  Now then, back into your lugger and show us the way.  Mr
+Munday, take the second cutter and follow this American gentleman's
+lead, and then stay alongside his boat while Mr Anderson comes back to
+report to me in the first cutter.  You both have your instructions.
+Yes, Mr Roberts--Yes, Mr Murray," continued the captain, in response
+to a couple of appealing looks; "you can accompany the two armed boats."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SIX.
+
+INTO THE MIST.
+
+Murray thought that the American screwed up his eyes in a peculiar way
+when he found that the two boats were to go in advance of the sloop, but
+he had no opportunity for telling Roberts what he believed he had seen,
+while so busy a time followed and his attention was so much taken up
+that it was not till long afterwards that he recalled what he had noted.
+
+The American, upon rejoining his lugger, sailed away at once with the
+two boats in close attendance and the sloop right behind, their pilot
+keeping along the dingy mangrove-covered shore and about half-a-mile
+distant, where no opening seemed visible; and so blank was the outlook
+that the first lieutenant had turned to his young companion to say in an
+angry whisper--
+
+"I don't like this at all, Mr Murray."  But the words were no sooner
+out of his mouth than to the surprise of both there was a sudden
+pressure upon the lugger's tiller, the little vessel swung round, and
+her cut-water pointed at once for the densely wooded shore, so that she
+glided along in a course diagonal to that which she had been pursuing.
+
+"Why, what game is he playing now?" muttered the lieutenant.  "There is
+no opening here.  Yes, there is," he added, the next minute.  "No wonder
+we passed it by.  How curious!  Ah, here comes the moon."
+
+For as the great orb slowly rose and sent her horizontal rays over the
+sea in a wide path of light, she lit-up what at first sight seemed to be
+a narrow opening in the mangrove forest, but which rapidly spread out
+wider and wider, till as the three boats glided gently along, their
+sails well filled by the soft sea breeze, Murray gazed back, to see that
+the sloop was now following into what proved to be a wide estuary, shut
+off from seaward by what appeared now in the moonlight a long narrow
+strip of mangrove-covered shore.
+
+"River," said the lieutenant decisively, "and a big one too.  Now, Tom
+May, steady with the lead."
+
+"Ay, ay, sir!" cried the man, and he began to take soundings, one of the
+sailors in the second cutter receiving his orders and beginning to
+follow the example set.
+
+Then there was a hail from the lugger.
+
+"What game do you call this?"
+
+"Soundings," replied the lieutenant gruffly.
+
+"Twenty fathom for miles up, and you can go close inshore if _you_ like.
+It's all alike."
+
+"P'raps so," said the officer, "but my orders are to sound."
+
+"Sound away, then," said the American sourly; "but do you want to be a
+week?"  And he relapsed into silence, till about a couple of miles of
+the course of the wide river had been covered, sounding after sounding
+being taken, which proved the perfect truth of the American's words.
+
+Then the two cutters closed up and there was a brief order given by the
+first lieutenant, which resulted in the second cutter beginning to make
+its way back to where the sloop lay in the mouth of the estuary.
+
+"What yer doing now?" came from the lugger.
+
+"Sending word to the sloop that there's plenty of water and that she may
+come on."
+
+"Course she may, mister," grumbled the American.  "Think I would ha'
+telled yew if it hedn't been all right?  Yew Englishers are queer fish!"
+
+"Yes," said the lieutenant quietly.  "We like to feel our way cautiously
+in strange waters."
+
+"Then I s'pose we may anchor now till your skipper comes?  All right,
+then, on'y you're not going to get up alongside of the schooner this
+side of to-morrow morning, I tell yew."
+
+"Very well, then, we must take the other side of her the next morning."
+
+The American issued an order of his own in a sulky tone of voice,
+lowering his sails; and then there was a splash as a grapnel was dropped
+over the side.
+
+"Hadn't yew better anchor?" he shouted good-humouredly now.  "If yew
+don't yew'll go drifting backward pretty fast."
+
+For answer the lieutenant gave the order to lower the grapnel, and
+following the light splash and the running out of the line came the
+announcement of the sailor in charge as he checked the falling rope--
+
+"No bottom here."
+
+"Takes a tidy long line here, mister," came in the American's sneering
+voice.  "Guess your sloop's keel won't touch no bottom when she comes
+up."
+
+The lieutenant made no reply save by hoisting sail again and running to
+and fro around and about the anchored lugger, so as to pass the time in
+taking soundings, all of which went to prove that the river flowed
+sluggishly seaward with so little variation in the depth that the
+soundings were perfectly unnecessary.
+
+It was tedious work, and a couple of hours passed before, pale and
+spirit-like at first, the other cutter came into sight in the pale
+moonlight, followed by the sloop, when the American had the lugger's
+grapnel hauled up and ran his boat alongside of the first cutter.
+
+"Look here," he said angrily, "yewr skipper's just making a fool of me,
+and I may as well run ashore to my plantation, for we shan't do no good
+to-night."
+
+The man's words were repeated when the sloop came up, and a short
+discussion followed, which resulted in the captain changing his orders.
+
+"The man's honest enough, Anderson," he said, "and I must trust him."
+
+"What do you mean to do, then, sir?" said the first lieutenant, in a low
+tone.
+
+"Let him pilot us to where the slaver lies."
+
+"With the lead going all the time, sir?"
+
+"Of course, Mr Anderson," said the captain shortly.  "Do you think me
+mad?"
+
+"I beg your pardon, sir," replied the chief officer.  "Perhaps it will
+be best."
+
+It proved to be best so far as the American's temper was concerned, for
+upon hearing the captain's decision, he took his place at the tiller of
+his lugger and led the way up the great river, followed by the stately
+sloop, whose lead as it was lowered from time to time told the same
+unvarying tale of deep water with a muddy bottom, while as the river's
+winding course altered slightly, the width as far as it could be made
+out by the night glasses gave at least a couple of miles to the shore on
+either hand.
+
+From time to time the first cutter, in obedience to the captain's
+orders, ran forward from where she was sailing astern--the second cutter
+swinging now from the davits--crept up alongside of the lugger, and
+communicated with her skipper; and Murray's doubts grew more faint, for
+everything the American said sounded plausible.
+
+The night was far spent when another of these visits was paid, and as
+the coxswain hooked on alongside of the lugger the American leaned over
+to speak to the lieutenant, but turned first to Murray.  "Well, young
+mister," he said; "sleepy?"
+
+"No, not at all," was the reply.  "Good boy; that's right; but if your
+skipper hadn't been so tarnation 'spicious yew might have had a good
+snooze.  Wall, lieutenant, I was just waiting to see you, and I didn't
+want to hail for fear our slave-hunting friend might be on his deck and
+hear us.  Talk about your skipper being 'spicious, he's nothing to him.
+The way in which the sound of a shout travels along the top of the water
+here's just wonderful, and my hail might spyle the hull business."
+
+"But we're not so near as that?" asked the lieutenant.
+
+"Ain't we?  But we jest are!  See that there bit of a glimpse of the
+mountains straight below the moon?"
+
+"Yes," said the lieutenant; "but I should have taken it for a cloud if
+you had not spoken."
+
+"That's it," said the skipper; "that's where the river winds round at
+the foot, and the quieter yewr people keep now the better.  Oh yes, yewr
+skipper has knocked all my calc'lations on the head, I can tell yew.
+That there sloop sails A1, and she's done much more than I 'spected."
+
+"I'm glad of it," said the lieutenant, while Murray's spirits rose.
+
+"So'm I," said the man, with a chuckle; "and now it's turned out all
+right I don't mind 'fessing."
+
+"Confessing!  What about?"
+
+"Why, this here," said the man.  "Your skipper had wasted so much time
+with his soundings and messing about that I says to myself that if I
+tried to see the business out our Portygee friend would see me mixed up
+with it all and take the alarm.  Yewr sloop wouldn't get near him, for
+he'd run right up the river where you couldn't follow, and he'd wait his
+time till you'd gone away, and then come down upon me as an informer.
+D'you know what that would mean for me then?"
+
+"Not exactly," replied the lieutenant, "but I can guess."
+
+"Zackly," said the man, and he turned sharply upon Murray and made a
+significant gesture with one finger across his throat.
+
+"Look here," said the lieutenant, "don't talk so much, my friend."
+
+"That's just what I want yew to go and tell your skipper, mister.  Tell
+him to give orders that his men are not to say a word above a whisper,
+for if it's ketched aboard the schooner our friend will be off."
+
+"I will tell him," said the lieutenant; "but now tell me what you mean
+to do?"
+
+"To do?  Jest this; put your vessel just where she can lie low and send
+three or four boats to steal aboard the schooner and take her.  Yew can
+do that easy, can't yew, without firing a shot?"
+
+"Certainly," said the lieutenant; "and what about you?"
+
+"Me?  Get outer the way as fast as I can, I tell yew.  I'm not a
+fighting man, and I've got to think of what might happen if you let the
+slaver slip.  See?"
+
+"Yes, I see," said the lieutenant; "but you need not be alarmed for
+yourself.  Captain Kingsberry will take care that no harm shall befall
+you."
+
+"Think so, mister?"
+
+"I am sure so, my friend.  But now tell me this; how soon do you think
+that you can lay us abreast of that schooner?"
+
+"Jest when you like now, mister.  What I've set down as being best is,
+say, about daybreak."
+
+"Exactly; that will do."
+
+"Jest what I said to myself.  Daybreak's the time when everybody aboard
+will be fast asleep, for they don't carry on there like yew do aboard a
+man-o'-war with your keeping watch and that sort of thing."
+
+"Of course not," said the officer.  "Well, then, I may go and tell the
+captain what _you_ say?"
+
+"That's jest as yew like, mister.  I should if it was me."
+
+"Exactly.  And you feel sure that you can keep your word?"
+
+"Wish I was as sure of getting hold of that there piece o' territory,
+mister, and the nigger chief cleared away."
+
+"Then you don't feel quite sure?" put in Murray.
+
+"Course I don't, young officer.  There's many a pick at a worm as turns
+out a miss, ain't there?  How do I know that my Portygee neighbour
+mayn't slip off through your boats making too much of a row instead of
+creeping up quiet?  You mean right, all of you, but I shan't feel sure
+till you've made a prisoner of that chap and scattered the nigger chief
+and his men where they'll be afraid to come back.  Now then; you said
+something about talking too much.  I'm going to shut up shop now and
+give my tongue a holiday till I've laid you where you can send your
+boats to do their work.  But I say, just one word more, mister," said
+the man anxiously; and the lieutenant felt his hand tremble as he laid
+it upon his arm; "yew will be careful, won't yew?"
+
+"Trust us," replied the lieutenant.
+
+"That's what I'm a-doing; but jest you think.  It puts me in mind of the
+boys and the frogs in your English moral story--what may be fun to yew
+may be death to me.  Tell your skipper that he must take all the care he
+can."
+
+"I will," said the lieutenant.
+
+"But look here; perhaps I'd better come aboard and say a word to him.
+Don't you think I might?"
+
+"No," was the reply.
+
+"But what do yew say, young mister?"
+
+"I say no too," replied Murray.  "Your place is here aboard your
+lugger."
+
+"Wall, I suppose you're right," half whimpered the man, "for we're
+getting tidy nigh now, and I don't want anything to go wrong through my
+chaps making a mistake.  I'll chance it, so you'd best get aboard your
+vessel.  Tell the skipper I shall do it just at daylight.  Less than
+half-an-hour now.  Then'll be the time."
+
+"One moment," said Murray, as the lieutenant was about to give the order
+for the coxswain to unhook and let the cutter glide back to the sloop.
+
+"Yes, mister; what is it?"
+
+"What's that dull roaring sound?"
+
+"Roaring sound?  One of them howling baboon beasts in the woods perhaps.
+Calling its mates just before sunrise."
+
+"No, no; I mean that--the sound of water."
+
+"Oh, _that_!" said the man.  "Yes, yew can hear it quite plain, and
+we're nigher than I thought.  That's on my ground over yonder.  Bit of a
+fall that slops over from the river and turns a little sugar-mill I've
+got.  There, cast off and tell your skipper to look out and be smart.
+Less than half-an-hour I shall be taking yew round a big point there is
+here, and as soon as it's light enough when yew get round, yew'll be
+able to see the chief's huts and thatched barracks where he cages his
+blackbirds, while the schooner will be anchored out in front, waiting
+for you to have sailed away.  Her skipper will be taken all on the hop.
+He'll never think of seeing you drop upon him."
+
+"He'll never suspect that the way up the river will be found out?" said
+the lieutenant.
+
+"That's it, mister; but you'll tell your skipper to be spry and careful,
+for if yew don't do it right it'll be death to me."
+
+"I see," said the lieutenant rather hoarsely from excitement.  "Now
+then, my man, cast off."
+
+"One moment," said the American, and Murray saw him through the paling
+moonlight raise his hand as if to wipe his brow.  "You quite understand,
+then?  The river gives a big bend round to left, then another to the
+right, and then one more to the left, jest like a wriggling wum.  Tell
+your skipper to follow me close so as to run by me as soon as he sees
+the schooner lying at anchor.  She'll come into sight all at once from
+behind the trees like, and whatever you do, run close aboard and grapple
+her.  Her skipper'll have no time to show fight if you do your work to
+rights.  I'm all of a tremble about it, I tell yew, for it means so much
+to me.  There; my work's jest about done, and I'm going to run for the
+shore out of the way.  I don't want the Portygee to get so much as a
+sniff of me."
+
+"Cast off," said the lieutenant; and as the cutter dropped back free,
+the lugger seemed to spring forward into faint mist, which began to show
+upon the broad surface of the great river, while the sloop glided up
+alongside, one of the men caught the rope that was heaved to them, and
+directly after Murray missed their pilot and his swift craft, for it was
+eclipsed by the _Seafowl_ as she glided between, right in the lugger's
+wake.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SEVEN.
+
+TRAPPED.
+
+"Well, Mr Anderson," said the captain, as the latter briefly related
+the last sayings of the American, "that's all plain enough, and in a few
+minutes we ought to be alongside."
+
+"Yes, sir, after following the windings of the river, or in other words
+following our guide, till we see the masts of the schooner above the
+trees."  And the lieutenant stood anxiously watching the lugger, which
+seemed to have rapidly increased its distance.  "I presume, sir, that we
+are all ready for action?"
+
+"Of course we are, Mr Anderson," said the captain stiffly.  "We shall
+keep on till we are pretty close, then run up into the wind, and you and
+Mr Munday will head the boarders.  We shall take them so by surprise
+that there will be very little resistance.  But I see no signs of the
+schooner's spars yet."
+
+"No, sir, but we have to make another bend round yet."
+
+"Yes, of course," said the captain, as he swept the river banks with his
+night glass.
+
+"The river seems to fork here, though, sir," said the lieutenant
+anxiously.
+
+"Humph!  Yes; but I suppose it's all right, for the lugger keeps on.  We
+must be on the correct course if we follow him."
+
+"Beg pardon, sir," said Murray excitedly.  "I caught sight of the masts
+of a vessel lying yonder."
+
+"Eh?  Where, Mr Murray?" said the captain, in a low voice full of
+excitement.
+
+"Yonder, sir, about half a mile to starboard, beyond the trees on the
+bank."
+
+"To be sure!  Tall taper spars.  I see, Mr Murray."
+
+"But the sloop is running straight away to port, sir," said the
+lieutenant anxiously.
+
+"Well, what of that, Mr Anderson?  Did not the American tell you that
+we were to follow certain bends of the river?"
+
+"Yes, sir, but--"
+
+"Yes, sir, but!" said the captain, in an angry whisper.  "Is this a time
+for raising buts?  According to your own showing, the schooner was to be
+found at anchor in one of the bends where the black chief's town lay."
+
+"Yes, sir, but I see no sign of any thatched huts."
+
+"All in good time, Mr Anderson.  We shall see the lugger swing round
+that next point directly, and then we shall be in full view of our
+prize."
+
+The captain turned from his chief officer impatiently, and then in a low
+tone issued a few orders with respect to future proceedings, the master
+following out the instructions, while the two boarding parties, each
+armed and ready, stood waiting for the command which should launch them
+on board the now invisible slaver.
+
+"Bah!" ejaculated the captain.  "We are half-an-hour too late.  We ought
+to be alongside now.  Hang the fellow, Mr Anderson!  Can he be taking
+us the right way round that point?"
+
+"I hope so, sir, but I have my suspicions," replied the lieutenant
+anxiously.
+
+"What, that he is playing us false?"
+
+"No, sir, but that he has lost heart and is afraid to pilot us right to
+where the schooner lies."
+
+"The scoundrel!  If he has--" began the captain, sharing now in his
+subordinate's anxiety.  "Oh, impossible!  He must know better than we
+do.  Ahoy, there!" he cried, speaking just loud enough for the lookout
+to hear.  "Can you make out where the lugger is making for?"
+
+"Ay, ay, sir!  Bit of a creek yonder, right inshore."
+
+"That's it, sir," cried the lieutenant excitedly; "he has taken fright.
+We must run round that bend yonder, keeping to mid-stream."
+
+"Or anchor," exclaimed the captain sharply.  "Why, confound it, man!
+The river forks here, and we are in a branch with a current running in
+another direction.  Stand by there to lower the anchor!" he roared, "or
+we shall be ashore."
+
+The order came too late, for as in obedience to order after order, the
+sloop's course was altered and her sails began to shiver, there was a
+preliminary shock as if bottom had been lightly touched, then a shiver
+which seemed to communicate itself upward from the deck through Murray's
+spine, and the next minute the _Seafowl_ heeled over slightly as she
+seemed to cut her way onward into the soft mud, where she stuck fast
+with the fierce current into which they had run pressing hardly against
+her side as it raced swiftly by.
+
+"Trapped!" said a voice from close to Murray's ear, and the young man
+turned swiftly from where he had been gazing over the side in the
+direction of the further shore, to encounter the first lieutenant's
+angry eyes.  "Well, Mr Murray," he said bitterly, "where is that Yankee
+snake?"
+
+"Just gliding in yonder among the trees, sir," cried the young man
+passionately.  "I suspected him from the first."
+
+"Well, Mr Anderson," said the captain, hurrying up, and as coolly as if
+nothing whatever was wrong, "either you or I have placed the sloop in
+about as unpleasant a position as it was possible to get.  Now then, how
+about getting out of it?"
+
+"We're on soft mud, sir," said the gentleman addressed.
+
+"And with a falling tide, I'm afraid.  There, get to work man, and see
+what can be done with an anchor to haul her upon a level keel before the
+position is worse, for we shall board no slaver to-day."
+
+"Beg pardon, sir."
+
+"What is it, Mr Murray?"
+
+The midshipman pointed right aft, where the faint mist was floating away
+from where it hung about a mile away over the distant shore.
+
+"Well, sir, why don't you speak?" cried the captain, now speaking
+angrily.  "Oh, I beg your pardon, Mr Murray; another mist was in my
+eyes.  That must be the course of the other fork of the river.  I see it
+plainly now.  We have been lured up here and run upon this muddy shoal
+in the belief that we shall never get off; and there goes our prize with
+her load of black unfortunates.  Do you see her, Mr Anderson?"
+
+"Too plainly, sir," said the chief officer sadly.
+
+For it was now broad daylight and the swift-looking schooner was gliding
+along apparently through the trees which covered a narrow spit of land.
+
+"Hah!" said the captain quietly.  "Yes, that's it, Mr Anderson--our
+prize, and a beautiful morning for her to make her start for the West
+Indies.  Bless that straightforward, timorous, modest American skipper!
+Do you know, Mr Anderson, I am strongly of opinion that he commands
+that craft and that he will find his way through some of the muddy
+creeks and channels of the mangrove forest back to where she will be
+waiting for him.  Well, master, what do you think?" he continued, as
+that officer came up hurriedly.  "Will the sloop lie over any further?"
+
+"No, sir; that is stopped; but we are wedged in fast."
+
+"So I suppose.  Well, Mr Thomson, it does not mean a wreck?"
+
+"No, no, sir, nor any damage as far as I can say."
+
+"Damage, Mr Thomson," said the captain, smiling at him pleasantly; "but
+it does, man; damage to our reputation--mine--Mr Anderson's.  But you
+were going to say something, to ask me some question."
+
+"Yes, sir; about taking steps to get the sloop out of the bed in which
+she lies."
+
+"Poor bird, yes; but you see no risk for the present?"
+
+"Not the slightest, sir.  The mud is so soft."
+
+"Mud generally is, Mr Thomson," said the captain blandly.  "Well, then,
+let her rest for a while.  We are all tired after a long night's work.
+Pass the word to Mr Dempsey, and let him pipe all hands for breakfast.
+I want mine badly."
+
+There was a faint cheer at this, followed by another, and then by one
+which Murray said was a regular "roarer."
+
+"I say," he said to Roberts, "doesn't he take it splendidly!"
+
+"Don't you make any mistake," replied that young gentleman.  "He seems
+as cool as a cucumber, but he's boiling with rage, and if he had that
+Yankee here he'd hang him from the yard-arm as sure as he's his mother's
+son."
+
+"And serve him right," said Murray bitterly.
+
+"What's that, young gentlemen?" said the captain, turning upon them
+sharply, for he had noted what was going on and placed his own
+interpretation upon the conversation--"criticising your superiors?"
+
+"No, sir," said Murray frankly; "we were talking about punishing the
+Yankee who tricked us into this."
+
+"Gently, Mr Murray--gently, sir!  You hot-blooded boys are in _too_
+great a hurry.  Wait a bit.  I dare say we shall have the pleasure of
+another interview with him; and, by the way, Mr Anderson, I think as we
+are so near, we might as well inspect the indiarubber plantations of our
+friend.  We might see, too, if he has any more work-people of the same
+type as those who manned his galley."
+
+"I'm afraid we should only find them on board the schooner, sir," said
+the chief officer bitterly.
+
+"Exactly," said the captain; "but I wonder at you young gentlemen," he
+continued--"you with your sharp young brains allowing yourselves to be
+deceived as you were.  Those fellows who formed the lugger's crew ought
+not to have hoodwinked you."
+
+"They did me, sir," said Roberts, speaking out warmly, "but Murray,
+here, sir, was full of suspicion from the first."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER EIGHT.
+
+AMONGST THE HORRORS.
+
+The crew of the _Seafowl_ had a busy day's work after a good refresher,
+during which officers and men had been discussing in low tones the way
+in which "the skipper," as they called him, had let himself be tricked
+by the Yankee.  The younger men wanted to know what he could have been
+about, while the elder shook their heads sagely.
+
+"Ah," more than one said, "it has always been the same since the
+revolution; these Yankees have been too much for us.  There's something
+in the American air that sharpens their brains."
+
+Then old Dempsey, the boatswain, who had heard pretty well all that the
+captain had said, chewed it over, digested it, and gave it voice as if
+it was something new, to first one knot of listeners and then another,
+ending with the two midshipmen.
+
+"You see, Mr Murray, and you too, Mr Roberts, it was like this.  That
+schooner had just started for the West Injies with a full load of
+niggers, when she sighted the _Seafowl_ and knowed she was a king's ship
+looking after a prize."
+
+"How could the Yankee skipper know that?" said Murray.  "He could only
+get just a glimpse before we were hidden by the fog."
+
+"Cut of the jib, sir--cut of the jib," said the old man.  "What else
+could he think?  'Sides, Yankee slaving skippers have got consciences,
+same as other men."
+
+"Rubbish, Mr Dempsey!" said Roberts contemptuously.
+
+"Course they are, sir--worst of rubbish, as you say, but there's bad
+consciences as well as good consciences, and a chap like him, carrying
+on such work as his, must be always ready to see a king's ship in every
+vessel he sights.  But well, young gentlemen, as I was a-saying, he
+sights us, and there was no chance for him with us close on his heels
+but dodgery."
+
+"Dodgery, Mr Dempsey?" said Roberts.
+
+"Yes, sir; Yankee tricks.  Of course he couldn't fight, knowing as he
+did that it meant a few round shot 'twixt and 'tween wind and water, and
+the loss of his craft.  So he says to himself, `what's to be done?' and
+he plays us that trick.  Sends his schooner up the river while he puts
+off in that there lugger and pretends to be a injyrubber grower.  That
+ought to have been enough to set the skipper and Mr Anderson thinking
+something was wrong, but that's neither here nor there.  He pretends
+that he was a highly respectable sort of fellow, when all the time he
+was a sorter human fox, and lures, as the captain calls it, our sloop
+into this sort of a branch of the big river where the current runs wrong
+way on because part of the waters of the great river discharges
+theirselves.  And then what follows?"
+
+"Why, we were carried by the strange current into the muddy shallow and
+nearly capsized, Mr Dempsey, while we had the satisfaction of seeing
+the slaver sail away with her crew," interposed Murray impatiently.
+
+The grizzly-headed, red-faced old boatswain turned upon the lad with an
+offended air and said with dignity--
+
+"If you'd only had a little patience, Mr Murray, I was going to tell
+you all that."
+
+He grunted audibly as he walked away, and as soon as he was out of
+hearing Murray cried impatiently--
+
+"What did he want to bore us with all that for?  Tiresome old fogey!
+But I say, Dick, you take my advice--don't you get anywhere near the
+skipper if you can help it to-day.  He took things very smoothly before
+breakfast, but you'll see now that he will be as savage as a bear with a
+sore head, as they say, and lead every one a terrible life."
+
+"Oh, if you are going to deal out old saws, young man," replied Roberts,
+"you go and teach your grandmother how to suck eggs.  Just as if I was
+likely to go near him until he has got the sloop well afloat!"
+
+But what proved to have been every one's opinion turned out entirely
+wrong, for the captain had never shown himself to better advantage.
+
+As soon as breakfast was over, and had been partaken of in the most
+deliberate way as far as he was concerned, he turned to the officers,
+all smiles, and began giving orders in the coolest of fashions and all
+guided by so much judgment that by carefully laying out anchors, the use
+of the capstan, haulage, and taking advantage of the wind, the sloop
+soon rose upon an even keel and rested at last in a safe position.  The
+tide that ran up as far as the black king's city did the rest, and the
+next day the sloop lay at anchor just where the schooner had been the
+previous morning, that is to say, in a position where she could easily
+gain access to the sea.
+
+Once the sloop was in safety and the officers had pretty well mastered
+the intricacies of the river's course, and the tidal and other currents
+which protected the slaver's lair, a couple of armed boats pulled ashore
+to examine the place with caution, lest they should encounter some other
+trap.
+
+"There's no knowing, Mr Anderson," said the captain, "so at the
+slightest sign of danger draw back.  I don't want a man to be even
+wounded at the expense of capturing a score of the black scum, even if
+one of them proves to be the king."
+
+The captain's orders were carefully carried out, while once more the two
+midshipmen succeeded in accompanying the landing parties, to find that
+the king's town of palm-thatched hovels was completely deserted.  It had
+evidently been a busy, thickly inhabited place, where prisoners were
+herded together by the brutal savages who made incursions in different
+directions, and held their unfortunate captives ready for the coming of
+the slaver.  But now the place was a dreary silent waste, and the trail
+well marked showed plainly the direction taken by the native marauders
+to some forest stronghold, near at hand or far distant, it was
+impossible to say which.
+
+"Pah!" ejaculated Murray, as he sprang back with disgust from the
+strongly palisaded enclosure which was evidently the prisoners'
+barracks.  "Let's get away, Dick."
+
+"I'm ready," was the reply, "but I say, did you go round the other side
+yonder?"
+
+The lad pointed as he spoke.
+
+"No.  What was there to see?"
+
+"Tom May found it out," replied the midshipman, "and I was idiot enough
+to go.  Here, Tom," he cried, signing to the generally amiable-looking
+sailor to approach; and he strode up, cutlass in hand, musket over his
+shoulder, scowling and fierce of aspect.  "Tell Mr Murray what you
+showed me over yonder, Tom."
+
+The man's face puckered up as he turned and met Murray's eyes.
+
+"It's 'most too horrid, sir," he said, "and don't do no good but make a
+man savage, sir.  There's just fourteen of 'em among the trees there."
+
+"What, prisoners?" said Murray excitedly.
+
+"Yes, sir, and six on 'em got the chains on 'em still."
+
+"Well, what about the armourer?" cried Murray excitedly, turning upon
+Roberts.  "Didn't Mr Anderson have them struck off?"
+
+"No, lad," replied Roberts.  "There was only one of them alive out of
+the whole fourteen, and I don't think she'll be alive when Munday comes
+back."
+
+"Comes back!  I didn't know he had put off again."
+
+"Gone for the doctor," said Roberts.  "Go on, Tom May.  Tell him what
+you made it out to be."
+
+"Just this, sir--that they'd got more than the schooner could take away,
+and they finished off the sick and wounded."
+
+"How could you tell that?" said Murray, with a look of horror.
+
+"Seemed pretty plain, sir.  All the men had old wounds as well as what
+must have been given them to finish 'em yes'day morning, sir, when the
+black fellows forsook the place."
+
+"But you said--finished the men who had old wounds?"
+
+"Yes, sir; half healed.  T'other wounds was fresh, and the women and
+children--"
+
+"Women and children!" cried Murray excitedly.
+
+"Yes, sir; knocked on the head--clubbed.  Didn't care to take 'em away
+with them, sir, when we come."
+
+"Oh, Dick," said Murray, whose face now looked ghastly, "I knew that
+there were horrors enough over the slave-trade, but I never thought it
+could be so bad as that.  Here, Tom, where is this?  Show me."
+
+"Don't be a fool, old chap," whispered Roberts, grasping his companion's
+arm.  "You've heard what Tom said.  I've seen it too, and I could tell
+you, but I won't.  It's too horrid to go and see again."
+
+"Yes, it must be horrible," said the young man passionately; "but you
+said one poor creature was still alive?"
+
+"Yes, and the doctor's being fetched."
+
+"But something might be done--water--carried into the shade."
+
+"We did all that, sir," said the sailor gruffly.
+
+"Who did?" asked Murray excitedly.
+
+"Well, I helped, sir, and the poor black lass looked at me as if she
+thought I was one of 'em going to take her aboard a slaver."
+
+"But didn't you tell her--Oh, you are right, Dick; I am a fool!  She
+couldn't have understood unless it was by our acts."
+
+"Oh, don't you worry about that, Mr Murray, sir," said the man eagerly.
+"The poor thing took quite a turn like when I knelt down and held my
+waterbottle to her lips."
+
+Murray stood looking at the man, with his brow furrowed, and then he
+nodded.
+
+"Now then," he said, "where was this?"
+
+"T'other side of this barrack place, sir," said the man; "just over
+yonder."
+
+"Show me," said Murray abruptly.
+
+"I wouldn't go, Frank," whispered Roberts.
+
+"I must," was the reply.  "Lead the way, Tom."
+
+"One of our lads is with her, sir," said the man, hesitating.
+
+"So much the better," cried Murray firmly.  "You heard what I said?"
+
+Roberts, who was nearest to the sailor, heard him heave a deep sigh as
+he gave his trousers a hitch, and led the way past the vile-smelling
+palm and bamboo erection which had quite lately been the prison of a
+large number of wretched beings, the captives made by the warlike tribe
+who kept up the supply of slaves for bartering to the miscreants.  Those
+who from time to time sailed up the river to the king's town to carry on
+the hateful trade content if they could load up with a terrible cargo
+and succeed in getting one-half of the wretched captives alive to their
+destination in one of the plantation islands, or on the mainland.
+
+Tom May took as roundabout a route as he could contrive so as to spare
+the young officers the gruesome sights that he and the other men had
+encountered; but enough was left to make Murray wince again and again.
+
+"Why, Tom," he exclaimed at last, "no punishment could be too bad for
+the wretches who are answerable for all this."
+
+"That's what me and my messmates have been saying, sir; and of course
+it's going to be a nasty job, but we're all ready and waiting for our
+officers to give the word--Course I mean, sir, as soon as we get the
+chance."
+
+"Only wait, my lad," said Murray, through his set teeth.
+
+"That's what we keep on doing, sir," said the man bitterly.  "You see,
+it's pretty well all wait."
+
+"The time will come, Tom."
+
+"Yes, sir; course it will, and when it does--"
+
+The man moistened the palm of his right hand, clapped it to the hilt of
+his re-sheathed cutlass, and half drew it from the scabbard.  "My!" he
+ejaculated, and his eyes seemed to flash in the morning sunshine.  "It's
+going to be a warm time for some of 'em.  I shouldn't like to be in that
+Yankee gentleman's shoes, nor be wearing the boots of his men where they
+had 'em."
+
+"Oh, but these people could not be such inhuman wretches," said Murray
+excitedly.  "The murderous, atrocious treatment--the killing of those
+poor prisoners must be the act of the black chief and his men."
+
+"Hope so, sir," said the sailor bluntly.  "It's too black to be done by
+a white.  But all the same, sir, if the white skipper didn't want his
+cargoes, the nigger king and his men wouldn't supply 'em; and here's the
+doctor come ashore, sir," added the man, in a whisper.
+
+For the two parties met just at the edge of a clump of trees, within
+whose shade the unfortunate creature who had interested the midshipman
+in her fate was lying with one of the seamen standing by her head, his
+musket grounded and his crossed arms resting upon the muzzle.
+
+"Ah, gentlemen, you here!" said the doctor, nodding shortly.  "Nice
+place, this.  Humph!" he ejaculated, as with brows contracting he went
+down on one knee.--"There, don't be frightened, my lass," he continued
+softly, for as he drew near, the poor creature, who had been lying in
+the shade with her eyes half-closed, startled by the footsteps, suddenly
+raised her lids in a wild stare of horror and shrank away.  "Poor
+wretch!" continued the doctor.  "The sight of a man can only mean
+horrors for her."
+
+"Horrors indeed, doctor," cried Murray excitedly; "but pray do something
+for her!"
+
+"No," said the doctor gravely.  "Nature is her doctor now."
+
+"What do you mean?" said the young man, half annoyed by the doctor's
+inaction.
+
+"That she is in the hands of a kinder doctor than I could be--one who
+knows what is best for her.  Look!"
+
+He shrugged his shoulders and turned away.
+
+"Let your men cut a few of those big leaves, Mr Murray, and lay over
+her."
+
+"You are too late?" said Roberts excitedly.
+
+"Yes, my dear boy," replied the doctor.  "With such hurts as the poor
+girl had received it was only a matter of time.  Ah, I wish to goodness
+we had caught that schooner!  It's time all this was stamped out.
+There, come away and bring your men.  Oh, here comes Mr Anderson.
+Well, what are you going to do?"  For the first lieutenant came up,
+followed by some of his men, glanced at the motionless figure and the
+action being taken, and turned away.
+
+"What am I going to do?" he replied, frowning angrily.  "Nothing but
+communicate with the captain for fresh instructions."
+
+"But aren't we going to pursue the black chief and his people through
+the forest, sir, and punish them?" asked Murray, who was strangely moved
+by his first encounter with the horrors of a slave encampment.
+
+"No, Mr Murray, we certainly are not," replied the lieutenant, "for the
+chief and his men will take plenty of care that we do not overtake them.
+Here, come away, my lads; this place is pestiferous enough to lay every
+one down with fever."
+
+"Yes; I was just going to give you a very broad hint.  Fire, eh?" said
+the doctor.
+
+The lieutenant nodded.
+
+"I must just have a word or two with the captain first," said the
+lieutenant, and giving the order, the men began to march to where the
+boats lay with their keepers, and a sentry or two had been thrown out to
+guard against surprise.
+
+Murray closed up to the doctor, who was looking sharply about him at the
+trees which remained standing amongst the almost countless huts.
+
+"Not many cocoanuts, Murray," he said.
+
+"Oh," cried the young man, who felt more annoyed by the doctor's
+indifference than ever, "I was not thinking about palm-trees!"
+
+"But I was," said the doctor; "they'll burn tremendously."
+
+"Ah," cried the midshipman, "that was what I wanted to speak about.  Did
+you mean to suggest that the place should be burned?"
+
+"Certainly, sir," said the doctor shortly.
+
+"The village--but with the slave barrack?"
+
+"Of course," said the doctor shortly.  "Don't you think it would be
+best?"
+
+"I--Oh!  It seems so horrible," began Murray.
+
+The doctor looked at him searchingly, and laid his hand upon the youth's
+shoulder.
+
+"I understand, Murray," he said quietly.  "It does seem as you say
+repugnant; but it is necessary, my lad, for several reasons, one of the
+first of which it that it will be a lesson for the black king."
+
+"But he could soon have another village built."
+
+"Then we ought to come and burn that, and his people with him, if we
+could get hold of the wretches.  I'm sure you must have seen enough this
+morning to make you feel how necessary it is for this slave traffic to
+be stamped out."
+
+"Yes, of course," said Murray, "but--"
+
+"Then take my advice, my lad," said the doctor, gripping the lad's arm;
+"leave these matters to your superior officers, and don't look at me as
+if I were a heartless brute.  My profession makes me firm, my lad, not
+unfeeling."
+
+"Oh, I don't think that, sir," said the lad quickly.
+
+"But you thought something of the kind, Murray, my lad, and I like you,
+so it hurt me a little.  You ought to have known that black and white,
+good and bad, are all one to a doctor.  He sees only a patient, whatever
+they may be.  But in this case I saw that this poor black woman was at
+almost her last gasp.  Understand?"
+
+"Yes, I see now, sir, and I beg your pardon," said the midshipman.
+
+"We understand one another, Murray, and--Ah, here is the first luff
+doing just what I wanted him to do."
+
+For that officer had gathered his men together in the shade of a clump
+of trees where the moving branches blew from off the river in a breeze
+that was untainted by the miasma of the marshy ground and the horrors of
+the village, for it brought with it the odour of the floating seaweed
+and old ocean's health-giving salts.
+
+By this time one of the boats was despatched, and the lieutenant joined
+the pair.
+
+"Ah, Mr Murray, you have lost your chance.  I was going to send you to
+the captain for instructions, but you were busy with the doctor, so I
+sent Mr Roberts.--Giving him a lecture on the preservation of health,
+doctor?"
+
+"Just a few hints," said that gentleman, smiling.  "We were taking
+opposite views, but I think Murray agrees with me now."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER NINE.
+
+"FIRE!  FIRE!"
+
+"Now, Mr Murray," said the lieutenant, "I don't want to expose the lads
+to more of this unwholesome place than I can help, so you must use your
+brains as soon as we get word from the captain, and see that they start
+the fire where it will have the best effect.  This abomination must
+disappear from the face of the earth, so where you begin to burn, start
+your fire well.  You understand?"
+
+"Yes, sir," said Murray, drawing a deep breath as he glanced at the
+doctor and found that he was watching him.
+
+"I can't help it," he said to himself, as he stood alone in the shade
+watching the departing boat making for the sloop, "and I don't know that
+I want to help it.  It does seem a horrible thing to do, but they're
+right, and it's one's duty.  Wish I'd been handy, though, when the first
+luff wanted to send his message to the captain.  Dick Roberts does
+somehow seem to get all the luck."
+
+It was just a dash of envy; but the feeling did not last, for his common
+sense began to make itself felt directly after, as he withdrew his gaze
+from the boat to watch the group of sturdy-looking men sharing his
+shelter, and all excited and eager as they discussed the events of the
+morning and the task they evidently knew that they had to do.
+
+"Yes, it's all envy, and envy is a poor, small, contemptible thing to
+encourage.  I wish I had none.  How stupid of me!  One never knows.  It
+would have been nice enough to sit back holding the lines and steering
+while the lads pulled, but only a lazy sort of a task, and here I am put
+in command of half-a-dozen or so of these stout lads to carry out the
+captain's orders and see that they do the work well."
+
+Perhaps the fact of his thinking about the men and the work in prospect
+made him fix his eyes upon Tom May and think that he would like to have
+him in his party; perhaps not, but all the same the man turned his head
+just then and met his eyes, gave his waistband a hitch in front and
+rear, and then crossed a patch of sunshine and joined him in the shade.
+
+"Yes, sir?" he said enquiringly.
+
+"I did not call, Tom."
+
+"No, sir, but I thought you looked as if you was signalling me.  Beg
+pardon, sir; I s'pose you know we're going to burn out this here wasp
+nest?"
+
+"I expect so, Tom."
+
+"Yes, sir, that's so, and the lads are getting so hot to begin that we
+all feel warm enough to set fire to the place without matches."
+
+"Well, it is hot, Tom," said Murray, smiling, while the man showed his
+big white teeth in a broad grin.
+
+"I expeck we shall be 'vided into squads, sir, and there's about
+half-a-dozen of my messmates will fall nat'ral along o' me.  Couldn't
+manage, I s'pose, sir, to have us under your command, could you?"
+
+"I don't know, Tom," replied the young man.  "You'll see that Mr
+Anderson will settle all that."
+
+"Yes, sir; I know, sir; but I thought p'raps that if you happened to be
+standing along with us just as if you and us was ready for a start, it
+might happen as the first luff, sir, would see as it was all sootable
+like.  They're a handy lot, so I promise you, and used to work with me."
+
+"Oh, I know all about that, Tom, and I should be glad to have you."
+
+"Thankye, sir; and you'll try, sir?"
+
+"I will, Tom."
+
+"Thankye again, sir, and I'll tell the lads."
+
+"I make no promise, mind," said the midshipman.
+
+"I know, sir; it's all right, sir.  It'll be like this.  Mr Munday will
+take the lead, sir, with one lot; old Dempsey another; you the next, and
+then Mr Roberts, sir, and the first luff'll be like tip-top of all.  I
+shouldn't wonder a bit, sir, if me and my squad falls to you."
+
+Murray never troubled himself to analyse whether it was accident or
+management, but somehow or other he found himself, soon after the return
+of the second cutter, in command of six of the best foremast men of the
+sloop's crew, headed by Tom May, who bore a lighted ship's lantern,
+while each man was provided with a bundle of dry, easily-igniting wood.
+
+The men were drawn up and the first lieutenant gave his very brief
+instructions as to the way in which the fires were to be started, the
+officers in command being duly urged to exercise all care in making the
+conflagration thorough, while at the same time guarding against
+surprise.
+
+"You see, gentlemen," said the lieutenant in conclusion, "we have not
+had a sight of one of the blacks, but we may be sure that they are in
+hiding not far away, ready to take advantage of any sign of weakness;
+and their spears are not very sharp, but are handled well and can be
+thrown a long way with good aim.  In an ordinary way they would not risk
+our bullets, and certainly would not give our bayonets a chance, but I
+feel that the sight of their burning village will rouse them up, and
+hence an attack upon scattered men is very possible.  I have _no_ more
+to say but this; I want the village to be burned to ashes, and every man
+to get back to the boats unhurt."
+
+The men cheered, and the next minute they had begun to open out till
+they were in line ready to advance, with the now briskly blowing wind,
+when a final order was given in the shape of a prolonged whistle from
+the boatswain, which was followed by the starting forward of the
+extended firing party with their freshly ignited torches blazing high.
+
+"Bravo!" cried Murray excitedly, as he stood with Tom May behind ten of
+the bee-hive shaped palm-walled and thatched huts, which were so close
+together that five of his men were easily able to fire to right and
+left, Tom and another man musket-armed ready to cover them, and their
+young leader standing sword in one hand, the lantern in the other, well
+on the watch, and at the same time ready to supply fresh ignition to any
+of the rough torches which should become extinct.
+
+"Bravo!" shouted Murray, for at the first start of his little party the
+torches were applied to the dry inflammable palm fabrics, and the flames
+sprang into fiery life at once.  "Good, my lads--good!  That's right,"
+he cried.  "Right down at the bottom.  Couldn't be better."
+
+For at the first application there was a hiss, then a fierce crackling
+sound, and the fire literally ran up from base to crown of the rounded
+edifice, which was soon roaring like a furnace.
+
+"Hooray, boys!" cried Tom May.  "Don't stop to save any of the best
+chayney or the niggers' silver spoons and forks.  They belong to such a
+bad lot that we won't loot anything to save for prizes.  And I say,
+that's it, going fine.  Never mind getting a bit black with the smoke.
+It'll all wash off, and that's what these brutes of niggers can't do."
+
+The men shouted in reply and roared with laughter at their messmates'
+sallies, as they hurried from hut to hut, every one blazing up as
+rapidly as if it had been sprinkled with resin.
+
+Murray's idea was that they would be able to keep on steadily in a
+well-ordered line, firing hut after hut as they went; but in a very few
+minutes, in spite of discipline, he soon found that it would be
+impossible to follow out his instructions.  Once the fire was started it
+roared up and leaped to the next hut or to those beyond it.  The heat
+became insufferable, the smoke blinding, so that the men were confused
+and kept on starting back, coughing, sneezing, and now and then one was
+glad to stand stamping and rubbing his hair, singed and scorched by the
+darting tongues of flame.
+
+"Hold together, my lads; hold together!" shouted Murray.  "We must look
+to ourselves; the others will do the same; but keep on shouting so as to
+be in touch."
+
+"Ay, ay, sir!" cried Tom May.  "You hear, my lads?"
+
+Half-heard shouts came back out of the smoke, but it soon became
+impossible to communicate with the men with anything like regularity,
+for the roar and crackle of the flames grew deafening, many of the
+bamboo posts exploding like muskets, and before long Murray had hard
+work to satisfy himself that the men were not using their pieces.
+
+"That you, Tom May?" he cried, at last, as he became aware of a dimly
+seen figure emerging from the smoke.
+
+"Not quite sure, sir," was the reply, "but I think it's me."
+
+"Where are the lads?"
+
+"Oh, they're here, sir, somewheres, only you can't see 'em.  I've just
+been counting of 'em over, sir, by touching 'em one at a time and
+telling 'em to shout who it was."
+
+"They're all safe, then?"
+
+"Hope so, sir; but I wouldn't try to go no furder, sir.  Now the fire's
+started it's a-going on like furnaces, sir, and it's every man for
+himself.  We can't do no more.  Can't you feel how the wind's got up?"
+
+"Yes, Tom; it comes rushing from seaward and whistles quite cold against
+the back of my head, while in front the glow is quite painful."
+
+"Yes, sir, and it's growing worse and worse."
+
+"It's my belief, Tom, that this wind will fan the flames till the forest
+will take fire before long as well as the huts."
+
+"'Fore long, sir?" said the man, in the intervals of coughing and
+choking.  "Why, it's been on fire ever so long, and roaring away right
+up to the tops of the trees.  We shall be hearing some of them come
+toppling down before long."
+
+"I wish this smoke would blow over, for I can't make out where we are."
+
+"No, sir, nor nobody else neither.  Oh!  Here's one of us, if it ain't a
+nigger.  Here, who are you?"
+
+"I'm Jenks, messmet, I think," came hoarsely.  "But I say, where's the
+orficer?"
+
+"I'm here, Jenks," cried Murray.  "What is it?"
+
+"On'y this, sir; I just wanted to know whether fresh clothes'll be
+sarved out after this here job, for I'm sure as I shan't be decent."
+
+"What, have you got your shirt burned, my lad?"
+
+"'Tarn't on'y my shirt, sir; I'm 'most all tinder, and I had to back out
+or I should soon ha' been cooked."
+
+"Keep back, my lads!" cried Murray now, and by degrees he managed to get
+his little party all together in what seemed to be an open space where
+all was smoke and smouldering ashes, where the men stood coughing, while
+the heat was terrific.
+
+"Stand still, my lad; stand still!" cried Murray.
+
+"Can't, sir," growled the dim figure addressed; "it smarts so."
+
+"Tut, tut, tut, tut!" ejaculated Murray.  "Can you make out which way
+the sea lies, May?"
+
+"No, sir; I've been a-trying to."
+
+"We can't stay here, my lads, and we must make for the shore.  It would
+be madness to go on now."
+
+"That's a true word, sir," growled Tom May.
+
+"I want to know where our chaps are, but I can't hear nothing but the
+fire going it.  Seems to me as if we've set all Africa afire, and it's
+going on a mile a minute."
+
+"Who knows where the slave barrack lies?" cried Murray.  "It seems
+horrible, but we must make sure that the fire has caught there."
+
+"Seems to me, sir," said one of the men, "that we're a-standing in the
+middle of it here."
+
+"I know it ketched fire, sir," said May.
+
+"How can you be sure, man?" said Murray angrily, for he was smarting
+with pain, and forced to close the lids over his stinging eyes.
+
+"Set it afire myself, sir, and the flames run up the bamboo postesses
+which set 'em snapping and crackling and going on popping and banging
+just as if the marine jollies was practising with blank cartridge on an
+exercise day."
+
+"But are you sure, Tom?"
+
+"Sure as sure, sir.  Mr Anderson never thought it would go like this
+here.  He'd got a kind of idee that we should be able to light all the
+niggers' huts one at a time, 'stead of which as soon as we started a few
+on 'em they set all the rest off, and the job was done."
+
+"Done, my man!" said Murray.  "Why, hark at the roar right away yonder."
+
+"Oh, yes, sir," grumbled the man; "I'm a-harking fast enough.  There she
+goes, and as somebody said, I dunno now whether it was me or one of my
+messmates, we seem to ha' set all Africa going, and it won't stop till
+there's no more wood to burn."
+
+"Well," said Murray decisively, "one thing's very plain: we can do no
+more, and we must make for the river."
+
+"But what about orders, sir?" said the man.  "We was to do it thorough,
+and see as the whole blessed place was a-blazing."
+
+"Well, it is, my man," said Murray.  "The first lieutenant didn't mean
+me to get my men burned as well."
+
+"Skeercely, sir," said one of the men.  "I don't know how my messmates
+are, but I feel as if I was a bacon pig after killing time, and the
+singeing's done."
+
+"Forward, then, and keep close, my lads.  I think it looks lighter ahead
+there.  Keep together."
+
+The midshipman started forward through the blinding smoke, panting and
+gasping, while at every step the hot ashes emitted sparks and the heat
+became more intense.  But at the end of a score of painful paces a
+strong hand gripped him by the arm and a hoarse voice growled--
+
+"Beg pardon, sir, but this here won't do."
+
+"Right, May," cried the midshipman.  "I was just going to say so.  Halt,
+my lads.  Here, right wheel!"
+
+_Tramp, tramp, tramp_, with the smoke and sparks rising; and the big
+sailor growled again in protest.
+
+"Wuss and wuss, sir."
+
+"Yes.--Let's try this way, my lads."
+
+"This here's wusser still, your honour," growled another of the men.
+
+"Yes: it's horrible," cried Murray.  "Halt!  Now, all together, shout
+with me, `_Seafowl_ ahoy!'"
+
+The men shouted, and then again, three times, but elicited no reply, and
+the roar and crackle of the blazing forest seemed to increase.
+
+"Here, which of you can make out where the river lies?" cried Murray.
+
+"Not me, sir," grumbled one of the men out of the stifling smoke, "or
+I'd soon be into it!"
+
+"Here, once more.  I don't think we have tried this way," cried Murray,
+almost in despair.  "Look, Tom May, this does look a little lighter,
+doesn't it?--No," continued the lad huskily, and without waiting for the
+able-seaman's reply.  "Here, try this way, for the flames seem to be
+mounting higher there.  Keep up your pluck, my lads, and follow me.  Are
+you all there?"
+
+"Ay, ay, sir!" cried the sailor.  "We're all here, arn't we, messmates?"
+
+"Ay, ay!" came in a deep growl.
+
+"Then follow me close," said Murray.  "Everything depends upon your
+keeping together."
+
+"Oh, we'll keep together, sir," said May.  "Won't we, messmates?"
+
+"Ay, ay!" said another of the men.  "But I don't quite like this here
+job."
+
+"No, no, my lads; it's horrible for you," said Murray, as he tramped on,
+fighting with his despair.
+
+"'Tarn't wuss for us, sir, than it is for you," said Tom.
+
+"Poor fellows!" thought the midshipman, and he ground his teeth with
+rage and pain.  "But I ought to have led them better."  Then aloud, as
+an idea struck him, "You, Tom, fire a shot upward, and then as he
+reloads, the next man fire, as I give orders.  The others listen for the
+reply.  Some of our fellows must hear the shots.--Halt!"
+
+The men stood together in the deep gloom, for the smoke rose from around
+them in every direction.
+
+Then, heard distinctly above the roar and crackle of the flames, came
+the clear sharp-sounding report of the seaman's musket.
+
+"Number two make ready!" cried Murray, and then, "What's that?"  For
+something passed them with a faint hiss, and as it seemed to the lad,
+stuck in the smoking earth.
+
+"Spear, I think, sir," growled Tom May.
+
+"Impossible!  Piece of bamboo or palm fallen from above.  Now then,
+Number Two--Fire!"
+
+There was the sharp report, followed directly by another whishing sound
+and a thud in the earth.
+
+"Spear it is," growled May.
+
+"Ay, ay," said another of the party; "and I've got it too!"
+
+"Hush!  Silence there!" whispered Murray excitedly.  "Not wounded, my
+lad?"
+
+"Nay, sir," came in a subdued voice, "but it would have stuck in my
+shirt, on'y it was gone to tinder and wouldn't hold nowt.  Here it is,
+though, sir--nigger's spear, and they can see us, though we can't see
+them."
+
+"From which way did it come?"
+
+"Way we're going, sir," said the man, in a muffled voice; and as he
+spoke once more came the whish of a well-thrown spear, making another of
+the men wince, and proving plainly from which direction the missile had
+come.
+
+The imminence of the fresh danger made the little party forget their
+sufferings, and with the quickness of highly disciplined men, they were
+apt to obey the orders whispered sharply by the midshipman.  They fell
+into line, made ready, and at the command given by their officer, six
+muskets flashed out, sending their bullets whizzing breast high through
+the smoke, out of which, as if crossing them, came as many spears, this
+time the deadly missiles being followed by a burst of savage yells.
+
+"Load!" whispered Murray, as the yells were followed by a silence so
+strange and nerve-startling that the young officer felt his heart thump
+heavily against his breast.
+
+Then, as the whistling of the air arose caused by the driving down of
+the cartridges, he bethought himself and uttered a hurried question--
+
+"Any one hurt?"
+
+"Yes, sir," came in Tom May's familiar voice; and the midshipman, new to
+the heart-stirring horrors of a real engagement, waited anxiously for
+the man's next words.
+
+"None of us, sir," came after what seemed to be a long pause, "but some
+o' them got it bad and made 'em yell and run i'stead o' keeping on the
+slink."
+
+"Hah!" ejaculated Murray, as he pressed his hand to his painfully
+throbbing breast.  "I thought you meant--"
+
+"Our lads, sir?  Oh no; we're all right: the enemy, sir.  That volley
+started 'em.  I heard 'em rush off quite plain.  Like us to give 'em
+another?"
+
+Murray was silent as he stood straining his eyes and ears, to pierce the
+smoke and hear the _whish_ of another spear.
+
+"No," he said, at last, in a low tone full of relief, "waste of powder;"
+and then he started, and gave vent to a cry of joy.  "Hear that, my
+lads?"  For from some distance away to their left came a shout which
+meant in this peril-fraught position, help and the companionship of
+friends.
+
+"Ay, ay, sir," cried Tom May.
+
+"Shout, lads--shout!" cried Murray excitedly; and as a hearty _Ahoy_!
+rang out the lad winced, for he felt that he had given an order which
+would show the enemy once more where they were, and he once more
+strained his senses in the full expectation of the coming of another
+spear.
+
+But he gave vent to his pent-up breath with a feeling of intense relief,
+as instead of the _whish_ of a spear came another hearty "ahoy!" from
+certainly nearer at hand, followed by the tramp of feet and the
+crackling sound of charred wood.
+
+"Where are you?" came directly after, in a well-known voice.
+
+"Here, sir!" cried Murray.  "Forward, my lads!"  And the men followed
+him at the double.
+
+"This way," cried the same voice.  "That you, Mr Murray?"
+
+"Yes, sir," replied the midshipman, halting his men in the smoke,
+feeling more than seeing that they were close up to their friends.
+
+"All your men there?"
+
+"Yes, sir.  None hurt," replied the lad.
+
+"That's good!  Spears have begun to fly, for the enemy are creeping up
+through the smoke.  You started the huts burning, of course?" he
+continued, after a pause.
+
+"Yes, sir; burning everywhere."
+
+"Exactly, Mr Murray.  I think the work has been thoroughly done, and I
+am glad you found us, for I am getting to be at fault as to how to reach
+the shore.  There, I can hear nothing of our friends, so you had better
+lead on.  I suppose they have made for the boats."
+
+"Lead on, sir?" faltered Murray.
+
+"Yes, sir," cried the chief officer petulantly; "and don't repeat my
+words in that absurd way.  Haven't we had enough of this stifling
+smoke?"
+
+"But I thought you had come to help us, sir."
+
+"To help you, sir?  Why, weren't you firing to let us know the way out
+of this horrible furnace?"
+
+"No, sir--at the blacks who were hemming us in and throwing their
+spears.  Don't you know the way down to the boats?"
+
+"No, my lad," cried the lieutenant angrily.  "Tut, tut, tut!  What a
+mess, to be sure!--Silence there!  Listen.--Well," he continued, after
+some minutes, during which nothing but an occasional crack from some
+half-burned bamboo reached their ears.  "There, we must give a shout or
+two.  I don't know, though, Mr Murray; you said that the blacks had
+begun throwing their spears?"
+
+"Yes, sir; so did you."
+
+"Yes, Mr Murray, and if we begin shouting all together we shall be
+bringing them again."
+
+"That's what I thought, sir."
+
+"Well, what of that, sir?" cried the officer petulantly; and for the
+moment it seemed to the lad that his superior had caught the captain's
+irritating manner.  "So would any sensible person.  Here, I have it!
+Pass the word for Mr Dempsey.  The boatswain's whistle will bring the
+stragglers all together."
+
+"But Mr Dempsey is not with us," suggested Murray.
+
+"Then where in the name of common sense is he, sir?  He had his
+instructions--strict instructions to keep well in touch with the rest;
+and now in the emergency, just when he is wanted he is not to be found.
+Listen, all of you.  Can you hear anything?"
+
+There was plenty to hear, for the half-burned posts of the savage town
+or the fragments of the forest still kept up a petillation, and flames
+flashed up here and there and emitted more smoke; but no one ventured to
+speak.
+
+"Bah!" ejaculated the chief officer angrily.  "We shall never get out of
+the smoky maze like this.  Now then, all together, my lads, when I give
+the word; a good hearty shout; but every man make ready, and at the
+first spear thrown fire in the direction--fire low, mind--Who's that--
+Mr Murray?"
+
+"Yes, sir," whispered the lad, who had suddenly laid a hand upon his
+officer's arm.  "I fancy I can hear the rustling of steps away to the
+left, as if the enemy is creeping nearer."
+
+"Fancy, of course, sir!" snapped out the officer.  "Bare-footed savages
+are not likely to be stealing amongst these red-hot ashes."
+
+_Bang_! and directly after _bang! bang_!  The reports of three muskets
+rang out in a dull half-smothered way, followed by a piercing yell and a
+distinctly heard rush of feet.  Then once more silence, which was broken
+by a low hail close at hand.
+
+"Who's that?" cried the lieutenant.
+
+"May it is, sir," responded that individual.  "Here's one on 'em, sir,
+as has got it."
+
+"Who is it?" whispered the lieutenant, accompanying his question with an
+ejaculation full of vexation.
+
+"Oh, I dunno, your honour--Sambo or Nigger Dick, or Pompey, sir.  But
+he'll never answer to his name again.  Here he is, spear and all."
+
+"One of the enemy whom you shot down?" said the lieutenant, in a tone
+full of relief.
+
+"Not me shot him, sir, but one of my messmates."
+
+"Speak softly, my man," said the lieutenant, "and be all ready to fire
+again.  I'm afraid they've been creeping up all round."
+
+"Not all round, sir," said the sailor, "but a whole lot on this side,
+and them three shots drifted them.  There was a regular rush as soon as
+the lads opened fire."
+
+"Good," said the lieutenant.  "But they may be coming on again.  Stand
+fast, my lads, ready to fire at the slightest sound.  I don't know how
+they can stand it, Mr Murray," he added, "for I feel as if my boot
+soles are being burned through.--Yes: what were you going to say--that
+yours are as bad?"
+
+"No, sir," replied the lad excitedly; "I was going to suggest that the
+men who fired should stand fast."
+
+"Why, of course, my lad; but why?"
+
+"Because, sir, they can tell the direction in which they fired, and know
+the way in which the enemy retreated."
+
+"Of course, sir; but what good will that do?"
+
+"It ought to be the way in which their friends are gathered, and the
+opposite direction to that in which we ought to retreat."
+
+"Good, my lad," said the lieutenant, clapping the lad on the shoulder.
+"You'll make a smart officer some day.  I should not have thought of
+that.  It may prove to be the way towards the shore.  We'll draw off at
+once.  Oh!" he added.  "If a good sharp breeze would spring up, to drive
+off this smoke!"
+
+"But wouldn't it set the remains of the fire blazing up again, sir?"
+
+"Here, Murray," whispered the officer pettishly, "you'd better take
+command of the expedition.  You are sharper than I am."
+
+"I beg your pardon, sir."
+
+"Not at all.  I'm not so weak as to resent hearing a good suggestion.
+You are quite right, my lad.  I only wonder that your brain keeps so
+clear in the horrible confusion this smoke brings on.  Here, let's put
+your suggestion into use.  Where's Tom May?"
+
+"Here, sir."
+
+"Can you tell which way the enemy retreated?"
+
+"For sartin.  This here nigger's lying on his back with his head pynted
+the way his party came from--shot right through his chesty; and there's
+a spear, sir, sticking slahntindickler in the ashes as shows the way
+which it was throwed from.  Both being from the same bearings seems to
+say, sir, as that's the way the niggers would run."
+
+"Humph!" ejaculated the lieutenant thoughtfully.  "Not quite sure, my
+man?"
+
+"No, sir, but I heerd them seem to run same way, so I thought it was a
+bit likely, sir."
+
+"Likely enough for us to follow, my lad," said the officer; "so lead
+off, and keep on in the direction you think that the shore will lie."
+
+"Can't do that, sir," said the man bluntly.  "Only think, sir, as it
+will be farthest from where the enemy came."
+
+"Lead on," said the officer shortly.  "It's the best thing for us now.
+Forward, my lads.  You, Mr Murray, keep alongside of me.  We'll bring
+up the rear."
+
+The retreat began, with the midshipman nowise happy in his own mind, for
+he could not help feeling that after all they might be marching into
+fresh difficulties instead of towards safety; but before long, as they
+tramped on over the heated ashes, suffering badly, for they began to
+inhale more and more the heated dust thrown up by their men's feet, they
+had something else to think of, for Murray suddenly caught hold of his
+officer's arm to check him.
+
+"Don't, do that, my lad," came in response.  "It's as dark as can be,
+and if we are left behind we shall be worse off than ever."
+
+"Yes, sir," whispered the midshipman; "but listen."
+
+"I am listening, Mr Murray, and I can hear the crackling of the men's
+shoes as they trample up the burning embers.  That's what you hear."
+
+"Yes, sir, but something more."
+
+"Eh?  What?"
+
+"Listen again, sir.  Just stop for a moment."
+
+The officer stopped short on the instant, and then caught the lad by the
+arm.
+
+"Forward," he whispered, "and keep step with me.  Close up to the men,
+and we'll halt, fall into line, give the brutes time to get within
+throwing distance for their spears, and then give them a volley.  You
+are quite right, Mr Murray.  Your ears are sharper than mine.  We are
+followed, my lad, and if we hear their footsteps cease we must dash
+forward to put our movement into effect, for they will have halted to
+throw their weapons.--Yes, they are creeping after us quite fast now."
+
+"Yes, sir; I can hear them quite plainly."
+
+"Never mind so long as we don't feel them quite plainly, Murray, my
+lad," continued the officer, with a faint laugh.  "I don't know how you
+feel, my boy, but I am suffering from a peculiar tickling sensation
+about the upper part of my spine.  It is a sort of anticipation of the
+coming of a spear; and the worst of it is that we can't run, though I'll
+be bound to say you feel as if you would like to.  Now, frankly, don't
+you?"
+
+"Yes, sir," said the lad; "I'd give anything to run now, as fast as I
+could."
+
+"That's honest, Mr Murray," said the lieutenant, in a low, eager
+whisper, and he squeezed his companion's arm.  "But then, you see, we
+can't.  That's the worst of being an officer, Murray, with all his
+responsibilities.  If we were to run we should throw our men into
+confusion by causing a panic.  If the officer shows the white feather
+his men will whisk it out directly, and, what is worse, they will never
+believe in him again, and that would not do, would it?"
+
+"No, sir," said Murray quietly; "but I've got that tickling sensation in
+my back badly now."
+
+"Of course you have, Murray, but not so bad as I have, I'm sure."
+
+"Oh, I don't know, sir," said the lad, rather huskily.
+
+"Better not talk, Mr Murray," said the first lieutenant; "the ashes are
+getting into your throat."
+
+"Think it's that, sir?"
+
+"Some of it, my boy.  Well, no: it does not do for officers to be too
+sure.  We'll say it is, though.  Nasty sensation, however, that of
+feeling your enemies are waiting to hurl a spear through the air with
+such an aim that it will stick right into your back."
+
+"Yes, sir; it's a horrible sensation."
+
+"But we must put up with it, Murray," continued the lieutenant, "and be
+thankful that chance comes to our help."
+
+"Chance, sir?"
+
+"Yes: the savages may miss us, for we are on the move, and besides, it
+is very smoky and hard for them to take aim.  These blacks have very
+sharp eyes, but I doubt whether they get more than a shadowy glimpse of
+us, even at the nearest.  You see, we have not had a man hit as far as
+we know.  But speaking seriously, Murray, my lad, I do think that we
+officers have the worst of it, and the men the best.  We have to cover
+them and lead them, and a good officer would never think of setting his
+men to do anything we would not do ourselves.  There, Mr Murray, I have
+finished my lecture upon an officer's duty, and I have only to add that
+I think you have behaved very well."
+
+"Thankye, sir," said Murray drily; "but, begging your pardon, sir, what
+about you?"
+
+"About me?  Oh, I'm old and seasoned, my dear boy.  And besides, I don't
+think that if we had been hit, a spear would kill."
+
+"But it would make a very ugly wound, sir."
+
+"Horrible, my boy, so let's hope none of our brave fellows will be
+giving the doctor a job.  Now then, quick; double up to the lads, and
+we'll halt and fire, for the enemy are getting too close to be pleasant,
+and it's time that they had a check."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TEN.
+
+HARD TIMES.
+
+It was, quite, for the rustling behind seemed to be terribly near, and
+it was with a feeling of intense relief that the lad felt his arm
+pressed, and fell into step with his officer, who directly after cried
+"Haiti" in a low, stern voice, and formed his men in line, before giving
+the orders: "Make ready!  Fire!"
+
+Quite time, for spears and bullets crossed, the former in a curve, the
+latter direct, and drawing from the enemy yells of mingled defiance,
+rage and pain.
+
+"That's give it 'em, sir," whispered Tom May, who was close to Murray,
+and he made his rifle hiss as he rammed down a fresh cartridge.
+
+"Any one hurt?" asked the lieutenant, in a low, eager tone.
+
+"I got a spear a-sticking in me, sir," said one of the men, in the same
+subdued tone of voice, "but I can't say as it hurts."
+
+"Let me see," said Murray excitedly, and he stepped to where the man was
+standing tugging at himself instead of following his comrades' example
+and reloading.
+
+"Don't think you can see, sir! it's so smoky.  Would you mind ketching
+hold here and giving a good pull?"
+
+As the man spoke, the midshipman did as he was requested, so far as to
+take hold of the shaft of a spear.  But there he stopped short, his
+imagination suggesting consequences to which he gave voice in a
+strangely unnatural tone.
+
+"I daren't draw it out," he said.  "It may be wrong to do so."
+
+"But I can't march with a thing like that all wibble wobble at every
+step, sir."
+
+"Then you must be helped, my lad," said Murray hastily.  "If I draw it
+out the wound may burst out bleeding."
+
+"Think so, sir?"
+
+"Yes.  You must be helped back till the doctor has seen to you."
+
+"Here, what is it?" said a familiar voice out of the gloom.
+
+"Titely has a spear through his shoulder, sir."
+
+"Tut, tut, tut!  Here, let me look."
+
+"Oh, never mind me, sir," said the injured man; "it don't hurt much,
+on'y feels like a scratch; but it's orfly in the way."
+
+"Who's this?" asked the lieutenant.
+
+"Murray, sir."
+
+"Let me see.  Yes: right through, evidently."
+
+"He wants it drawn out, sir," said the midshipman, and he was holding up
+the spear-shaft where he stood facing the injured man; "but it would be
+dangerous to meddle with it, wouldn't it, sir?"
+
+"Yes, certainly," said the lieutenant.  "He must be helped back.  What's
+that?"
+
+"More spears, sir," growled Tom May, as there was the whizz and thud of
+the missiles once more.
+
+"Present!  Fire!" said the lieutenant sharply; and a fresh volley was
+fired, with the result of a rush of feet being plainly heard from the
+enemy, now in full retreat.
+
+"Keep silence, my lads," said the lieutenant, who had been waiting till
+the thudding of the ramrods came to an end and denoted that the little
+party was once more ready to deliver fire.
+
+Silence ensued, save where Murray stood half supporting the wounded man.
+
+"Here, give it a good pull, Mr Murray, sir," whispered the man.  "I'll
+hold a couple o' plugs ready for you to stop the bleeding."
+
+"No, no, my man; you must be patient," whispered Murray sympathetically.
+
+"But I can't be patient, sir.  You don't know what it means."
+
+"Does it pain you so much?"
+
+"No, sir; not so werry much.  I can bear it well enough, but it makes me
+feel as if I'd got a skewer through me."
+
+"Silence there," said the lieutenant.
+
+"It's all very fine," muttered the man; and then, leaning towards
+Murray, "Say, sir, these here niggers on the coast are cannibals, aren't
+they?"
+
+"Yes, some of them, I believe," whispered back the midshipman.
+
+"Don't leave me behind, then," said the man softly, and he uttered a low
+chuckling laugh.  "I don't want 'em to come upon me and find a fellow
+skewered and trussed ready for cooking."
+
+"Can't you keep that man quiet, Mr Murray?" said the lieutenant
+angrily, and he came up to where the pair stood together.  "It's like
+telling the enemy where to throw again, for they are wonderfully quick
+of hearing."
+
+"I am trying, sir," whispered the midshipman, "but I wish you would
+place your hand here."
+
+"Place your hand there, Mr Murray!" said the officer, in a voice full
+of vexation.  "I have no time to feel the poor fellow's wound."
+
+"But it isn't quite that, sir," said the lad.  "I can't help thinking--"
+
+"Think, then, sir, but don't bother me."
+
+"I can't help it, sir," whispered the lad excitedly.
+
+"What do you mean, Mr Murray?" said the officer, alarmed by the lad's
+excitement.  "Don't say you are wounded too?"
+
+"No, sir, and I don't think that Titely has got anything worse than a
+scratch."
+
+"Eh?"
+
+"Feel here, sir.  The spear has gone right through the bandolier and his
+shirt from the front and gone out through the shirt and bandolier at the
+back, running all up a bit."
+
+"Well, but what about the poor fellow's flesh and bone?" said the
+officer excitedly.
+
+"I think it's only gone through the skin, sir."
+
+"Yes, that's right," said the man.  "I telled Mr Murray, sir, as I
+didn't think I should bleed much if he pulled the skewer out."
+
+"We must wait for daylight, my lad--till the smoke lifts.  Ah, what are
+you doing?"
+
+"On'y wiggling the spear a little, sir," replied the man gruffly.  "Just
+give a tug at it.  Does hurt a bit.  I seem to have teared some'at.
+There, I knowed it!  You try, Mr Murray, sir; you can lift it like now,
+and--yes, that's it.  I'm a-shoving it back'ards and for'ards, and it
+moves the cross-belt and my shirt, and nothing else."
+
+"But, my good fellow--" began the officer.
+
+"It's all right, sir.  I've shoved my hand right under my shirt and over
+my shoulder.  It's just bleeding a little, but--well, it's about the
+humbuggin'est humbug of a wound I ever knowed a chap to have.  Here, Mr
+Murray sir, you ketch hold of my cross-belt fore and aft, and if his
+honour wouldn't mind giving the spear a haul through the belt I shall be
+as right as can be."
+
+The two officers obeyed the man's request and stood holding spear and
+belt, but hesitated to proceed farther.
+
+"That hurt, my lad?" said the lieutenant.
+
+"Hurt, sir?  Not a bit.  On'y feels preciously in the way."
+
+"Got hold tightly, Mr Murray?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Then, now then."
+
+It took more than one good tug, but after the first tentative trial,
+which seemed to cause the man no suffering, the first lieutenant pulled
+hard, and at last drew the spear right through the two pierced portions
+of the tough buff leather.
+
+"That's your sort, gentlemen," said the man.  "Here, who's got my
+musket?"
+
+"Steady, my lad," said the lieutenant.  "Now, then, do you feel faint?"
+
+"Orfle, sir, inside," said the man, "but I want a drink o' water worst."
+
+"But are you in pain?" asked Murray.
+
+"Smarts a bit, but it don't hardly bleed at all.  I'm all right, sir,
+only tickles enough to make a chap a bit savage.  Here, don't you worry
+about me, sir.  I'm as fit as a fiddle, gentlemen, and I on'y want now
+to play the niggers such a toon as'll make them jump again."
+
+"Hah!" ejaculated the lieutenant.  "Only a bit of a false alarm, Mr
+Murray."
+
+"Thankye, sir.  Yes, that's right.  Does me good to grip my musket
+again."
+
+"Then try and use it, Titely," said the midshipman, "for here they come
+again.--Yes, May; we hear them."
+
+The lieutenant's command was given directly after, and again a volley
+rang out, this time to check the enemy's advance and drive them back so
+thoroughly that the silence was once more intense; and as the party
+stood with strained ears, listening, Murray uttered an exclamation.
+
+"What is it, Mr Murray?"
+
+"Firing, sir.  I heard shots."
+
+"Are you sure?"
+
+"I heerd it too, sir," said the injured man.
+
+"Attention there!" said the lieutenant sharply.
+
+"One, two, and three from the left make ready.  Present--Fire!"
+
+The three shots rang out like one, and directly after they were replied
+to, the reports sounding faintly enough but perfectly distinguishable
+through the distance.
+
+The lieutenant waited while twenty could be counted, and then ordered
+the men to fire again.  This drew forth a reply, and so evidently from
+the same direction that the order was given for the party to march; but
+directly after the lieutenant called _Halt_, for from behind them and
+quite plainly from the direction they were leaving, came the deep-toned
+_thud_ of a heavy gun.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER ELEVEN.
+
+"THE SMOKE'S LIFTING."
+
+"Well done, _Seafowl_!" said the lieutenant, and the men gave a cheer
+which drew forth a "Silence!" from the officer.
+
+"You're holloaing before you're out of the wood, my lads," he said.
+"Ah, there they go again--nearer too.  Those must be Mr Munday's or Mr
+Dempsey's men.  Halt, and stand fast, my lads.  Let's give them a chance
+to join, and then we can retire together.  No doubt, Mr Murray, about
+the direction we ought to take."
+
+"No, sir," replied the midshipman, "and we are going to be quite out of
+our misery soon."
+
+"What do you mean, my lad?"
+
+"The smoke's lifting, sir."
+
+"To be sure, my lad, it is.  A cool breeze too--no--yes, that's from the
+same direction as the _Seafowl's_ recall shot.  If it had been from the
+forest we might have been stifled, after all."
+
+The signals given from time to time resulted in those who had fired
+coming before long within hail, and the men who now joined proved to be
+a conjunction of the second lieutenant's and boatswain's, who had met
+after a long estrangement in the smoke, and without the loss of a man.
+Then, as the smoke was borne back by the now increasing sea breeze, the
+general retreat became less painful.  They could breathe more freely,
+and see their way through the burned forest in the direction of the
+anchored sloop.
+
+It was a terribly blackened and parched-up party, though, that struggled
+on over the still smoking and painfully heated earth.  For they had no
+option, no choice of path.  The forest that lay to left and right was
+too dense to be attempted.  There were doubtless paths known to the
+natives, but they were invisible to the retreating force, which had to
+keep on its weary way over the widely stretching fire-devastated tract
+that but a few hours before had been for the most part mangrove thicket
+interspersed with palms.  But the men trudged on with all the steady,
+stubborn determination of the British sailor, cheered now as they were
+by the sight of the great river right ahead, with the sloop of war well
+in view; and in place of bemoaning their fate or heeding their
+sufferings the scorched and hair-singed men were full of jocular remarks
+about each other's state.
+
+One of the first things observable was the fact that to a man all save
+the officers were bare-headed, the men's straw hats having suffered
+early in the struggle against the flames, while the caps of the officers
+were in such dismal plight that it was questionable as to whether it was
+worth while to retain them.
+
+Titely, the seaman who had been speared, was the butt of all his
+messmates, and the requests to him to show his wound were constant and
+all taken in good part; in fact, he seemed to revel in the joke.
+
+But there was another side which he showed to his young officer as,
+cheering at intervals, the party began to near the river edge and get
+glimpses of the boats waiting with a well-armed party to take them off
+to the sloop.
+
+"It's all werry fine, Mr Murray, sir," said Titely, "and I warn't going
+to flinch and holloa when one's poor mates wanted everything one could
+do to keep 'em in good heart; but I did get a good nick made in my
+shoulder, and the way it's been giving it to me all through this here
+red-hot march has been enough to make me sing out _chi-ike_ like a
+trod-upon dog."
+
+"My poor fellow!" whispered Murray sympathetically.  "Then _you_ are in
+great pain?"
+
+"Well, yes, sir; pooty tidy."
+
+"But--"
+
+"Oh, don't you take no notice, sir.  I ought to be carried."
+
+"Yes, of course!  Yes, I'll tell Mr Anderson."
+
+"That you don't, sir!  If you do I shall break down at once.  Can't you
+see it's the boys' chaff as has kep' me going?  Why, look at 'em, sir.
+Who's going to make a party of bearers?  It's as much as the boys can do
+to carry theirselves.  No, no; I shall last out now till I can get a
+drink of cool, fresh water.  All I've had lately has been as hot as
+rum."
+
+"Hurray!" rang out again and again, and the poor fellows joined in the
+cheers, for they could see nothing but the welcome waiting for them, and
+feel nothing but the fact that they had gone to clear out the horrible
+hornets' nest with fire, and that the task had been splendidly done.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWELVE.
+
+AFTER THE LESSON.
+
+As the suffering party gathered together upon the river shore
+preparatory to embarking in the boats, Murray's first care was to see
+that A.B. Titely was placed where he could lie down and rest, and while
+looking after the poor fellow, and seeing that he was one of the first
+to be helped into the stern sheets of the first cutter, Roberts came up.
+
+"Oh, I say!" he cried.  "Who's that wounded?"
+
+"Hallo!  Who are you?" said his fellow middy sharply.  "Don't disturb
+the poor fellow."
+
+"Why, eh?  Yes--no," cried Roberts, with a mock display of interest, "I
+was wondering where--well--it can't be!  Why, Frank, you do look a
+pretty sweep!  Hardly knew you.  I say: is it you?"
+
+"Is it I, indeed!" growled Murray.  "You're a pretty fellow to try that
+on!  Go and look at your face in the water if you can find a still pool.
+I might grin at you."
+
+"Am I browned, then--scorched?"
+
+"Are you scorched brown!  No, you are scorched black!  Where are your
+eyebrows?  I say, Dick, those two little patches of hair in front of
+your ears that you believed were whiskers beginning to shoot--they're
+quite gone.  No, not quite; there's a tiny bit left in front of your
+right ear."
+
+The conscious lad clapped his hands up to the sides of his face.
+
+"I say, not so bad as that, is it, Frank?  No games; tell us the truth."
+
+"Games?  No, I'm too sore to be making game," cried Murray, and he gazed
+carefully at both sides of his messmate's cheeks.  "You're scorched
+horribly, and the whisker shoots are all gone--No, there's about half of
+one left; and you'll have to shave that off, Dick, so as to balance the
+other bare place.  No, no; it's all right; that's not hair, only a
+smudge of sooty cinder off your burnt cap.  I say, you do look a beauty,
+Dick."
+
+"Oh, I say!" groaned the youth, patting his tingling cheeks
+tenderly.--"Here, what are you grinning at, sir?" he cried, turning upon
+the wounded sailor angrily.
+
+"Beg pardon, sir.  Was I grinning?" said the sailor apologetically.
+
+"Yes; and he can't help it, Dick.  Don't be hard upon the poor fellow;
+he has had a spear through the top of his shoulder.  But you do look an
+object!  Enough to make a cat laugh, as they say."
+
+"Well, I don't see that there's anything to laugh at."
+
+"No, old fellow, because you can't see your face; but I say, you can see
+mine."
+
+"Humph!" grunted Roberts sulkily, and his fingers stole up to pat the
+scorched portions of his face.
+
+"Case of pot and kettle, eh, Dick?" said Murray, laughing, then pulling
+his face straight again as he winced with pain.  "Oh, I say, don't make
+me grin at you again.  It's just as if my skin was ready to crack all
+over.  There, poor old chap, I'm sorry for you if you feel as bad as I
+do.  But you began it."
+
+"Beg pardon, then," grumbled Roberts.
+
+"Granted.  But I say, why doesn't Anderson hurry us all on board?"
+
+"I don't know.  Yes, I do," cried the midshipman excitedly.  "The
+beggars--they must have quite escaped the fire!  They're gathering
+together over yonder, hundreds of them, with spears.  I believe they're
+going to make a rush.  Fancy, after destroying the hornets' nest!"
+
+"Then we shall have to kill the hornets," said Murray; and the two lads
+were among the first to answer to the boatswain's whistle, which now
+chirruped out loudly.
+
+"Here we are, Mr Murray, sir," said Tom May, as the midshipman hurried
+up to his little party.  "This is us, sir--your lot."
+
+"Well, I know that," said the lad petulantly, as he winced with pain.
+
+"Beg pardon, sir," said the man.  "Thought you might take us for the
+niggers, seeing what colour we are and how our clothes are tumbling
+off."
+
+"Yes, we're black enough, Tom, but I hope you don't feel as I do," said
+his leader.
+
+"Much of a muchness, sir," said the man, with a grin half of mischievous
+mirth, half of pain.  "The first luff said something about hornets, sir.
+I don't know much about them insecks, but we chaps feel as if we'd been
+among their first cousins the wopses; eh, lads?"
+
+"Ay, ay!" growled another of the men.  "But aren't we soon going to have
+a chance to use our stings?"
+
+At that moment the preliminary order rang out--an order which sent a
+thrill through the suffering band, making them forget everything in the
+opportunity about to be given them for retaliation upon the advancing
+body of warlike blacks stealing cautiously forward from the shelter of a
+patch of mangroves away to the left, which had from its nearness to the
+margin escaped the flames.
+
+"The savage brutes!" muttered Murray, as he drew his sword, and winced
+with pain.
+
+"Hold your fire, Mr Murray," shouted the lieutenant.  "Wait, my lads,
+till you see the whites of their eyes, and then let them have it sharply
+when you hear the word."
+
+But the little volley from the midshipman's party of reserve was held
+longer, for the lieutenant's words had little more than passed his lips
+when there was a flash, followed by what resembled a ball of grey smoke
+from the _Seafowl_ where she lay at anchor.  Then almost instantaneously
+came the roar of one of the sloop's bow guns and her charge of canister
+shot tore through the sheltering bush-like trees, while a cheer burst
+from the shore party, discipline being forgotten in the excitement
+caused by what came as a surprise.
+
+The heartily given cheer was followed by another puff of grey smoke, and
+the crack of shot through the sheltered trees, the effect being that the
+advancing party of the enemy was turned into a running crowd of
+fugitives scattering and running for their lives, leaving the boats'
+crews to embark quite unmolested, this last example of the white man's
+power proving a quite sufficient lesson for the native king.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THIRTEEN.
+
+A VISIT FROM THE HORNETS.
+
+"Upon my word, Mr Anderson," said the captain, as he had the men drawn
+up before him as soon as they reached the _Seafowl_--"Upon my word, sir,
+I am delighted.  I entrust you with a couple of boats' crews to carry
+out a necessary duty, and you bring me back a scorched-up detachment
+only fit to go into hospital."
+
+"I beg pardon, sir," said the chief officer shortly; "only one man
+wounded, and his injury is very slight."
+
+"Don't talk to me like that, sir!" cried the captain.  "Look at them,
+sir--look at them!"
+
+"I have been looking at them, sir, for long enough--poor fellows--and I
+am truly sorry to have brought them back in such a state."
+
+"I should think you are, sir!  Upon my word of honour I should think you
+are!  But what have you been about?"
+
+"Burning out the hornets' nest, sir," said the lieutenant bluffly.
+
+"Well, I suppose you have done that thoroughly, Mr Anderson: but at
+what a cost!  Is there to be no end to these misfortunes?  First you
+allow yourself to be deluded by a slave-trading American and bring the
+_Seafowl_ up here to be run aground, with the chance of becoming a total
+wreck--"
+
+"I beg your pardon, sir!"
+
+"Well, not total--perhaps not total, Mr Anderson; but she is in a
+terribly bad position."
+
+"One from which you will easily set her at liberty."
+
+"Fortunately for you, Mr Anderson; and that is to my credit, I think,
+not yours."
+
+"Granted, sir," said the lieutenant; "but do you give me the credit of
+being tricked by the slave skipper?"
+
+"Well, I suppose I must take my share, Mr Anderson; but don't you think
+it would be more creditable to dismiss these poor fellows at once and
+have them overhauled by the surgeon?"
+
+"I do, sir, certainly," said the chief officer.
+
+"Have them below, then, at once, and let Mr Reston do his best with
+them.  Only one seriously wounded, you said?"
+
+"No, sir; slightly."
+
+"Good.  But to think of the _Seafowl_ being turned at one stroke into a
+hospital hulk.--You thoroughly destroyed the town and the slave
+barracks?"
+
+"We completely burned out the wretched collection of palm and bamboo
+huts, sir, and the horrible barn and shambles where they keep their
+wretched captives.  It was a place of horror, sir," said the lieutenant
+angrily.  "If you had seen what we saw, sir, you would have felt that no
+punishment could be too great for the wretches."
+
+"Humph!  I suppose not, Mr Anderson.  And that iniquitous Yankee
+scoundrel who has slipped through my fingers.  But look here, Mr
+Anderson, I am going to find that wretch; and when I do--yes, when I do!
+He has had the laugh of me, and I was too easily deceived, Anderson;
+but I'm going to follow that fellow across the Atlantic to where he
+disposes of his unfortunate cargo.  It's thousands of miles, perhaps,
+and a long pursuit maybe, but we're going to do it, sir, no matter what
+it costs, and I hope and believe that my officers and my poor brave
+fellows who have suffered what they have to-day will back me up and
+strain every nerve to bring the _Seafowl_ alongside his schooner, going
+or coming.  Hang him, Mr Anderson!--Ah, I did not mean to say that,
+sir; but hang him by all means if you can catch him.  We'll give him the
+mercy he has dealt out to these poor unhappy creatures, and for the way
+in which my brave fellows have been scorched and singed I'm going to
+burn that schooner--or--well, no, I can't do that, for it must be a
+smart vessel, and my sturdy lads must have something in the way of prize
+money.  Look at them, Mr Anderson; and look at those two!  You don't
+mean to tell me that those are officers?"
+
+He pointed at the two midshipmen so suddenly that they both started and
+turned to look at each other, then stared at the captain again, and once
+more gazed at each other, puzzled, confused, angry and annoyed at their
+aspect, looking so comical that the captain's manner completely altered.
+He had been gazing at his young officers with an air of commiseration,
+and his tones spoke of the anger and annoyance he felt to see the state
+they were in; and then all was changed; he turned to the first
+lieutenant, whose eyes met his, and, unable to maintain his seriousness,
+he burst into a fit of laughter, in which he was joined by the chief
+officer.  Then, pulling himself together, he snatched out his
+handkerchief and wiped his eyes.
+
+"Bah!" he ejaculated.  "Most unbecoming!  I did not mean this,
+gentlemen; the matter is too serious.  But for goodness' sake get below
+and make yourselves presentable.  Mr Anderson, you ought not to have
+laughed.  See to all the poor fellows, sir.  The men must have fresh
+clothes served out, and all who are unfit for duty go into the sick
+bay."
+
+Then, frowning severely, he turned sharply upon his heels and marched to
+the cabin door.
+
+"Well," exclaimed the first lieutenant, "of all--`Mr Anderson, you
+ought not to have laughed!'  Well, gentlemen," he cried angrily, as he
+turned upon the two young officers, "pray what do you find to laugh at?
+Is my face black?"
+
+"No, sir," cried Murray, in a half-choking voice.  "I beg your pardon,
+sir.  It seemed so comic for the captain to turn upon you like that."
+
+"Eh?  Humph!  Well, I suppose it was.  I laughed too.  Well, better
+laugh than cry over spilt milk.  It's the excitement, I suppose, and
+what we have gone through.  Now then, we had better go below and
+interview the doctor; but he will be busy over the lads for a long time
+before our turn comes."
+
+"I believe the skipper's half-cracked," said Roberts, as the two lads
+went below to their quarters.
+
+"Then I'd keep my opinions to myself, old fellow," grumbled Murray; and
+then as he seated himself upon a locker he uttered a low hissing sound
+suggestive of pain.
+
+"Pooh!  This is a free country--no, I don't mean that," cried Roberts,
+pulling himself up short.  "I mean, every man has a right to his own
+opinions."
+
+"Yes, but not to give them aboard a man-o'-war."
+
+"Bah!  We're not slaves.  Haven't we come to suppress slavery?"
+
+"I dare say we have," said Murray, "but you'd better not let the skipper
+know that you said he was a bit of a lunatic."
+
+"Shall if I like.  You won't be a sneak and tell.  Why, it was ghastly
+to see him turn as he did.  One minute he was speaking feelingly and
+letting us all see that he meant to spare no efforts about pursuing and
+punishing that Yankee skipper, and the next he was laughing like a
+hysterical school-girl."
+
+"He couldn't help it, poor old boy," said Murray.  "Old Anderson was
+just as bad, and we caught the infection and laughed too, and so did the
+men."
+
+"Well, I can't see what there was to laugh at."
+
+"That's the fun of it.  But it is all through every one being so
+overstrung, I suppose.  There, do leave off riddling about your cheeks."
+
+"Who's fiddling, as you call it, about one's cheeks?"
+
+"You were, and it's of no use; the miserable little bits of down are
+gone, and there's nothing for it but to wait till the hairs begin to
+grow again."
+
+"Er-r-r!" growled Roberts angrily; and he raised his fingers to the
+singed spots involuntarily, and then snatched them down again, enraged
+by the smile which was beginning to pucker up his companion's face.
+"There you go again.  You're worse than the skipper."
+
+"Then don't make me laugh, for it hurts horribly."
+
+"I'll make you laugh on the other side of your face directly."
+
+"No don't--pray don't," sighed Murray; "for the skin there's stiffer,
+and I'm sure it will crack."
+
+"You're cracked already."
+
+"I think we must all have been, to get ourselves in such a mess, old
+fellow.  But it was very brave, I suppose, and I don't believe any one
+but English sailors would have done what we did."
+
+"Pooh!  Any fools could have started those fires."
+
+"Perhaps so.  But what's the matter now?"  For Roberts had raised his
+face from the water he was beginning to use, with an angry hiss.
+
+"Try and bathe your face, and you'll soon know."
+
+"Feel as if the skin was coming off?  Well, we can't help it.  Must get
+rid of the black.  The skin will grow again.  But I'm thinking of one's
+uniform.  My jacket's like so much tinder."
+
+A wash, a change, and a visit to the doctor ended with the sufferers
+being in comparative comfort, and the two lads stood and looked at each
+other.
+
+"Hasn't improved our appearance, Dick," said Murray.
+
+"No; but you must get the barber to touch you up.  One side of your
+curly wig is singed right off, and the other's fairly long."
+
+"I don't care," cried Murray carelessly.  "I'm not going to bother about
+anything.  Let's go on deck and see what they're about."
+
+Roberts was quite willing, and the first man they encountered was the
+able-seaman Titely.
+
+"Why, hallo!" cried Murray.  "I expected you'd be in hospital."
+
+"Me, sir!  What for?"
+
+"Your wound."
+
+"That warn't a wound, sir; only a snick.  The doctor put a couple o'
+stitches in it, and then he made a sorter star with strips o' stick-jack
+plaister.  My belt got the worst of it, and jest look at my hair, sir.
+Sam Mason scissored off one side; the fire did the other.  Looks nice
+and cool, don't it?"
+
+The man took off his new straw hat and held his head first on one side
+and then the other for inspection.
+
+"Why, you look like a Turk, Titely," said Murray.
+
+"Yes, I do, sir, don't I?  Old Sam Mason's clipping away still.  The
+other chaps liked mine so that they wanted theirs done the same.  It's
+prime, sir, for this here climate."
+
+"But your wound?" said Roberts.
+
+"Don't talk about it, sir, or I shall be put upon the sick list, and
+it's quite hot enough without a fellow being shut up below.  Noo canvas
+trousis, sir.  Look prime, don't they?"
+
+"But, Titely," cried Murray, "surely you ought to be on the sick list?"
+
+"I say, please don't say such a word," whispered the man, looking
+sharply round.  "You'll be having the skipper and Mr Anderson hearing
+on you.  I ain't no wuss than my messmates."
+
+"No, I suppose not," said Roberts, "but--why, they seem to be all on
+deck."
+
+"Course they are, sir," said the man, grinning.  "There's nowt the
+matter with them but noo shirts and trousis, and they allers do chafe a
+bit."
+
+Murray laughed.
+
+"But you ought to be on the sick list."
+
+"Oh, I say, sir, please don't!  How would you young gentlemen like to be
+laid aside?"
+
+"But what does the doctor say?  Didn't he tell you that you ought to go
+into the sick bay?"
+
+"Yes, sir," said the man, grinning; "but I gammoned him a bit."
+
+"You cheated the doctor, sir!" said Roberts sternly.
+
+"Well, sir, I didn't mean no harm," said the man, puckering up his face
+a little and wincing--"I only put it to him like this: said I should
+only fret if I went on the sick list, and lie there chewing more than
+was good for me."
+
+"Well, and what did he say?"
+
+"Told me I was a himpident scoundrel, sir, and that I was to go and see
+him every morning, and keep my left arm easy and not try to haul."
+
+In fact, singeing, some ugly blisters, a certain number of hands that
+were bound up by the doctor, and a few orders as to their use--orders
+which proved to be forgotten at once--and a certain awkwardness of gait
+set down to the stiffness of the newly issued garments--those were all
+that were noticeable at the first glance round by the midshipmen, and
+apparently the whole crew were ready and fit to help in the efforts
+being made to get the sloop out of her unpleasant position in the mud of
+the giant river.
+
+As for the men themselves, they were in the highest of spirits, and
+worked away hauling at cables and hoisting sail to such an extent that
+when the night wind came sweeping along the lower reaches of the river,
+the sloop careened over till it seemed as if she would dip her canvas in
+the swiftly flowing tide, but recovered almost to float upon an even
+keel.  Twice more she lay over again, and then a hearty cheer rang out,
+for she rose after the last careen and then began to glide slowly out
+into deeper water, just as the captain gave orders for one of the bow
+guns to be fired.
+
+"Why was that?" said Murray, who had been busy at his duties right aft.
+"Didn't you see?"
+
+"No.  Not to cheer up the men because we were out of the mud?"
+
+"Tchah!  No.  The niggers were beginning to collect again ashore there
+by that patch of unburned forest."
+
+"I didn't see."
+
+"That doesn't matter," said Roberts sourly; "but the blacks did, and
+felt too, I expect.  Anyhow, they sloped off, and now I suppose we shall
+do the same while our shoes are good, for the skipper won't be happy
+till we're out to sea again."
+
+"Here, what now?" said Murray excitedly.  "What does this mean?"
+
+"This" meant cheering and excitement and the issuing of orders which
+made the deck a busy scene, for the men were beat to quarters ready to
+meet what promised to be a serious attack.  For in the evening light
+quite a fleet of large canoes crowded with men could be seen coming
+round a bend of the river, the blades dipping regularly and throwing up
+the water that flashed in the last rays of the sinking sun, while from
+end to end the long canoes bristled with spears, and the deep tones of a
+war song rhythmically accompanied the dipping of the paddles.
+
+"Why, they must be three or four hundred strong, Anderson," said the
+captain.  "Fully that, sir."
+
+"Poor wretches!" muttered the captain.  "I thought we had given them
+lesson enough for one day."
+
+"Only enough to set them astir for revenge," said the lieutenant.
+
+"Well, the lesson must be repeated," said the captain, shrugging his
+shoulders.  "See what a shot will do with that leading canoe.  We have
+come upon a warlike tribe, brave enough, or they would not dare to
+attack a vessel like this."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FOURTEEN.
+
+DEALING WITH A FLEET.
+
+"I know what I should do," said Murray, as, forgetting the smarting and
+stiffness from which he suffered, he stood watching the savage fleet
+steadily gliding down stream.
+
+"What?" said Roberts.
+
+"Get out of the river as soon as I could.  We could sail right away
+now."
+
+"Cowardly," grumbled Roberts.  "Why, it would be throwing away the
+chance of giving the wretches a severe lesson."
+
+"They've had one," said Murray, "and if we sink half-a-dozen of them
+they'll be ready enough to come on again."
+
+"Then we could sink some more.  Why, if you sailed away they'd think we
+were afraid of them."
+
+"Let them!  We know better.  It seems a bit horrible with our great
+power to begin sending grape and canister scattering amongst these
+slight canoes."
+
+"Oh yes, horrible enough; but they must be taught that they can't be
+allowed to make war upon other tribes and sell their prisoners into
+slavery."
+
+"I suppose so," said the lad, with a sigh, possibly due to the pain he
+still felt from the late fight with the flames.
+
+"Look at that," whispered Roberts excitedly.  "Why, the skipper seems to
+think as you do."
+
+For orders were given, the capstan manned, and the sloop glided towards
+the anchor by which they now swung, the sails began to fill and help the
+men in their task, and soon after the anchor stock appeared above the
+water.
+
+It was quite time, for the canoes were nearing fast, and to the two
+midshipmen it appeared as if the enemy would be alongside and swarming
+aboard before their vessel had time to gather way.
+
+"Why don't we fire, Frank?" said Roberts excitedly.
+
+"Because we're not in command," replied Murray coolly, as he tried to
+measure mentally the length of time it would take for the leading canoe
+to reach them, rapidly advancing as it was in obedience to the lusty
+strokes given by some thirty paddles which made the water foam on either
+side of the frail craft packed with men.
+
+"But it's absurd.  The skipper ought to have given the order long ago."
+
+"And filled the surface with dead and dying men floating and struggling
+amongst the shattered pieces of the canoe?"
+
+"Yes: why not?  It's war, sir--war."
+
+"But war when it is a necessity ought to be carried on in as humane a
+fashion as is possible."
+
+"With people like this?  Bah!  Why, if they once get aboard they will
+spear us to a man, or batter our heads with their war clubs."
+
+"They would if they could," said Murray quietly.
+
+"They will, I tell you," said Roberts excitedly.
+
+"No, they will not, old chap, for the skipper won't let them."
+
+"Oh, you!" exclaimed Roberts, who stamped one foot down upon the deck in
+his excitement.  "Why, you are as foolish as our officers."
+
+"Speak gently, or some one will be hearing you," said Murray quietly.
+
+"I want some one to hear me!" exclaimed the lad.  "We are giving all our
+chances away."
+
+"That we are not!  I've been trying to calculate how we shall stand for
+distance when the _Seafowl_ glides off on the other tack."
+
+"So have I," cried Roberts furiously, "and it will be with the crews of
+two of those war canoes on board spearing and stabbing us."
+
+"Indeed!" said Murray, in quite a drawl.  "That doesn't agree with my
+calculation.  I make it that they will be about fifty yards astern, and
+beyond spear-throwing distance."
+
+"And I tell you that you are all wrong, Frank."
+
+"Well, one of us is, old chap, for certain."
+
+"You!" said Roberts emphatically.  "No, I think not, old fellow.  You
+see, too, that I have the skipper's opinion on my side."
+
+"The skipper's opinion isn't worth a pinch of powder.  He's a
+crack-brained lunatic.  Here, what do you mean by that?"
+
+"Only to turn my hand into a tompion to stop your fiery, foolish words,
+old fellow," replied Murray.  "You'd look nice if any one carried your
+remarks to the captain."
+
+"I'm only doing my duty, sir, and am trying to save our ship from the
+attack of these savages who are bearing down upon us."
+
+"And setting your knowledge of navigation and the management of the
+_Seafowl_ above that of the captain."
+
+"I tell you I have lost faith in the skipper."
+
+"Of the lieutenant--"
+
+"He does not see our peril."
+
+"And the wisdom of our old and experienced warrant officers," continued
+Murray.
+
+"There," said the midshipman, "look at that!  Not a shot fired, and
+those two leading canoes abreast of us.  There'll be a massacre
+directly."
+
+"Bravo!" whispered Murray excitedly.  "Wonderfully done!  You miserable
+old croaker, wasn't that splendid?"
+
+A minute before, the lad who had remained cool and self-contained during
+what seemed to be a perilous time, had watched without comprehending the
+action of the forward guns' crews, who, in obedience to the orders given
+by the first lieutenant, seized upon the capstan bars and stood ready to
+starboard and port, waiting for something anticipated.
+
+Then as the _Seafowl_ answered to her helm and Roberts was turning
+frantic with excitement as he felt that the savages were bound to be
+aboard directly, the sloop careened over from the force of the breeze
+when her course was altered, there was a dull crashing sound and her
+stem cut one long war canoe in two amidships, leaving the halves gliding
+alongside in company with some fifty or sixty struggling and swimming
+naked savages, some of whom began to climb aboard by the stays, others
+by the fore chains; but as each fierce black head rose into sight, there
+was a tap given by a well-wielded capstan bar, and black after black
+dropped back into the water, to glide astern, stunned or struggling, to
+be picked up by his companions in the second boat, which was being
+overtaken by others, bristling with spears, while the vessel was a
+cable's length ahead and steadily increasing its speed.
+
+"Now then, Dick, what about my calculation?" said Murray, giving his
+companion a poke in the side.  "Pretty near, wasn't I?"
+
+"Humph!  Luck--chance," grumbled Roberts ill-humouredly.
+
+"Of course!  But wasn't the captain right?"
+
+"No; he ought to have given the savage wretches another lesson."
+
+"A bloodthirsty one," said Murray.  "Pooh!  Don't be such a savage,
+Dick."
+
+"I'm not, sir," retorted the midshipman angrily.  "What are our weapons
+of war for unless to use?"
+
+"Oh yes; of course, when they are wanted.  If I were a captain I
+shouldn't shrink for a minute about firing broadsides and sinking our
+enemies in times of necessity, any more than I should have minded
+burning out such a hornets' nest as that yonder; but the captain was
+quite right over this business.  Look at the wretched creatures,
+regularly defeated."
+
+"They've been allowed to escape, sir," said Roberts haughtily, "and I
+feel ashamed of our commander."
+
+"I don't," said Murray, laughing.  "I think he's a peculiar eccentric
+fellow, ready to say all kinds of unnecessary things; but he's as brave
+as a lion--braver, for I believe lions are precious cowards sometimes."
+
+"Pooh!" ejaculated Roberts.
+
+"And the more I know of him the better I like him."
+
+"And I like him the less, and I shall never rest till I can get an
+exchange into another ship."
+
+"I don't believe you," said Murray, laughing merrily.
+
+"You don't!  Why--"
+
+"Pst!  The skipper," whispered Murray.
+
+For the captain had approached the two midshipmen, his spy-glass under
+his arm and his face puckered up with a good-humoured smile.
+
+"Laughing at it, eh?" he said.  "That was a novel evolution of war,
+young gentlemen, such as you never saw before, I'll be bound.  There; we
+might have shattered up the noble black king's fleet and left the river
+red with what we did and the sharks continued afterwards, but my plan
+and the master's conning of the vessel answered all purposes, and left
+my powder magazine untouched ready for the time when we shall be
+straining every nerve, gentlemen, to overtake that Yankee's schooner.
+That's what we have to do, Mr Roberts; eh, Mr Murray?"
+
+"Yes, sir; and the sooner the better," replied the latter.
+
+"The sooner the better?  Yes," said the captain, nodding; "and if we
+have to sink her that will be work more worthy for our metal.  But
+patience, patience.  Yes; for sailors like better work than sinking a
+few savage canoes.  But, as I said, patience.  You hot-blooded boys are
+always in such a hurry.  All in good time.  I'm not going to rest till I
+have got hold of my smooth, smiling Yankee, and I promise you a treat--
+some real fighting with his crew of brutal hounds.  I'll sink his
+schooner, or lay the _Seafowl_ alongside, and then--it will be risky but
+glorious, and you boys shall both of you, if you like, join the
+boarders.  What do you say to that?"
+
+The captain did not wait for an answer, but tucked his telescope more
+closely under his arm and marched aft, to stand gazing over the stern
+rail at the last of the war canoes, which disappeared directly in one of
+the river bends, while the sloop glided rapidly on towards the muddy
+river's mouth.
+
+"Well, Dick, how do you feel now?" said Murray, smiling.
+
+Roberts knit his brows into a fierce frown as if ready to resent any
+remark his messmate might make.  But the genial, open, frank look which
+met his disarmed him of all annoyance, and he cleared his throat with a
+cough.
+
+"Oh, I don't agree with him about the treatment of those blacks," he
+said.  "There's a want of stern, noble justice about his running down
+that canoe."
+
+"But it answered all purposes, Dick."
+
+"Humph!  Maybe; but it looked so small, especially when we had all our
+guns loaded and the men ready for action."
+
+"Patience," said Murray merrily, taking up the captain's words.
+"Patience!  You boys--hot-blooded boys are always in such a hurry.  Wait
+a bit, old chap, and when we catch up to the Yankee we're to have a turn
+at the boarding.  You'll have a try, eh?"
+
+"Will I?" said the boy, screwing up his features and setting his teeth
+hard.  "Will I!  Yes!"
+
+"Mean it?"
+
+"Yes, I believe so," said Roberts thoughtfully.  "I felt ready for
+anything when those war canoes were coming on, and I believe I should
+feel just the same if the lads were standing ready to board the
+schooner.  But I don't know; perhaps I should be all of a squirm.  I
+don't want to brag.  It all depends.  Those who make the most fuss,
+Frank, do the least.  We shall see."
+
+"Yes," said Murray, looking at his comrade with a curious, searching
+gaze; "we shall see."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FIFTEEN.
+
+THE DOCTOR IS RILED.
+
+It was with a peculiar feeling of relief that all on board the sloop
+passed out into the open and saw the dull green banks of the mangrove
+forest fading away astern.  For there had been a haunting feeling of
+depression hanging over the vessel which seemed to affect the spirits of
+officers and men.
+
+"Hah!" said the doctor, coming up to where the two middies were gazing
+over the stern rail, "that's a comfort, boys.  I can breathe freely
+now."
+
+"Yes," said Murray; "the air seems so much fresher and makes one feel
+more elastic, sir.  Gives one more of an appetite."
+
+"What!" said the doctor drily.  "More of an appetite, eh?  I never
+noticed that you two wanted that.  Gracious, how much do you want to
+devour!"
+
+"Oh, I say, doctor, I don't eat so much," said Murray, protesting.
+
+"No, sir; it isn't _so_ much; it's too much."
+
+"You're mixing us up, doctor," said the lad mischievously, and he gave
+the professional gentleman a peculiarly meaning look.  "You were
+thinking of Roberts."
+
+"Here, what's that?" said the middy sharply.  "I'm sure I never eat more
+than a fellow of my age and size should."
+
+"Oh, I say, Dick," said Murray.  "Hear him, doctor?  Why, I've seen the
+mess steward open his eyes sometimes with wonder."
+
+"Tchah!  He's always opening his eyes with wonder, staring at
+everything.  He's a regular idiot."
+
+"Ah, well," said Murray, "I don't want to draw comparisons."
+
+"Then don't do it," cried Roberts warmly.
+
+"Don't be so peppery, my lad," said the doctor.
+
+"Well, I don't want to be accused of gluttony or eating to excess."
+
+"Pooh!  Don't mind what he says," said the doctor good-humouredly.  "I
+hate excess, but it does me good to see growing boys make a hearty
+meal."
+
+"Frank Murray's too fond of bantering, doctor," said Roberts; and then,
+involuntarily passing a finger tenderly over the spots where the
+incipient bits of whisker had been singed off, "I don't quite look upon
+myself as a growing boy."
+
+"Oh, don't you?" said the doctor, rather gruffly.  "I should have
+thought you had not done putting on inches.  There, never mind Murray's
+chaff.  By the way, why do you keep shaving yourself down the cheeks
+with that finger? does the skin feel tender where you were so much
+scorched?"
+
+"Yes, doctor, a little," replied the youth innocently enough.
+
+"H'm, yes, but that cream I gave you does good, doesn't it?"
+
+"Oh yes, doctor."
+
+"Nasty scorching you fellows all had.  I quite expected to have some bad
+patients--burns and spear wounds.  Lucky escapes, all of you.  That
+Titely was the worst, but the way in which a good healthy sailor's flesh
+heals up is wonderful.  It's just like cutting into a piece of raw
+native indiarubber before it has been fooled about and manufactured up
+with brimstone--vulcanised, as they call it.  You lads ought to bear it
+in mind, in case you get a cut or a chop.  All that's wanted is to see
+that the wound is thoroughly clean and dry, and then squeeze the sides
+up together and the flesh adheres after the fashion of a clean cut in
+indiarubber.  Ah, I like a good clean cut."
+
+"What!" cried the lads together, as half laughingly they stared at the
+speaker in surprise.
+
+"Well, what are you both looking at?  I don't mean that I personally
+like cuts; but they're pleasant to get healed up--not like bullet wounds
+or ragged holes through a fellow."
+
+"No," said Murray; "not like holes."
+
+"Not that I mind a clean bullet hole through the flesh so long as it
+does not encounter a bone."
+
+"Exactly, doctor; so long as it does not encounter a bone," said Murray
+drily.
+
+"That's where the trouble begins, sir," said the doctor, smacking his
+lips and making the two middies exchange glances.  "You see, you get a
+complicated fracture of the bone with tiny fragments that refuse to show
+where they are commencing irritation and that sort of thing."
+
+"Yes, doctor," said Murray drily; "but aren't we getting into an
+uncomfortable discussion?"
+
+"No, sir, a most interesting one; but when I spoke it was not all about
+injured bones or ordinary shot-holes or cuts; I was saying how glad I
+was to be out of that river and mangrove swamp where your West Coast
+fever haunts the low lands, and miasmatic emanations are always ready to
+pounce upon people and set up tasks for the hardest-worked man in the
+ship."
+
+"To do what, doctor?" said Roberts.
+
+"I thought I spoke very plainly, young gentleman; I said set up tasks
+for the hardest-worked man in the ship."
+
+"But that sounds as if you--that is to say--I--I--You don't mean
+yourself, sir?" said Roberts, in a stammering, half-confused way.
+
+"Not mean myself, sir?" said the doctor angrily.  "Why, who else could I
+mean?"
+
+"That's what puzzled me, sir," said Roberts, staring.  "Frank Murray and
+I have always thought--"
+
+"Here, I say," cried Murray, laughing and enjoying the verbal engagement
+that had sprung up like a squall in the tropics, "don't you begin
+dragging me into the discussion."
+
+"Exactly!  Certainly not," cried the doctor hotly.  "If there is any
+need for it I can tackle Master Murray afterwards.  I am dealing with
+you, sir.  You gave me to understand that you did not consider I was the
+most hard-worked man in the ship."
+
+"Very well then," cried Roberts warmly, "if you will have it that way, I
+don't."
+
+"Oh!  Indeed!" said the doctor angrily.  "Then what about the last few
+days, when I am suddenly brought face to face with a score of wounded
+men, and with no one to help me but a surgeon's mate or dresser who is
+as stupid as men are made?"
+
+"Wounded, sir?" said Roberts.
+
+"Yes, sir, wounded.  Burned, if you like it better.  Singed and
+scorched.  It all comes under the broad term of casualties, does it
+not?"
+
+"I suppose so, sir," said Roberts sulkily.
+
+"Better tell me that my services were not called for, and that you could
+all have done without me.  I call what I have gone through hard work,
+and tell you, sir, that it was a time of great anxiety."
+
+"So it must have been, doctor," put in Murray, "and I feel very grateful
+for the way you did away with my pain."
+
+"There's a sneak!" cried Roberts angrily.  "Who began to bully me for
+dragging him into the discussion?"
+
+"You are the sneak, sir," said the doctor, "for trying to dodge out of
+the matter like this.  Murray spoke out like a man."
+
+"Boy," growled Roberts.
+
+"Very well, sir; like a grateful boy, if that pleases you better.  Like
+one who appreciates my service and is not ready to turn up his nose at
+what such fellows as you call `doctor's stuff,' just as if a medical man
+or a surgeon thought of nothing but wasting the ship's stores upon those
+who are glad enough to come to them when they are out of sorts, and most
+often from their neglect of common sense precautions, or from over
+indulgence in the good things of life."
+
+"Precious lot of chances we get to indulge in the good things of life on
+board ship!" said Roberts bitterly.
+
+"Let me tell you, sir," said the doctor, shaking his finger at the
+midshipman, "that there is nothing better for a growing lad than the
+strict discipline and the enforced temperance and moderate living of
+shipboard.  Better for you, though, if you had not so much idleness."
+
+"Idleness, sir!" cried the lad.
+
+"Yes, sir.  You want more work.  Ah!  You may sneer.  Perhaps not quite
+so much as I have to do, but more than you get.  Yes, sir, when you know
+better you will learn to see that the doctor's life is a very arduous
+one."
+
+"But you get lots of time, sir, for natural history and fishing and
+shooting."
+
+"Not `lots of time,' sir, as you term it, but some time certainly; and
+what is that but work in the cause of science?  And look here, Mr
+Roberts, whenever I do get an opportunity for going ashore shooting or
+botanising, or have a boat out for fishing or dredging, do I not
+invariably enlist the services of you or Mr Murray?"
+
+"Hear, hear!" cried the latter, in the most parliamentary way.
+
+"Thank you, Mr Murray," said the doctor.  "I shall not forget this."
+
+"Don't you believe him, doctor," cried Roberts.  "He doesn't mean it.
+He's only currying favour."
+
+"Nothing of the kind, sir," said the doctor sharply.  "I flatter myself
+that I understand Mr Murray better than you do, sir.  I understand his
+temperament quite as well as I do yours, sir, which is atrabilious."
+
+"Eh?" exclaimed Roberts.  "What's that, sir?"
+
+"Black bilious, sir, if you really don't know.  I have studied your
+temperament, sir, and let me tell you that you would be doing very
+wisely if you came to me this evening for a little treatment."
+
+"But I've only just got out of your hands, sir," cried the midshipman,
+in a voice full of protest.
+
+"That was for the superficial trouble, sir, due to the scorching and
+singeing.  Now it is plain to me that what you went through in that
+attack upon the blacks' town has stirred up the secretions of your
+liver."
+
+"Oh, doctor, that it hasn't!" cried the lad.  "And I'm sure that I want
+no physicking."
+
+"I think I know best, sir.  If you were in robust health there would be
+none of that display of irritability of temper that you evince.  You as
+his messmate must have noticed this irritability, Mr Murray?"
+
+"Constantly, sir," said that individual solemnly.  "Oh you!" growled
+Roberts fiercely.  "Just you wait!"
+
+"There!" cried the doctor triumphantly.  "You are proving the truth of
+my diagnosis, Mr Roberts.  Come to me before night, and I will give you
+what you require.  There, you have given me ample reason for strongly
+resenting your language, Mr Roberts, but now I fully realise the cause
+I shall pass it over.  You require my services, sir, and that is
+enough."
+
+"I don't require them, sir," cried the lad, boiling over with passion
+now.  "I was hurt a good deal over the expedition, but now that's
+better; there's nothing whatever the matter with me; and you are taking
+advantage of your position and are about to force me to swallow a lot of
+your horrid stuff.  I won't, though; see if I do!"
+
+"You see, Mr Murray," said the doctor, smiling in a way which irritated
+one of his hearers almost beyond bearing, "he is proving all I have said
+to the full.  There, be calm, Roberts, my dear boy; we have left the
+horrible river and coast behind, and a few days out upon the broad ocean
+will with my help soon clear away the unpleasant symptoms from which you
+have been suffering, and--"
+
+"Not interfering, am I, doctor?" said a voice which made the two lads
+start round.
+
+"Not in the least, Anderson; not in the least.  Mr Roberts here is a
+trifle the worse for our run up that muddy river, but I shall soon put
+that right with our trip through the healthier portions of our globe."
+
+"Through the healthier portions of the globe, doctor!" said the chief
+officer.  "Why, what do you mean?"
+
+"Mean?  Only that the West Coast of Africa is about as horrible a
+station as unhappy man could be placed in by the powers that be, while
+now we are going where--"
+
+"Why, doctor, you don't mean to say that you do not understand where we
+are going?"
+
+"I mean to say I do know, sir--away from the swampy exhalations and
+black fevers of the horrible district where we have been cruising, and
+out upon the high seas."
+
+"Yes, to cross them, doctor," said the lieutenant drily.  "We are going
+to leave the black fevers behind, but in all probability to encounter
+the yellow."
+
+"What!" cried the doctor.  "I did not understand--"
+
+"What the captain said?  Well, I did, sir.  The skipper has only just
+now been vowing to me that he will never rest until he has run down that
+slaver."
+
+"Ah!  Yes, I understand that," said the doctor.  "Then that means--?"
+
+"A long stern chase through the West Indian Islands, and perhaps in and
+out and along the coasts of the Southern American States--wherever, in
+fact, the plantations are worked by slaves whose supplies are kept up by
+traders such as the scoundrel who cheated us into a run up that river
+where his schooner was lying.  Why, doctor, it seems to me that we are
+only going out of the frying-pan into the fire."
+
+"Dear me, yes," said the doctor.  "You are quite right.  Then under
+these circumstances, Mr Roberts," he continued, turning sharply round
+upon the midshipman, "the sooner you commence your treatment the
+better."
+
+"But really, sir," began Roberts, who looked so taken aback that his
+messmate had hard work to contain himself and master the outburst of
+laughter that was ready to explode.
+
+"Don't argue, Mr Roberts," said the doctor importantly.  "I do not know
+how you find him in your dealings, Anderson," he continued, "but as a
+patient I must say that of all the argumentative, self-willed young men
+I ever encountered Mr Roberts carries off the palm."
+
+"Yes, he has a will of his own, my dear doctor," said the lieutenant,
+giving the middy a meaning glance, "but you must take him in hand.  I
+prescribe my way; when you take him in hand next you must prescribe
+yours."
+
+"I intend so doing," said the doctor, and he walked aft with the chief
+officer.
+
+This was Frank Murray's opportunity, and hurrying to the side, he leaned
+his arms upon the bulwarks and laughed till his sides ached before his
+companion fully realised the fact, his attention having been taken up by
+the pair who were going towards where the captain was slowly pacing the
+deck with his hands behind him.
+
+"Oh, grinning at it all, are you?" said Roberts now.  "It's very funny,
+isn't it!  An abominable, pragmatical, self-satisfied ass, that's what
+he is; and are we almost grown-up men to be handed over to be treated
+just as he pleases?  No; I'll resign the service first.  Yes, laugh
+away, my fine fellow!  You see if I don't pay you out for this!  Oh, go
+it!  But you see if I take any of his beastly old stuff!"
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SIXTEEN.
+
+"COLD PISON."
+
+Roberts kept his word that same evening, for just as the darkness was
+setting in and the two lads had walked forward to lean over the side and
+gaze down at the unruffled transparent sea and wonder which were
+reflections of the golden glory of the stars and which were the untold
+myriads of phosphorescent creatures that, as far down as eye could
+penetrate, spangled the limpid sea, the lad suddenly gave his companion
+a nudge with his elbow.
+
+"What do you mean by that?" asked Murray.
+
+"Look here, and I'll show you."
+
+"Well, I'm looking; but it's too dark to see what you are fumbling
+over."
+
+"How stupid!  What a blind old bat you are!  Well, it's a piece of plum
+duff."
+
+"Why, you're like a school-boy," said Murray.
+
+"Oh no, I'm not."
+
+"You may say oh no you're not, but fancy me saving up a bit of cold
+pudding from dinner and bringing it out of my jacket pocket to eat!"
+
+"Ah, but you have no reason for doing it.  I have."
+
+"What, are you going to use it as a bait?"
+
+"That's it, my son; but I'm not going to use hook or line."
+
+"Then what are you going to do?"
+
+"Throw it over for one of the sharks we saw cruising about before
+sundown."
+
+"But what for?  You don't want to pet sharks with cold pudding."
+
+"No.  Guess again."
+
+"Stuff!  Speak out."
+
+"Poison--cold pison."
+
+"What!  Why, you would never see the brute that took it turn up in the
+darkness."
+
+"Don't want to, my son," said the lad solemnly.
+
+"Look here, Dick, it's too hot, to-night, and I'm too tired and sleepy
+to try and puzzle out your conundrums, so if you want me to understand
+what you're about you had better speak out.  What a rum chap you are!"
+
+"I am."
+
+"One hour you're all a fellow could wish; the next you are red-hot to
+quarrel.  See how you were this afternoon when the doctor was talking to
+you."
+
+"Ah!  I was out of temper then, but now I feel so happy that a child
+might play with me."
+
+"Glad to hear it, but I don't want to be child-like, and I don't want to
+play."
+
+"Perhaps not, but you'll be interested."
+
+"Fire away, then.  What has made you so happy?"
+
+"I had an idea."
+
+"Well, look sharp, or I shall fall asleep with my head resting on my
+arms."
+
+"Well, I'll tell you," said Roberts.  "You see that solid lump of
+pudding?"
+
+"I told you before I can't see it."
+
+"Feel it then."
+
+"No, I'll be hanged if I do!  Why should I feel a nasty piece of cold
+pudding?"
+
+"Don't be so jolly particular; it's quite dry."
+
+"Look here, Dick, are you going off your head?"
+
+"I thought I was when the idea came, for it set me laughing so that I
+could not stop myself."
+
+"Come, tell me what it all means, or I shall go below to my berth.  What
+is there in all this?"
+
+"Poison, I tell you."
+
+"Yes, you told me before; but what does it mean?"
+
+"You see that lump of pudding; well, there's poison in it."
+
+"Dick Roberts, I'm hot and easily aggravated.  If you go on like this I
+shall be as quarrelsome as you were this afternoon."
+
+"Well, there, it was all my idea that I had this afternoon.  I got that
+lump of pudding from the cook, took it down to my berth, pulled out my
+knife, put the box on the side of the pudding, and cut out a piece
+exactly the size of the box."
+
+"Wh-a-a-t!  You mean you cut a piece out of the box just the size of the
+pudding?"
+
+"No, I don't, my son.  You don't understand yet.  Can't you see I'm
+talking about a pill-box?"
+
+"Oh-h-h!"
+
+"Now don't you see?  I cut a hole in the pudding and slipped the box in,
+and then made a stopper of the pudding I had cut out, and corked up the
+hole with the box inside."
+
+"I begin to see now," said Murray.  "A pill-box full of poison to kill
+the shark that swallows the poison."
+
+"I don't care whether it kills the fish or no as long as I get rid of
+the stuff."
+
+"Now you are getting confused again.  Why should you try to poison a
+shark like this?  What good would it do--what difference would one shark
+make out of the thousands which infest the sea?"
+
+"Oh, Franky, what a Dummkopf you are, as the Germans say!"
+
+"Don't care what the Germans say, and I dare say I am a stupid-head, for
+I can't make out what you are driving at."
+
+"You can't?  Why, I'm going to make the shark take the poison instead of
+taking it myself."
+
+"But what poison?"
+
+"Old Reston's: the two blue pills.  Then I shall pitch the bottle of
+horrible draught overboard.  I don't care what becomes of that so long
+as it sinks to the bottom."
+
+"Oh, I see plainly enough now," said Murray.
+
+"And pretty well time, my boy!  Wasn't it a capital idea?"
+
+"No," said Murray bluntly.  "Stupid, I say."
+
+"Not it, old chap.  Don't you see that it is liver medicine?"
+
+"I suppose so."
+
+"Well, sharks have livers.  They fish for them in the Mediterranean,
+take out the livers, and boil them down to sell for cod liver oil."
+
+"Then that's a lie," said Murray.  "Perhaps it's being a lie made you
+think of it."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Because you'll have to tell the doctor a lie when he asks you if you
+took the medicine."
+
+"But he won't ask."
+
+"He will, for certain."
+
+"How do you know?  Did he ever ask you?"
+
+"Well, no," said Murray thoughtfully; "I can't say that he did.  He
+never gave me any, only touched me up a bit when I was hurt."
+
+"Then don't you be so jolly knowing, my fine fellow," cried Roberts.
+"You can't tell if he hasn't doctored you, and I'm quite sure about it,
+for I know well from nasty experience of his ways that he will not
+bother one with questions as you think.  He gives the fellows physic to
+take, and just asks them next day how they feel."
+
+"Well, that's what I say," cried Murray triumphantly.  "Isn't that just
+the same?"
+
+"No, not a bit of it.  He just asks them how they feel next day; that's
+all.  He takes it for granted that they have swallowed his boluses and
+draughts.  He'll ask me to-morrow how I feel, and I shall tell him I am
+all right."
+
+"You'll tell him a lie then.  Very honourable, upon my word!"
+
+"Here's a pretty how-de-do, Mr Ultra-particular, with your bully bounce
+about telling a lie!  I shan't do anything of the kind.  I shall tell
+him I'm all right because I am quite well, thank you.  Bother him and
+his horrible old stuff!  I know I should be pretty mouldy and out of
+sorts if I took it.  Let him ask the shark how he feels, if he gets the
+chance, for here it goes.  Pudding first, which means pills--there!"
+
+A faint splash followed a movement on the part of the midshipman, and
+Murray saw the calm sea agitated, and faint flashes of phosphorescent
+light appear, while directly after it was as if something made a rush;
+the depths grew ablaze with pale lambent cold fire, and Roberts gave
+vent to an ejaculation expressive of his delight.
+
+"A shark for a shilling," he cried, "and a big one too.  You see if he
+doesn't hang about the sloop and show himself in the morning, turning up
+his eyes on the lookout for whoever it was that tried to poison him."
+
+"Turning up his eyes!" said Murray.  "Nonsense!  If it was as you say
+the shark would be turning up its white underparts and floating wrong
+way up."
+
+"Maybe; but hold hard a minute; it's rather soon to exhibit the other
+dose, as old Reston calls it.  I'm not going to make an exhibition of
+myself, though, this time, so here goes.  You see if Jack Shark doesn't
+go for the bottle as soon as I throw it overboard.  Here goes!"
+_Splash_!
+
+"How stupid!" said Roberts.  "I ought to have drawn the cork."
+
+"Oh no," said Murray, laughing.  "I don't suppose the directions said,
+to be taken in water."
+
+"Um--no.  But what's to be done?  Look; he's got it."
+
+For as the descent of the bottle Roberts had thrown in could be traced
+by the way in which the tiny phosphorescent creatures were disturbed,
+lower and lower through the deep water, there was another vivid flash
+made by some big fish as it gave a tremendous flourish with its tail,
+and the midshipman rubbed his hands with delight.
+
+"He's got it, I'm sure," he cried.  "But what's to be done?  No use to
+pitch in a corkscrew."
+
+"Not a bit, Dick," replied Murray cheerily.
+
+"What a pity!  I ought to have known better.  He's got it, but the glass
+will stop the draught from having the proper effect."
+
+"Oh no; perhaps not," said Murray, laughing.  "I've read that sharks
+have wonderful digestions."
+
+"Well, let's hope this one has.  I shall like to look out for him
+to-morrow watching for the doctor, as he squints up from the wake of the
+sloop."
+
+"More likely to be looking up for you, old fellow.  The doctor didn't
+throw the bottle in."
+
+"Oh, well, never mind that.  I don't suppose the horrible beast knows
+the difference.  I've got rid of the stuff, anyhow; that's all I care
+about; and nobody knows but you."
+
+"Beg pardon, gentlemen," said a voice out of the darkness; "was you
+a-chucking anything overboard?"
+
+There was a short time of silence, for Murray waited so as to give his
+messmate a chance to answer the question; but as the latter made no
+reply he took the duty upon himself.
+
+"That you, Tom May?" he asked.
+
+"Ay, ay, sir.  Somebody chucked somethin' overboard twiced, and I was
+wondering whether it was you gents."
+
+"Why?" said Roberts shortly.  "Couldn't it have been one of the watch?"
+
+"No, sir; they're aft, or t'other side of the ship."
+
+"Well, it was, Tom."
+
+"Oh, all right, sir.  You'll 'scuse me asking?  I only did 'cause the
+skipper's very partickler since one of the lads got making away with
+some of the ship's stores, and there's no knowing what mischief the boys
+might be up to.  Then, o' course, sir, there's nothing for me to report
+to the officer of the watch?"
+
+"No: nothing at all, Tom.  Haven't got anything more to throw in, have
+you, Murray?"
+
+"Not so much as a single pill," said Murray drily.
+
+"Eh?  No, of course not.  The water's so still and clear, Tom,"
+continued the middy hurriedly, "you can see the fish dash after
+anything, making the sea flash quite deep down."
+
+"Oh yes, sir, I've seen that.  It's the sharks, sir; there's often one
+hanging about right below the keel on the lookout for anything that may
+be chucked overboard.  I believe, sir, as they've got sense enough to
+know that they may have a bit o' luck and have a chance at an onlucky
+chap as slips overboard or gets tempted into having a bathe.  Wonderful
+cunning critters, sir, is sharks.  I'm always glad when there's a hook
+with a bit o' pork trailed overboard and one's hauled aboard and cut up
+to see what he's got inside."
+
+"What!" said Roberts excitedly.  "Ripped up to see what's inside?"
+
+"Yes, sir.  Don't you remember that one we caught 'bout a month ago?  Oh
+no, of course not.  You was ashore with the skipper's gig at Seery
+Leony.  That there was a whopper, sir, and he did lay about with his
+tail, till the cook had it off with a lucky chop of his meat axe.  That
+quieted the beggar a bit, and give him a chance to open Mr Jack Shark
+up and see what he'd had for dinner lately."
+
+"And did you find anything, Tom?" asked Roberts.
+
+"Find anything, sir!" replied the man.  "I should just think we did!  I
+mean, the lads did, sir; I warn't going to mess myself up with the
+bloodthirsty varmint."
+
+"Of course not," said Murray mischievously; "but what did they find?
+Anything bad?--Physic bottle, for instance?  Bother!  What are you
+doing, Roberts?"  For his companion gave him a savage dig in the dark
+with his elbow.  "Oh, nothing!"
+
+"Physic bottle, sir?" continued the sailor wonderingly.  "Not as I know
+on.  More likely to ha' been an empty rum bottle.  Wouldn't ha' been a
+full un," added the man, chuckling.  "But I tell you what they did find,
+sir, and that was 'bout half-a-dozen o' them round brass wire rings as
+the black women wears on their arms and legs."
+
+"Ugh!" ejaculated Roberts, with a shudder.  "How horrible!"
+
+"Yes, sir; that seemed to tell tales like.  Looked as if Jack had
+ketched some poor black women swimming at the mouth o' one of the rivers
+as runs down into the sea."
+
+"Possibly," said Murray.
+
+"Yes, sir; that's it.  I did hear once of a shark being caught with a
+jack knife inside him.  It warn't no good, being all rusted up; but a
+jack knife it was, all the same, with a loop at the end o' the haft
+where some poor chap had got it hung round him by a lanyard--some poor
+lad who had fell overboard, and the shark had been waiting for him.  You
+see, sir, such things as brass rings and jack knives wouldn't 'gest
+like, as the doctor calls it."
+
+"No; suppose not," said Murray, who added, after drawing back a little
+out of the reach of Roberts's elbow, "and a bottle of physic would not
+digest either."
+
+"Not it, sir," replied the man, "onless it got broken, or the cork come
+out."
+
+"Er-r-r!" growled Roberts, in quite a menacing tone.
+
+"He wouldn't like it, o' course, sir," said the man, speaking as if he
+were playing into the midshipman's hand and chuckling the while.
+"Doctors' stuff arn't pleasant to take for human sailors, and I don't
+s'pose it would 'gree with sharks.  I've been thinking, though, that I
+should like to shy a bottle o' rum overboard, corked up, say, with a bit
+o' the cook's duff.  That would 'gest, and then he'd get the rum.  Think
+it would kill him, sir?"
+
+"No, I don't," said Murray.  "Ask Mr Roberts what he thinks.  He's very
+clever over such things as that; eh, Roberts?"
+
+"Oh, stuff!" cried the middy.  "Nonsense!"
+
+"You might tell him what you think, though," said Murray.  "You know how
+fond you are of making experiments."
+
+"Do talk sense," cried the lad petulantly.  "Look here, May, I think it
+would be a great waste of useful stores to do such a thing."
+
+"Yes, sir; so do I," said the man; "and that's talking sense, and no
+mistake.  Beg pardon, gentlemen, but what do you think of the skipper's
+ideas?"
+
+"What about?" asked Murray sharply.  "We don't canvass what our officers
+plan to do."
+
+"Don't know about canvassing them, sir," said the man, "but I meant no
+harm, only we've been talking it over a deal in the forc'sle, and we
+should like to know whether the captain means to give up trying after
+the slave skipper."
+
+"No, certainly not."
+
+"That's right, sir," said the man eagerly.  "Glad on it.  But it's got
+about that we was sailing away from the coast here, which is such a
+likely spot for dropping upon him."
+
+"Well, I don't mind answering you about that, Tom.  Mind, I don't want
+my name to be given as an authority, but I believe that Captain
+Kingsberry means to cross to the western shores and search every likely
+port for that schooner, and what is more, to search until he finds where
+she is."
+
+"Hah!" ejaculated the sailor.  "If the skipper has said that, sir, he
+has spoken out like a man.  Hooroar!  We shall do it, then, at last.
+But I dunno, though, sir," added the man thoughtfully.
+
+"Don't know what?" asked Murray.
+
+"Oh, nothing, sir."
+
+"Bother!  Don't talk like that," cried Murray.  "Nothing is more
+aggravating than beginning to say something and then chopping it off in
+that way.  Speak out and say what you mean."
+
+"'Tain't no good, sir," said the man sulkily.
+
+"No good?"
+
+"No, sir.  Why, if I was to say what I'd got inside my head you'd either
+begin to bullyrag me--"
+
+"Nonsense, May!  I'm sure I never do."
+
+"Well, then, sir, call me a hidjit, and say it was all sooperstition."
+
+"Well, that's likely enough," said Murray.  "You sailors are full of old
+women's tales."
+
+"Mebbe, sir," said the man, shaking his head slowly; "but old women is
+old, and the elders do grow wise."
+
+"Sometimes, Tom," said Murray, laughing, "and a wise old woman is worth
+listening to; but you can't say that for a man who talks like a foolish
+old woman and believes in all kinds of superstitious nonsense."
+
+"No, sir: of course not, sir," said the man solemnly; "but there is
+things, you know."
+
+"Oh yes, I do know that, Tom--such as setting sail with a black cat on
+board."
+
+"Oh, well, sir, come!" protested the sailor warmly.  "You can't say as a
+man's a hidjit for believing that.  Something always happens if you do
+that."
+
+"I could say so, Tom," replied the middy, "but I'm not going to."
+
+"Well, sir, begging your pardon as gentleman, I'm werry sorry for it;
+but there, you're very young."
+
+"Go on, Tom."
+
+"That's all, sir.  I warn't going to say no more."
+
+"But you are thinking a deal more.  That was as good as saying that I'm
+very young and don't know any better."
+
+"Oh, I didn't go so far as to think that, sir, because you're a hofficer
+and a gentleman, and a scholar who has larnt more things than I ever
+heerd of; but still, sir, I dessay you won't mind owning as a fellow as
+has been at sea from fourteen to four-and-thirty has picked up things
+such as you couldn't larn at school."
+
+"Black cats, for instance, Tom?"
+
+"Yes, sir.  Ah, you may laugh to yourself, but there's more than you
+think of about a black cat."
+
+"A black skin, for instance, Tom, and if the poor brute was killed and
+skinned he'd look exactly like a white cat or a tortoise-shell."
+
+"Oh, that's his skin, sir; it's his nature."
+
+"Pooh!  What can there be in a black cat's nature?"
+
+"Don't know; that's the mystery on it."
+
+"Can't you explain what the mystery is?"
+
+"No, sir, and I never met a shipmate as could."
+
+"Bother the cat!  It's all rubbish, Tom."
+
+"Yes, sir, and it bothers the man; but there it is, all the same.  You
+ask any sailor chap, and--"
+
+"Yes, I know, Tom; and he'll talk just as much nonsense as you."
+
+"P'raps so, sir, but something bad allus happens to a ship as has a
+black cat aboard."
+
+"And something always happens to a ship that has any cat on board.  And
+what is more, something always happens to a ship that has no cat at all
+on board.  Look at our _Seafowl_, for instance."
+
+"Yes, sir, you may well say that," said the man sadly.  "The chaps have
+talked about it a deal, and we all says as she's an unfortnit ship."
+
+"Oh, you all think so, do you, Tom?"
+
+"Yes, sir, we do," said the man solemnly.
+
+"Then you may depend upon it, Tom, that there's a black cat hidden away
+somewhere in the hold."
+
+"Ah!  Come aboard, sir, in port, after the rats?  That would account for
+it, sir, and 'splain it all," cried the man eagerly.  "You think that's
+it, do you, sir?"
+
+"No, I don't, Tom; I'm laughing at you for being such an old woman.  I
+did give you the credit of having more sense.  I'm ashamed of you."
+
+"Thankye, sir," said the man sadly.
+
+"You are quite welcome, Tom," said Murray, laughing; "but I suppose you
+can't help all these weak beliefs."
+
+"No, sir, we can't help it, some of us," said the man simply; "it all
+comes of being at sea."
+
+"There being so much salt in the water, perhaps," said Murray.
+
+"Mebbe, sir; but I don't see what the salt could have to do with it."
+
+"Neither do I, Tom, and if I didn't know what a good fellow you are, and
+what a brave sailor, I should be ready to tell you a good deal more than
+I shall."
+
+"Go on, sir; I don't mind, sir.  I know you mean well."
+
+"But look here; I'm sorry to hear that your messmates think the
+_Seafowl_ is an unfortunate craft.  But not all, I hope?"
+
+"Yes, sir; we all think so."
+
+"That's worse still, Tom.  But you don't mean to forsake her--desert--I
+hope?"
+
+"Forsake her--desert?  Not me!  She's unlucky, sir, and no one can't
+help it.  Bad luck comes to every one sometimes, same as good luck does,
+sir.  We takes it all, sir, just as it comes, just as we did over the
+landing t'other day--Titely was the unlucky one then, and got a spear
+through his shoulder, while though lots of their pretty weapons come
+flying about us no one else was touched; on'y got a bit singed.  He took
+it like a man, sir."
+
+"That he did, Tom.  It was most plucky of him, for he was a good deal
+hurt."
+
+"Yes, sir--deal more than you young gents thought for.  But no, sir:
+forsake or desert our ship?  Not we!  She's a good, well-found craft,
+sir, with a fine crew and fine officers.  They ain't puffick, sir; but
+they might be a deal worse.  I'm satisfied, sir."
+
+"I believe you, Tom," said Murray, laughing, "and there is no black cat
+on board, for if there were some one must have seen her or him before
+now, and it wouldn't have made a bit of difference."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.
+
+OVERHAULING A STRANGER.
+
+It was the very next morning just at daybreak that the lookout on the
+fore-top hailed the deck with the inspiriting cry that sent a thrill
+through all who heard, and brought the officer of the watch forward with
+his glass.
+
+"Sail ho!"
+
+A short inspection sufficed, and the news hurried the captain and Mr
+Anderson on deck.
+
+"A schooner.  The same rig!" exclaimed the captain, without taking his
+glass from his eye.  "What do you make of her, Mr Anderson?"
+
+"A schooner, sure enough, sir.  The same heavy raking spars and spread
+of sails.  It looks too good to be true, sir."
+
+"Hah!  Then you think it is the same craft?"
+
+"Yes,--no--I daren't say, sir," replied the lieutenant; "but if it is
+not it's a twin vessel."
+
+"Yes," said the captain, closing his glass with a snap.  "We'll say it's
+the Yankee slaver, and keep to that till she proves to be something
+else."
+
+Holding to that belief, every stitch of canvas that could be crowded on
+was sent aloft, and a pleasant breeze beginning to dimple the water as
+the sun arose, the spirits of all on board the sloop rose as well.
+Soon, however, it began to be perfectly plain that the schooner sighted
+paid no heed whatever to the sloop of war, but kept on her course,
+sailing in a way that proved her to be unusually fast and able to hold
+her own so well that the spirits of those on the _Seafowl_ began to sink
+again.
+
+"Now we shall see what she's made of, Dick," said Murray excitedly, when
+a blank charge was fired.
+
+"Made of impudence," said Roberts quietly; "but there's no doubt about
+her being the craft we want," he continued, "for she means to set us at
+defiance, and she's going to make a run for it, and you see if she
+doesn't escape."
+
+"If she does," cried Murray impetuously, "I shall say it's a shame for
+the Government to send the captain out with such a crawler as the
+_Seafowl_.  Why, for such a duty we ought to have the fastest sailer
+that could be built and rigged."
+
+Directly after, there was another gun fired from the sloop, and the
+course of the shot sent skipping over the sea could be traced till it
+sank to rise no more, after passing right across the schooner's bows.
+
+The men cheered, for in answer to this threat of what the sloop would do
+with her next gun, the schooner was seen to glide slowly round into the
+wind, her great sails began to flap, when in quick time, one of the
+cutters was manned, with the second lieutenant in command of the
+well-armed crew.
+
+Roberts had been ordered to take his place in the stern sheets, and as
+he descended the rope he darted a look of triumph at Murray, whose face
+was glum with disappointment as he turned away; and as luck had it he
+encountered Mr Anderson's eyes.
+
+"Want to go, Mr Murray?" he said, smiling.
+
+"Yes, sir, horribly," was the reply.
+
+"Off with you, then.  Be smart!"
+
+The next minute the lad had slipped down by the stern falls to where the
+officer in command made room for him; the hooks were cast off, the oars
+dipped, and the stout ash blades were soon quivering as the men bent to
+their work with their short, sharp, chopping stroke which sent the boat
+rapidly over the waves.
+
+"I don't see the Yankee captain," said Mr Munday, searching the side of
+the vessel, which was now flying English colours.
+
+"You think that fellow with the lugger was the captain?" asked Murray.
+
+"Not a doubt of it," was the reply.  "I wonder what he'll have the
+impudence to say."
+
+"He'll sing a different song, sir," said Roberts, "if he is on board."
+
+"If?  Why, of course he'll be on board; eh, Murray?"
+
+"Most likely, sir; but won't he be playing fox in some fresh way?  He
+may be in hiding."
+
+"If he is he'll come out when he finds a prize crew on board, and that
+his schooner is on its way to Capecoast Castle or the Cape.  But I don't
+see him, nor any of the sharp-looking fellows who formed his lugger's
+crew."
+
+"No, sir," said Murray, who was standing up shading his eyes with his
+hand.  "I hope--"
+
+The middy stopped short.
+
+"Well, go on, sir," cried the lieutenant--"hope what?"
+
+"That we are not making a mistake."
+
+"Oh, impossible!  There can't be two of such schooners."
+
+"But we only had a glimpse of the other, sir, as she sailed down the
+river half hidden by the trees," said Murray.
+
+"Look here, Mr Murray, if you can't speak sensibly you'd better hold
+your tongue," said the lieutenant angrily.  "The captain and Mr
+Anderson are not likely to make a mistake.  Everybody on board was of
+opinion that this is the same vessel."
+
+"Then I've made a mistake, sir," said the midshipman.  "But that can't
+be the skipper, sir," and he drew attention to a short, stoutish,
+sun-browned man who was looking over the side.
+
+"Of course it is not, sir.  Some English-looking fellow picked to throw
+us off our guard."
+
+But the officer in charge began to look uneasy as he scanned the vessel
+they were rapidly nearing, till the cutter was rowed alongside, several
+of the crew now plainly showing themselves and looking uncommonly like
+ordinary merchant sailors as they leaned over the bulwarks.
+
+Directly after the coxswain hooked on, and the lieutenant, followed by
+two middies and four of the well-armed sailors sprang on board, to be
+greeted with a gruff--
+
+"Morning.  What does this here mean?"
+
+"Why didn't you heave to, sir?" cried the lieutenant sharply.
+
+"'Cause I was below, asleep," said the sturdy-looking skipper.  "Are you
+the captain of that brig?"
+
+"No, sir.  What vessel's this?"
+
+"Because," said the skipper, ignoring the question, "you'd better tell
+your captain to be careful.  He might have done us some mischief.  Any
+one would think you took me for a pirate."
+
+The lieutenant made no reply for a minute or two, being, like his two
+young companions, eagerly scanning the rather slovenly deck and the
+faces of the small crew, who were looking at their invaders apparently
+with wonder.
+
+"Never mind what we took you for," said the lieutenant sharply, and in a
+tone of voice which to Murray suggested doubt.  "Answer me at once.
+What schooner's this?"
+
+"Don't be waxy, sir," said the skipper, smiling good-humouredly.
+"That's reg'lar English fashion--knock a fellow over, and then say,
+Where are you shoving to!  What's yours?"
+
+"H.M.S. _Seafowl_," said the lieutenant haughtily.  "Now then, will you
+answer?"
+
+"Of course I will, Mr Lieutenant.  This here is the schooner _Laura
+Lee_, of Bristol.  Trading in sundries, machinery and oddments, loaded
+out at Kingston, Jamaica, and now for the West Coast to take in palm
+oil.  Afterwards homeward bound.  How does that suit you?"
+
+Roberts and Murray exchanged glances, and then noted that the men were
+doing the same.
+
+"Your papers, sir," said the lieutenant.
+
+"Papers?" said the skipper.  "All right, sir; but you might put it a
+little more civil."
+
+"I am doing my duty, sir," said the lieutenant sternly.
+
+"All right, sir, all right; but don't snap a man's head off.  You shall
+see my papers.  They're all square.  Like to take anything?  I've got a
+fine bottle or two of real Jamaica below."
+
+"No, sir; no, sir," said the lieutenant sternly.  "Business if you
+please."
+
+"Of course, sir.  Come along to my cabin."
+
+"Lead on, then."
+
+The skipper took a few steps aft, and Roberts followed his officer, a
+couple of the sailors closing in behind, while two others with Murray
+kept the deck in naval fashion, though there seemed to be not the
+slightest need, for the schooner's men hung about staring hard or leaned
+over the side looking at the men in the cutter.
+
+"Here, I say," said the skipper sharply, "I should have thought you
+could have seen plain enough that what I said was quite right.  What do
+you take me for?  Oh, I see, I see; your skipper's got it in his head
+that I'm trading in bad spirits with the friendly niggers on the coast
+yonder; but I ain't.  There, I s'pose, though, you won't take my word,
+and you've got to report to your skipper when you go back aboard."
+
+"If I do go back to report, sir," said the lieutenant.
+
+"If you do go back, sir?  Oh, that's it, is it?  You mean if you take my
+schooner for a prize."
+
+"Perhaps so, sir.  Now then, if you please, your papers."
+
+The skipper nodded and smiled.
+
+"All right," he said; "I won't turn rusty.  I s'pose it's your duty."
+
+The papers were examined, and, to the officer's disappointment, proved
+the truth of the skipper's story.
+
+"Now, if you please, we'll have a look below, sir," said the lieutenant.
+
+"Very good," said the skipper; and he hailed his men to open the
+hatches.  "You won't find any rum puncheons, captain," he said.
+
+"I do not expect to, sir; but I must be sure about your fittings below.
+This schooner has not been heavily rigged like this for nothing."
+
+"Course she arn't, sir.  I take it that she was rigged under my eyes on
+purpose to be a smart sailer worked by a smart crew.  But my fittings?
+Here, I've got it at last: you're one of the Navy ships on the station
+to put down the slave-trade."
+
+"Yes," said the lieutenant shortly.
+
+"Then good luck to you, sir!  Hoist off those hatches my lad; the
+officer thinks we're fitted up below for the blackbird trade.  No, no,
+no, sir.  There, send your men below, or go yourself, and I'll come with
+you.  You've got the wrong pig by the ear this time, and you ought to be
+off the coast river yonder where they pick up their cargoes.  No, sir, I
+don't do that trade."
+
+The lieutenant was soon thoroughly satisfied that a mistake had been
+made, and directly after, to his satisfaction, the skipper asked whether
+the captain would favour him with a small supply of medicine for his
+crew.
+
+"I'm about run out of quinine stuff," he said.  "Some of my chaps had a
+touch or two of fever, and we're going amongst it again.  It would be an
+act of kindness, sir, and make up for what has been rather rough
+treatment."
+
+"You'd better come on board with me, and I've no doubt that the captain
+will see that you have what is necessary; and he will be as apologetic
+as I am now for what has been an unpleasant duty."
+
+"Oh, come, if you put it like that, squire, there's no need to say any
+more.  To be sure, yes, I'll come aboard with you.  I say; took many
+slavers?"
+
+"No; not one."
+
+"That's a pity.  Always search well along the river mouths?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Hah!  They're about too much for you.  Now, if I was on that business,
+say I was on the lookout for these gentlemen, I shouldn't do it here."
+
+"Where, then?" said the lieutenant eagerly.
+
+"Well, I'll tell you.  As I said, they're a bit too cunning for you.  Of
+course you can sail up the rivers and blow the black chiefs' huts to
+pieces.  Them, I mean, who catch the niggers and sell 'em or swap 'em to
+the slave skippers; but that don't do much good, for slavers slip off in
+the dark, and know the coast better than you do."
+
+"Yes.  Well, what would you do?" said the lieutenant eagerly.
+
+"Do?  Why, I'd go across to the plantations, sir, and lay wait for them
+there.  They wouldn't be half so much on the lookout."
+
+"There's a good deal in what you say, sir," said the lieutenant
+thoughtfully.  "But where would you watch--round Jamaica?"
+
+"Nay-y-y!" cried the skipper.  "I'd study up my charts pretty
+thoroughly, and then cruise about those little islands that lie nigh the
+Cays.  There's plenty of likely places where these folk land their
+cargoes; and you'd find them easier to work than the West Coast, where
+there's a wilderness of mangrove creeks and big and little rivers where
+a slaving schooner can lie up and hide.  You go west and try.  Why, I
+could give your captain half-a-dozen plantations where it would pay him
+to go--places where I've seen often enough craft about the build of mine
+here."
+
+"Indeed!" cried the lieutenant.
+
+"Yes, sir," said the skipper thoughtfully.  "Why, of course; I never saw
+before how likely you were to take me for one of 'em.  Well, you want to
+go, so I'll have one of my boats lowered down and come over to your
+brig.  I'll ask your skipper for a bit of quinine, and then if he'll lay
+out his charts before me, I'll put his finger upon three or four likely
+spots where the slavers trade, and if he don't capture two or three of
+their fast boats loaded with the black fellows they've run across, why,
+it won't be my fault.  I should like to see the whole lot sunk, and the
+skippers and crews with them.  Don't sound Christian like o' me, but
+they deserve it.  For I've seen them landing their cargoes.  Ugh!  It
+has been sickening, and they're not men."
+
+The skipper's words were broken in upon by the report of a gun from the
+_Seafowl_, whose commander had grown impatient from the long delay of
+the boat; and hence the imperious recall.
+
+Captain Kingsberry's countenance did not look calm and peaceful when the
+boat returned, but the clouds cleared away when the skipper came on
+board and a long conversation had taken place over the charts of the
+West Indian Islands and the Caribbean Sea.
+
+"Quinine, captain?" he exclaimed at last.  "My good sir, you may have
+all the medicine--well, nearly--that I have on board!"
+
+"Thankye, sir," said the bluff skipper, laughing.  "Enough's as good as
+a feast of that stuff."
+
+"And I'm very sorry," said the captain politely, "that I had to overhaul
+your schooner."
+
+"I arn't," said the skipper.  "I'm very glad, and thankful too for the
+physic stuff.  Fever's a nasty thing, sir, and as I said, I'm very glad.
+Good luck to you, sir, and good-bye."
+
+"There's no doubt this time, Mr Anderson," said the captain, as soon as
+the skipper had gone over the side, "that man's as honest as the day."
+
+"That he is, sir, and so is his schooner."
+
+"Yes, Mr Anderson.  Now, then, let's go back to those charts, and we'll
+then make right for the plantations.  I begin to think that we shall do
+some business now."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.
+
+RATHER FISHY.
+
+"What!" said the first lieutenant sharply.  "Now, look here, Mr
+Roberts--and you too, Mr Murray, for you are just as bad.  You both
+give yourselves airs, and though you say nothing you are always showing
+off, trying to impress the men with the idea that you are men grown."
+
+"I beg your pardon, sir--" began Roberts.
+
+"Now, don't deny it, sir.  I know it for a fact.  Do you think that I
+can't read you through and through--you in particular, Mr Roberts, for
+you are far the worst.  Not that you have much to boast about, Mr
+Murray."
+
+"I am very sorry, sir," said the latter.  "No, you are not, sir," said
+the chief officer abruptly.  "Let's have deeds, not words.  If you were
+really sorry that you had been playing the imitative monkey you would
+pitch the antics overboard."
+
+"Antics, sir?" cried Roberts.  "Yes, sir--antics.  I said antics," cried
+the officer sharply, "so don't repeat my words and force me to do the
+same.  A boy's a boy, sir, and a man's a man.  A good boy is a rarity on
+shipboard, but very valuable when you get him; and a good man--a really
+good man at sea is worth his weight in gold; but I detest a hobbledehoy
+who apes the man, and I generally look upon him as worthless.  Don't
+grunt, Mr Roberts.  It's disrespectful to your superior officer.  You
+might very well follow the example of Mr Murray, who never resents
+reproof when he deserves it.  There, you need not make that disparaging
+grimace.  You might follow Mr Murray's example in a good many things.
+Now, I am sure he would not have come and asked leave like you did.  It
+must have been your idea alone."
+
+"I'm afraid I had as much to do with it as Roberts, sir," said Murray
+frankly.
+
+"More shame for you to have to own it, sir," said the first lieutenant;
+"but I like you to own up all the same.  Still, I don't like two young
+fellows who are trying to impress their elders that they are men to be
+seizing every opportunity to prove that they are mere boys with all the
+instincts wide awake of children."
+
+"I'm very sorry, sir," said Roberts again, this time very stiffly.  "I
+am sorry I asked for permission."
+
+"I don't believe you, Mr Roberts," said the officer stiffly.  "Now,
+both of you tell me this--are you perfectly efficient in your
+navigation?"
+
+Roberts uttered a snort.
+
+"No, sir," said Murray, "of course not.  I'm a long way off being
+perfect."
+
+"Then why in the name of common sense don't you seize upon every
+opportunity to master that grand study, like a man, and not come
+bothering me like a little boy who wants to go out to the pond to catch
+tittlebats?  I'm ashamed of you both."
+
+"It was only to have a little recreation, sir," said Murray.
+
+"What do you want with recreation, I should like to know?  Do you ever
+see me running after recreation?"
+
+"No, sir," said Murray; "but then, sir, you're a first lieutenant."
+
+"Yes, sir, and that's what you will never be so long as you hanker after
+childish pastimes."
+
+"I'm very sorry, sir--" began Murray.
+
+"Don't keep saying you are very sorry; it only makes the matter worse,
+when I have so much upon my mind.  It's absurd, gentlemen.  I wonder at
+you.  Just because you see a few dolphins and albicores swimming below
+the ship's counter you must want to begin playing with the grains.
+There, be off, both of you.  What would be the good of the fish if you
+harpooned them?"
+
+"Make a nice change for the table, sir.  The cook said--"
+
+"Hang the cook!" cried the officer angrily.  "What are you laughing at?"
+
+"Only smiling, sir."
+
+"And pray what at?  Is there anything peculiar in my face?"
+
+"No, sir," said Murray merrily.  "I was only thinking of the
+consequences if we two obeyed your orders."
+
+"Orders!  I gave no orders."
+
+"You said, hang the cook, sir," said Murray.
+
+"Rubbish!  Absurd!  There, I told you both to be off.  I'm not going to
+give you leave to play idle boys.  If you want leave, there's the
+captain yonder; go and ask him."
+
+"He'd only say, sir, why didn't we ask leave of you."
+
+"And very proper too," said the first lieutenant, "and if he does say so
+you can tell him I would not give you leave because I thought it waste
+of time for young men who want to rise in their profession.  What was
+that you muttered, Mr Murray?"
+
+"I only said to myself, sir, `All work and no play makes Jack a dull
+boy.'"
+
+"Yes; very true, my lad," said the officer, with a grim smile.  "I'm not
+unreasonable, and I'd give you leave; but perhaps you had better ask
+your chief."
+
+"Thank you, sir," said Murray.
+
+"And look here, Murray; if you get permission, be careful.  I don't want
+the routine of the ship to be interfered with and my men set hovering
+about to pick up a couple of useless idlers, and every one upset by the
+cry of a man overboard--I mean, a boy."
+
+"I'll try not to be that boy," said Murray, smiling; and the chief
+officer gave him a friendly nod and walked forward.
+
+"Bah!" grumbled Roberts.  "There's favouritism."
+
+"Nonsense!"
+
+"'Tisn't.  He always favours you."
+
+"Not he."
+
+"To turn upon us like that just because it's almost a calm!  A growling
+old snarly!  I never saw such a temper.  Now he has gone forward to set
+the men to do something that doesn't want doing."
+
+"He's a bit out of temper this morning because the skipper has been at
+him about something."
+
+"Yes; I heard him at it.  Nice pair they are, and a pretty life they
+lead the men!"
+
+"Oh, well, never mind that.  Tom May has got the grains and the line
+ready, and I want to begin."
+
+"A boy!  Apeing a man, and all that stuff!" muttered Roberts.  "I
+suppose he never was a boy in his life."
+
+"Oh, wasn't he!  There, never mind all that."
+
+"But I do mind it, sir," said Roberts haughtily, as he involuntarily
+began to pass his fingers over the spot just beneath his temples where
+the whisker down was singed.  "I consider that his words were a perfect
+insult."
+
+"Perfect or imperfect, what does it matter?  Come on, _sir_.  I want to
+begin harpooning."
+
+"What do you mean by that?" cried Roberts, turning upon him angrily.
+
+"What do I mean?"
+
+"Yes; by using the word _sir_ to me in that meaning way."
+
+"You got on the stilts, and I only followed suit.  There, there, don't
+be so touchy.  Go on and ask the skipper for leave."
+
+"No, thank you.  I don't want to play the idle boy."
+
+"Don't you?  Then I do, and what's more, I know you do."
+
+"Then you are quite wrong."
+
+"If I'm wrong you told a regular crammer not half-an-hour ago, for you
+said you'd give anything for a turn with the grains this morning."
+
+"I have no recollection of saying anything of the kind," said the lad
+angrily.
+
+"What a memory!  I certainly thought I heard you say so to Tom May; and
+there he is with the line and the jolly old trident all ready.  There,
+come on and let's ask the chief."
+
+"If you want to go idling, go and ask him for yourself.  I'm going down
+to our dog-hole of a place to study navigation in the dark."
+
+"Don't believe you, Dicky."
+
+"You can believe what you please, sir," said Roberts coldly.
+
+"All right.  I'm off, and I shall ask leave for us both."
+
+"You dare!  I forbid it," cried Roberts angrily.
+
+"All right," said Murray, turning on his heel, "but I shall ask for us
+both, and if you mean to forbid it you'd better come with me to the
+skipper."
+
+Murray waited a few moments, standing watching the captain where he was
+marching up and down the quarter-deck, and timing himself so as to meet
+him full as he walked forward.
+
+Roberts hesitated for a few moments and then followed closely, looking
+fiercely determined the while.
+
+"Well, Mr Murray," said the captain sharply, as he became aware of the
+presence of the lad, who touched his cap.  "What is it--a petition?"
+
+"Yes, sir.  A good many bonito are playing about the bows."
+
+"Yes; I saw them, my lad.  Want to go fishing--harpooning?"
+
+"Yes, sir.  Roberts and I."
+
+"Oh yes, of course, my lad.  A good time for it, and I shall expect a
+nice dish for the cabin table.  But look here, Mr Murray, I like to
+keep to the little forms of the service, and in cases of this sort you
+had better ask Mr Anderson for leave.  You understand?"
+
+"Yes, sir.  Thank you, sir," said Murray.
+
+"No, no; I have not given you permission.  Ask Mr Anderson.  He will
+give you leave at once."
+
+Murray saluted; the captain marched on; and directly after the two
+midshipmen were face to face.
+
+"Then you have dared--" began Roberts.
+
+"Yes, all right," said Murray, laughing to himself, for he noticed that
+his companion spoke in a low tone of voice so that his words might not
+be heard by their chief.  "Yes, it's all right, only we're to ask
+Anderson."
+
+"Yes, I heard what the skipper said, but I tell you at once I'm not
+going to stoop to do anything of the kind.  Do you think I'm going to
+degrade myself by begging for leave again?"
+
+"No, old chap, of course not," cried Murray, thrusting his arm beneath
+his companion's.  "I'll _do_ all that.  But you must come now.  Don't
+let's keep Tom May waiting any longer."
+
+"But I tell you that--"
+
+"Hush!  Hold your tongue.  Here's Anderson coming."
+
+"Well, young gentlemen," said that officer, coming up sharply, "have you
+asked the captain?"
+
+"Yes, sir, and he said that he would give us leave, but that he should
+prefer for us to ask your permission."
+
+"That's right, my lads; quite right," said the first lieutenant,
+speaking quite blandly now.  "You'd better start at once, for I don't
+think this calm is going to last.  Who is going to help you?"
+
+"Tom May, sir."
+
+"Oh yes, I see.  A very good trustworthy man.  Mind, we shall expect
+some fish for dinner."
+
+"He's a humbug, that's what he is," said Roberts angrily.  "Blowing hot
+and cold with the same breath.  I've a good mind to--"
+
+"Come and have the first try?  And so you shall, old chap.  Look alive!
+We must get a good dish now, and for the lads too."
+
+"Oh, I don't want to have anything to do with it," grumbled Roberts.
+
+But his companion paid no heed to his words, for just then Tom May, who
+had been watching their proceedings as he waited until the permission
+had been obtained, stepped out to meet them, armed with the trident-like
+grains and fine line, looking like a modern Neptune civilised into
+wearing the easy-looking comfortable garb of a man-o'-war's man, and
+offered the light lissome staff to Murray.
+
+"No, no," cried the lad.  "Mr Roberts is going to have the first turn."
+
+"I told you I didn't--" began Roberts, with far less emphasis, but
+Murray interrupted him.
+
+"Best from the fore chains, won't it, Tom?"
+
+"Yes, sir.  Hold on with the left fin and strike with the right."
+
+"Yes, of course.  Now then, Dick, over with you; and don't go overboard,
+or I shall have to come after you."
+
+"Better let me make a slip-knot for you, sir," said the man, "so as you
+don't lose your line and the grains at the same time."
+
+The midshipman's lips parted for him to make another protest--a very
+faint one--but before he had spoken a word the sailor threw a running
+noose over his wrist, and, unable to resist the temptation of playing
+the part of harpooner of the good-sized fish that were playing in the
+clear water not far below the surface, he climbed over the bulwark and
+took his place in the chains outside the blocks which secured the
+shrouds, gathered the line in loops, and grasped the shaft of the long
+light implement, which somewhat resembled a delicately made eel spear,
+and stood ready to plunge it down into the first of the swiftly gliding
+fish which played about the side.
+
+"I say, Dick," cried Murray eagerly, "don't be in too great a hurry.
+Wait till you get a good chance at a big one."
+
+"All right," replied the lad, who at the first touch of the
+three-pronged spear forgot all his sham resistance and settled himself
+in an easy position with his left arm round one of the staying ropes,
+standing well balanced and ready to dart the implement down into one of
+the great beautifully-marked mackerel-natured fish, which with an easy
+stroke of its thin tail, shaped like a two-day-old moon, darted along
+the side, played round the sloop's stem, plunged beneath the keel and
+appeared again, to repeat its manoeuvres so rapidly that its coming and
+going resembled flashes of light.
+
+"I'll have one directly," said Roberts, after letting two or three
+chances go by, "and you, Tom, when I spear one and haul him up, you take
+hold of the fish just forward of his tail, where you can grip him
+easily."
+
+"Close up to his flukes, sir?" said the man, cocking one eye at Murray
+with a droll look which suggested the saying about instructing your
+grandmother.  "All right, sir; I'll take care."
+
+"Yes, you'd better!" said the midshipman, who was now all eagerness.
+"I'll spear one, Frank, and then you shall take the next turn."
+
+"No, no; get a couple first, old chap," replied Murray, "or say three.
+We don't want to change too often."
+
+"Oh, very well, just as you like.  Ha!"
+
+For a chance had offered itself; one of the bonitos had risen towards
+the surface and turned sharply preparatory to swimming back to pass
+round the stem of the _Seafowl_, and Roberts plunged down his spear; but
+he had not been quick enough.
+
+"My word, that was near!  Eh, Tom?" cried Murray.
+
+"Near as a toucher," grunted the sailor, with his eyes twinkling.
+
+"Never mind, Dick; you'll do it next time.  Straight down, old chap; but
+you must allow for the water's refraction."
+
+"Oh yes, I know," said the lad coolly, as he gathered in the dripping
+line in loops once more and again grasped the light ash pole ready for
+another stroke.
+
+As if perfectly satisfied of their safety, a couple more of the bonitos
+glided along from following the sloop, and the midshipman made as if to
+throw, but hesitated and let the first fish glide beneath his feet, but
+darted the spear down at the second, and struck a little too soon, the
+swift creature apparently seeing the spear coming and with one wave of
+its tail darting into safety.
+
+"Bother!" grunted Roberts.
+
+"Third time never fails, sir," growled the sailor.  That sailor told a
+great untruth, for when for the third time Roberts drove the trident he
+failed dismally, for in his excitement and hurry he took no care to hold
+the three-pronged fork so that it should strike the fish across the
+back, so that one or the other tooth should be driven into the flesh,
+but held it so that the blades were parallel with the fish's side,
+beside which they glided so that the bonito passed on unharmed.
+
+"Oh, hang the thing!" cried the lad.
+
+"Well, strike it first," said Murray, laughing.  "We'll hang it then if
+you like."
+
+"Do it yourself, then," growled Roberts angrily, hauling up the line and
+trident, before preparing to loosen the noose from his wrist.
+
+"Nonsense!" cried Murray.  "Stop where you are, man.  You were in such a
+hurry, and didn't half try."
+
+"No, you come and try.  You are so much more handy with the grains than
+I am."
+
+He spoke sourly, but his companion's last words had softened him a
+little.  "Stop where you are, man!" sounded pleasant, and he hesitated.
+
+"That's right.  There, tighten the line again.  I want to see you get
+one of those big ones, and you are not going to be beaten."
+
+"But I'm not skilful over it, Frank," said Roberts.
+
+"Be skilful, then, my lad.  It's just the knack of it, that's all.  Get
+that, and you'll hit one every time.  Won't he, Tom?"
+
+"Yes, sir.  It's just the knack; that's all.  Just look down, sir;
+there's no end of thumpers coming along, and if you wait your time, sir,
+you're sure to have one."
+
+Roberts knit his brows as he gazed down beneath him at the shadow-like
+fish, which now looked dark, now reflected golden and greenish tints
+from their burnished sides, and once more prepared to strike; but he
+hesitated, and the bonito was gone.
+
+"Here, you're nervous, Dick," cried Murray.  "You're too anxious and
+want to make too sure.  Be sharper and more careless.  Just measure the
+distance as the next one comes along, make sure of him and let drive."
+
+Roberts said nothing, but set his teeth hard as he balanced the ash pole
+in his hand, being careful to hold the spear so that the prongs were
+level with the horizon, and was in the act of driving the implement down
+when Murray whispered hoarsely--"Now then!"
+
+That interruption proved to be just sufficient to throw the lad off his
+aim, and once more he missed.  "My fault, Dick; my fault, Tom.  I put
+him out," cried Murray excitedly.
+
+"Yes, sir, that was it," said the sailor.  "He'd have had that one for
+certain.  You try again, Mr Roberts, sir; and don't you say a word to
+put him out, Mr Murray, sir, and you'll see him drive the grains into
+one of them biggest ones."
+
+"All right, Tom.  I'll be dumb as a dumb-bell.  Go on, Dick; there are
+some splendid ones about now."
+
+Roberts said nothing, but frowned and set his teeth harder than ever as
+he stood up now in quite a classic attitude, waiting till one of the
+finest of the fish below him came gliding along beneath his feet, and
+then reaching well out he darted the trident down with all his might.
+The line tightened suddenly, for he had struck the fish, and the next
+moment, before the lad could recover himself from his position, leaning
+forward as he was, there was a heavy jar at his wrist, the line
+tightened with quite a snap, and as the fish darted downward the
+midshipman was jerked from where he stood, and the next moment plunged
+head first with a heavy splash into the sea, showing his legs for a
+brief space, and then, in a shadowy way that emulated the fishes' glide,
+he went downward into the sunlit depths, leaving his two companions
+staring aghast at the result of the stroke.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER NINETEEN.
+
+"MAN OVERBOARD!"
+
+Murray leaned over the side, looking down at the dimly seen figure of
+his companion, hardly visible in the disturbed water, and full of the
+expectation of seeing him come up again directly.
+
+"What a ducking!" he thought to himself, and his features were
+corrugated with mirth.  Tom May too was indulging in a hearty grin,
+which however began to smooth into a look of horror in nowise behind the
+aspect of Murray's face, for both now began to realise the fact that the
+tightened cord at which the harpooned fish was evidently tugging was
+rapidly drawing the middy farther and farther down, while the sloop was
+steadily gliding onward and leaving the unfortunate youth behind.
+
+It was a time for action, and the moment Murray could throw off the
+nightmare-like feeling which held him motionless he sprang upon the
+rail, shouted loudly "Man overboard!" and then without a moment's
+hesitation plunged headlong down, taking a header into the glittering
+sunlit water below.
+
+"A man overboard!"  The most thrilling words that can be uttered at
+sea--words which chill the hearers for a moment and then are followed by
+a wild feeling of excitement which pervades more than runs through a
+ship, awakening it as it were with one great throb from frigid silence
+to excited life.  In this instance, as Frank Murray made his spring, his
+words seemed to be echoed by Tom May in a deep roar as he too sprang
+upon the rail, from which he leaped, throwing his hands on high as he
+described a curve outward from the _Seafowl's_ side, and then in the
+reverse of his position as his fingers touched the water there was a
+heavy splash, and those who ran to the side caught sight of the soles of
+his feet as he too disappeared for a short space beneath the rippled
+sea.
+
+There was but a trifle of confusion on deck: the orders rang out, but
+almost before they were uttered the men were running to their stations
+in connection with one of the boats, which was rapidly manned; the
+blocks of the falls creaked as she sank down and kissed the water; the
+varnished ash blades flashed in the sunshine as they were seized and run
+from the rowlocks into regular double lines; and then, as they dipped,
+the cutter seemed to be endued with life, and darted forward to the
+rescue.
+
+Meanwhile, confused by his sudden drag from daylight into semi-darkness
+and confusion, Roberts had recovered himself sufficiently to begin
+trying to free his wrist from the thin line which cut into it deeply as
+tug, tug, tug, it was drawn tighter and tighter by the harpooned fish,
+into whose back the barbed iron prongs had plunged deeply, and, far from
+robbing it of life, seemed only to have nerved it and stimulated it with
+a power that was extraordinary in a creature of its size.  For the
+midshipman, as he struck out with one arm, felt himself dragged beneath
+the surface by his victim, whose efforts were directed entirely towards
+sounding deeply to seek the safety offered by the darkness fathoms
+below.
+
+Tug and jerk, tug and jerk, in the midst of a confusion that grew more
+and more wild, as the midshipman strove to free himself from the bond
+which held him fast.  The water thundered in his ears in a series of
+strange sounds which deepened into one deafening roar.  The power of
+thinking of his position was rapidly passing away; the water above him
+grew darker and darker; and at last in one involuntary effort the lad
+ceased his struggle to free his wrist, and struck out wildly with arms
+and legs to force himself to the surface.
+
+It was quite time, and fortunately the efforts of the fish to drag him
+down were for the moment weakening, while in response to his wild
+struggle the light grew brighter, and just as consciousness was about to
+leave him, the lad's head rose above the surface again and he gasped for
+breath.
+
+It was life, but the respirations were succeeded directly by a renewal
+of the sharp tugs at his wrist, and the water was about to close over
+his head again, when he felt the touch of a hand and heard the panting
+voice of some one whose tones were familiar, as he was turned over face
+upward and his descent was checked.
+
+Then amidst the confusion and his attempts to recover his breath, the
+unfortunate lad heard another voice, and the gruff tones seemed to be
+those of one giving orders.
+
+"Hooroar, my lad!" came, close to the middy's ear.  "That's good.  Wait
+a moment.  My knife'll soon cut him clear."
+
+"No, no, Tom; don't cut.  We can keep him up now.  Shout for the boat."
+
+"They don't want no shoutin', sir.  They'll be here directly."
+
+These words all seemed to reach the ears of Roberts from somewhere far
+away, and then the water was thundering in them again, and he began once
+more to struggle for life.  Then again he seemed to get his breath in a
+half-choking confused way, as he heard the gruff tones begin again.
+
+"I'd better cut, sir, on'y my knife won't open."
+
+"No, no, Tom; we can manage.  Keep his head well up."
+
+"All right, sir.  That was the beggar's flurry.  Dessay he's turning up
+his white."
+
+"Hooray!" came like another echo, along with the splash of oars, and
+then half consciously Roberts felt himself dragged over the side of the
+boat.  There was another cheer, and a strange sound as of a fish beating
+the planks rapidly with its tail, while Murray's breathless voice,
+sounding a long way off, said--
+
+"My word, he is a strong one!  I am glad we've got him."
+
+Then several other voices seemed to be speaking together, but in a
+confused way, and Roberts felt as if he had been asleep, till some one
+whose voice sounded like the doctor's said--
+
+"Oh, he's all right now, sir."
+
+"Who's all right now?" thought the lad; and he opened his eyes, to find
+himself lying upon the deck with the doctor upon one knee by his side,
+and pretty well surrounded by the officers and men.
+
+"Nice wet fellow you are, Roberts," said the doctor.
+
+"Eh?" said the lad, staring confusedly.  "Have I been overboard?"
+
+"Well, yes, just a trifle," replied the doctor.
+
+"Oh yes, I remember now.  Ah!  Where's Frank Murray?" cried the lad
+excitedly.
+
+"Here I am all right!" came from behind him.
+
+"Ah!" ejaculated the half insensible lad, and he gave vent to a deep
+sigh of relief and closed his eyes.  "I was afraid that--that--"
+
+"But I am all right, Dick," cried Murray, catching the speaker by the
+hand.
+
+"Ah, that's right.  I was afraid--somehow--I thought you were drowned."
+
+"There, there," cried the doctor, bending over the lad and patting his
+shoulder, "nobody has been drowned, and you are all right again, so I
+want you to get below and have a good towelling and then tumble into
+some dry things while I mix you up a draught of--What's the matter now?"
+
+Roberts had suddenly sprung up into a sitting position, as if the
+doctor's last words had touched a spring somewhere in the lad's spine.
+
+"Nothing, sir--nothing," he cried excitedly.  "I'm all right again now.
+I recollect all about it, and how Frank Murray saved my life."
+
+"Oh, it was Tom May did the most of it, Dick."
+
+"Did he help?" continued the lad.  "Ah, he's a good fellow,--Tom May.
+But I'm all right now, doctor; and where's the fish?"
+
+The lad stared about him in a puzzled way, for he had become conscious
+of the fact that those around him were roaring with laughter, an
+outburst which was gradually subsiding, while those most affected were
+wiping their eyes, when his last query about the fish set them off
+again.
+
+"Why, doctor," said the captain, trying to look serious, but evidently
+enjoying the mirth as much as any one present, "who is going to doubt
+the efficacy of your medicine after this?  The very mention of it in Mr
+Roberts's hearing acted upon him like magic.  Did you see how he started
+up like the man in the old tooth tincture advertisement--`Ha, ha!  Cured
+in an instant!'"
+
+"Oh yes, sir," said the doctor grimly; "but it's all very fine.  You are
+all glad of my help sometimes."
+
+"Of course, my dear Reston," said the captain.  "No one slights you and
+your skill; but you must own that it was comic to see how Mr Roberts
+started up the moment you said physic."
+
+"Oh yes, it was droll enough," said the doctor good-humouredly.  "There,
+Roberts, if you feel well enough to do without my draught I will not mix
+one.  What do you say?"
+
+"Oh, I'm all right now, sir," cried the lad--"at least I shall be as
+soon as I've changed."
+
+"Off with you, then," said the doctor; and catching hold of Murray's
+proffered arm, Roberts and his friend hurried below.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY.
+
+IN THE DOCTOR'S HANDS.
+
+Before the two middies had completed their change there was a tap at the
+cabin door, and in answer to the "Come in" Tom May's head was thrust
+through the opening, his face puckered up into a friendly grin.
+
+"Getting all right again, gentlemen?" he said.
+
+"Oh yes, Tom," cried Roberts excitedly, and he eagerly held out his
+hand, and catching the sailor by the shoulder dragged him inside.  "I
+wanted to see you, Tom, and thank you for saving my life."
+
+"For what, sir?" said Tom sharply.
+
+"For so bravely saving my life."
+
+"Oh, I say, sir," grumbled the man, speaking bashfully, "if I'd ha'
+knowed as you was going on like that I'm blessed if I'd ha' come down."
+
+"Why, there was nothing to be ashamed of, Tom," said Murray warmly.
+
+"Oh no, sir; I warn't ashamed to come down.  I were on'y too glad to say
+a word to Mr Roberts like and see him come round."
+
+"I'm glad too," said Murray; "and he feels very grateful to you for
+being so brave."
+
+"I warn't brave, Mr Murray, sir.  I did nowt.  It was you--it was him,
+Mr Roberts, sir.  He sings out, `Man overboard!' and takes a header
+arter you, and what was I to do?  He's my orficer, sir, and I was
+obliged to go arter him.  You sees that?"
+
+"Yes, yes, Tom," cried Roberts warmly.  "He acted very bravely."
+
+"Oh, drop it!" cried Murray.
+
+"Course he did, sir," said the sailor.  "I on'y obeyed orders."
+
+"Will you both drop it!" cried Murray angrily.  "What's the use of
+making a fuss about nothing?  You're all right again, Tom?"
+
+"Me, sir?  Right as ninepence.  Never had nowt the matter with me.
+'Sides," continued the man, with a grin, "I had the doctor to look at
+me."
+
+"Oh, I say," said Roberts eagerly, "he didn't give you any of his stuff,
+did he?"
+
+"No, sir; but he wanted to."
+
+"What did he say?"
+
+"Said it would keep off the chill."
+
+"Yes, and what then?" said the lads, in a breath.
+
+"I telled him, gentlemen, that the first luff had sent Mr Snelling the
+purser to me with a dose, and he just grunted at me and went up again.
+Oh, I'm all right enough.  What about you, Mr Roberts, sir?"
+
+"Thanks to you, Tom, I'm just as you say you are.  But what about that
+fish?"
+
+"Oh, it's in the pot by now.  The cook says it's the biggest albicore he
+ever see in his life, and for sartain, gentlemen, I never see one much
+more than half as big.  There's bigger ones, of course, somewheres, but
+I never see one speared afore as would touch him.  But I say, Mr
+Roberts, sir," continued the man, "you do feel all right again, don't
+you?"
+
+"Oh yes, quite right, Tom; only a little bit achey about the back of the
+neck."
+
+"Course you do, sir.  I felt like that both times when I got pretty nigh
+drownded.  That's 'cause you throws your head so far back, and it
+strains your muscles, sir.  But never mind that, sir.  It'll soon go
+off.  I was going to say, sir, if you felt right enough I should punish
+that there fish pretty hard."
+
+"I will, Tom," said the lad merrily; and the man went on deck.
+
+"Ready?" said Murray, as he finished dressing.
+
+"Yes, I'm ready, and at the same time I don't feel so," was the reply.
+
+"Don't feel coming on poorly, do you?"
+
+"Oh no," replied Roberts, "but I don't much care about going on deck
+again."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"There's the skipper, and old Anderson; they're both sure to begin to
+grumble now."
+
+"Oh no!  I don't think they'll say anything."
+
+"Well, you'll see," said Roberts decisively; and the lad proved to be
+right when the pair went on deck, for no sooner did they appear than the
+first lieutenant, who was forward with the men, giving some
+instructions, caught sight of them and began to approach.
+
+"Look at that," whispered Roberts.
+
+"Yes, and look at that, Dick," whispered Murray.  For the captain, who
+was on the quarter-deck, had apparently caught sight of them at the same
+time, and began to make for them.
+
+There was no retreat, for the lieutenant would have met them.  But it so
+happened that the latter saw his chief approaching and returned at once
+to the group of sailors, leaving the captain to have the first words.
+
+"You're right, Dick," whispered Murray.  "Now for a wigging!"
+
+"Well, young gentlemen," saluted them the next minute; "what have you to
+say for yourselves?"
+
+"Thank you, sir," said Murray, drawing himself up and saluting, "we're
+not a bit the worse for our little adventure."
+
+"Humph!" ejaculated the captain, looking at him sternly.  "None the
+worse, eh?"
+
+"No, sir, not a bit, and I don't think Roberts is; eh, Roberts?"
+
+"Perhaps not, Mr Murray; but perhaps you will allow me to question Mr
+Roberts."
+
+"I beg your pardon, sir," said Murray, colouring warmly.
+
+"I do not grant it, sir," said the captain stiffly; "and perhaps you
+will be good enough to bear in mind what are our relative positions--
+those of commander of this sloop of war and very junior officer.  Now,
+Mr Roberts," continued the captain sternly, as he half turned his back
+to Murray, "what have you to say for yourself?"
+
+"Only that I'm very sorry to have been the cause of the trouble, sir."
+
+"Humph!  That's better," said the captain, "if your sorrow is real."
+
+"Oh yes, sir; it's quite real, sir," said the youth hurriedly.
+
+"Indeed!  Well, I have my doubts, sir."
+
+"But it really was quite an accident, sir," cried Roberts excitedly.
+
+"Well, do you suppose, Mr Roberts, that I give you credit for purposely
+hitching yourself on to that fish and trying to get yourself drowned?"
+
+"Oh no, sir; of course not."
+
+"Don't interrupt me, Mr Roberts," said the captain sourly.
+
+"Why, you asked me a question," thought the lad, "and I was only
+answering you;" and he turned very red in the face.
+
+"I have been talking to Mr Anderson about this business, and he tells
+me that you both came worrying him for permission to use the grains and
+to waste your time trying to harpoon these fish that were playing about
+the bows, eh?"
+
+"It was I, sir, who went to ask Mr Anderson for leave."
+
+"I was not addressing you, Mr Murray," said the captain coldly; and
+then he continued: "Mr Anderson tells me that he put before you the
+fact that you would both have been better employed in continuing your
+studies of navigation.  Now, you neither of you had the candour to tell
+me this.  Anything but work, gentlemen, and the display of a
+determination to master your profession and grow worthy of trust, with
+the possibility of some day becoming worthy of taking charge of a
+vessel.  I consider that you both--I say both, Mr Murray--took
+advantage of my kindly disposition and obtained the permission that Mr
+Anderson would have very properly withheld.  Now look at the
+consequences of your folly; one of you was nearly drowned; the other was
+almost the cause of my losing one of my most valuable seamen in his
+efforts to save your lives; and the discipline of my ship is completely
+upset--a boat has to be launched, the doctor called upon to resuscitate
+one of you; and now what have you to say for yourselves?  Nothing, but
+give me the paltry excuse of this being an accident.  I tell you,
+gentlemen, that it cannot be considered an accident or mischance, for I
+look upon it as being a wilful disregard of your duties, and--er--er--
+that will do."
+
+The captain put his hands behind his back and stalked off, leaving the
+two lads looking at each other.
+
+"That's nice," said Murray, in a whisper.
+
+"Lovely!" whispered back Roberts.
+
+"And this isn't the worst of it," said Murray softly; "here comes
+Anderson."
+
+"Oh, I do feel so bad!" muttered Roberts.  "I'll tell him so."
+
+"Well, young gentlemen," said the lieutenant, coming up, "I hope the
+captain has taken you both well to task."
+
+"Yes, sir, he has," said Murray, with a drily comical look upon his
+countenance.  "I'm sure if you had heard him you wouldn't think it
+necessary to say another word."
+
+The lieutenant gave the lad a severe look, frowning hard, and he was
+evidently about to say something sharp, but after being silent for a few
+moments his face relaxed and he smiled pleasantly.
+
+"Well," he said, turning again to Murray, "I will take it for granted
+that you have both had a thoroughly good talking to, and I will say no
+more."
+
+"Thank you, sir," said Murray, with a sigh of relief.
+
+The lieutenant turned upon him sharply.
+
+"Yes," he said, "I suppose you do mean that.  Well, Mr Roberts, I hope
+you feel none the worse?"
+
+"No, sir; yes, sir, I--no sir, not at all the worse."
+
+"I am glad of it.  But you had a very narrow escape.  Your life was
+saved by Murray's bravery.  A very gallant action, my lad--manly and
+brave; but no more of such gallant actions, if you please.  I have quite
+enough responsibilities in connection with my duties on this ship
+without being worried with a pack of boys risking their lives for the
+sake of catching a fish or two, so let me have no more of it.  Do you
+hear?  There, you need not speak."
+
+The lieutenant turned short round and marched away frowning, leaving the
+lads looking at one another for a few minutes, before Murray whispered,
+"Come along forward," with the result that they made for a favourite
+spot where, well out of sight of the quarter-deck, they could rest their
+folded arms upon the rail and gaze down into the transparent water which
+glided by the sloop's cut-water with hardly a ripple, so soft was the
+breeze which filled the crowd of canvas that had been set.
+
+"I thought we should get it," said Roberts, after a few minutes'
+silence.
+
+"Oh, never mind, old chap," said his companion quietly.  "You got off
+pretty easy."
+
+"I did?  Oh, come; it was you who got off easy.  `A very gallant act,'
+didn't he say?"
+
+"Something of the kind."
+
+"Yes; `a very gallant act.'  You always get the praise, Frank," said
+Roberts gloomily.  "It has always been so ever since we joined.  One is
+expected to devote himself in every way possible to learning one's
+profession, and for reward one gets bullied and blamed for pretty well
+everything.  Nobody ever told me that I had performed a very gallant
+act."
+
+"Well, look here, what do you say to me tumbling overboard so that you
+can come over after me and save my life?"
+
+"Bother!  Look here, Frank, if you can't talk sense you'd better hold
+your tongue."
+
+"If I did you'd only get more rusty.  I say, Dick, I once read about a
+fellow being saved from drowning."
+
+"Me, of course," interrupted Roberts, in an angry tone.  "What are you
+up to now--fishing for praise of your `gallant act'?"
+
+"Not likely," was the reply, good-humouredly.  "I was going to tell you
+about some one who was saved from drowning."
+
+"Well, you needn't.  I know all about it now, thank you, and I don't
+want to hear."
+
+"Never mind, old chap; I want to tell you, and it's very interesting and
+quite true."
+
+Roberts grunted and gave himself a hitch so as to turn half away from
+his companion and stand staring away to sea.
+
+"It said that when the poor fellow was on the deck again--you see, he
+had fallen from the yard and they had to lower down a boat so as to get
+him aboard, and when they did he seemed to be quite dead--same as you
+did."
+
+"Tchah!  Nothing of the kind.  I was only a bit insensible."
+
+"Well, you were quite bad enough," said Murray, "and the doctor had to
+bring you round same as this chap; and when he was able to sit up and
+talk it was quite curious--"
+
+"I don't see anything curious about a half-drowned chap coming to and
+being able to talk."
+
+"No," said Murray, smiling, as he watched his companion intently, "but
+that wasn't the curious part."
+
+"Well, then, what was?  Oh, I say, I do wish you wouldn't keep on
+prosing about what nobody wants to hear.  There, go on and get it
+finished."
+
+"All right; don't hurry a fellow," said Murray.  "I can't dash off
+things as quickly as you can."
+
+Roberts wrenched himself round so that he could look fiercely at his
+companion, and he spoke with quite an angry snap.
+
+"Is that meant for a sneer?" he said.
+
+"No, my son; not a bit of it, unless it contains just a go at myself for
+being so slow."
+
+"Ho!" ejaculated Roberts.  "Well, what's the curious thing about your
+chap who had been nearly drowned?"
+
+"They brought him to--" said Murray deliberately.
+
+Roberts gave himself an angry jerk and reached out his hand to snatch at
+a marlin-spike stuck just beneath the rail.
+
+"What's the matter now?" asked Murray.
+
+"You'll know directly if you don't finish your twaddling stuff.  You
+told me all that before," cried the lad irritably.
+
+"Did I?  Well, you keep on interrupting me so."
+
+"There, go on."
+
+"All right," continued Murray, in the most imperturbable way.  "Well, as
+I was saying, that when they brought the poor fellow round--"
+
+"Bravo, oh prince of story-tellers!" cried Roberts sneeringly.  "They
+brought him round, did they?  I wonder he didn't stop drowned if he was
+surrounded by people who kept on prosing like you are."
+
+"Well, he didn't," said Murray coolly; "they brought him round."
+
+"Here, Frank, old chap," cried Roberts, with mock interest, "it's as
+well to be quite certain when you are making history--are you sure that
+they didn't bring him square?"
+
+"Oh yes, quite," said Murray quietly; "they brought him round, and it
+was remarkable what an effect it had upon his temper."
+
+Roberts turned upon him again quite fiercely.
+
+"He seemed to have turned acid right through, and snapped and snarled at
+those about him; and then--"
+
+"Now, look here, young fellow," cried Roberts, interrupting his
+companion, "I'm not all a fool, Frank Murray, and I can see quite
+plainly enough that this is all meant for a go at me.  Do you mean to
+tell me that I have turned upon every one to snap and snarl at them?
+Because if you do, say so like a man."
+
+"Well, old chap--" began Murray, smiling.
+
+"Oh, you do, do you?  You've made up your mind to quarrel with me, have
+you?  Very well, sir.  I don't want to be on good terms with a fellow
+who, in spite of the way in which I have made myself his friend ever
+since he joined, is determined to--determined to--Here, this is beyond
+bearing, sir.  We're too big now to settle our quarrels, like a couple
+of schoolboys, with our fists, but the wretched state in which we are
+compelled to exist by the captain's absurd prejudices against settling a
+dispute in a gentlemanly way compels one to put off all consideration of
+age and position; so come down below.  We can easily get to where the
+men will take care that we are not interrupted by the officers; and if I
+don't give you the biggest thrashing you ever had, it's because I am
+weak from the effects of that accident and being dragged under water for
+so long.  Now then, come on, and--don't irritate me any more by grinning
+in that absurd way, or I shall strike you before you put up your hands
+on guard, and then--"
+
+The lad, who was gazing wildly at his companion, stopped short, for,
+half startled now by his brother middy's manner, Murray had laid his
+hand upon his arm.
+
+"Steady, Dick," he said quietly.  "You're not yourself, old chap.  I
+didn't mean to irritate you.  Don't go on like that; here's the doctor
+coming forward, and I don't want him to come and see you now."
+
+These words wrought a complete change, for to Murray's surprise the
+agitated lad slipped his wrist free, and brought his hand down firmly
+upon that of his companion, to close it in a firm grip.
+
+"Here, Frank," he whispered, "don't take any notice of what I said.  I
+couldn't help it.  I don't know what has come to me.  I must be like the
+fellow you were talking about, and if the doctor knows, I feel--I'm sure
+that I shall be much worse."
+
+"Hist!  Keep quiet.  Let's be looking at the fish.  Look at that."
+
+He pointed downward through the clear water, and making an effort
+Roberts leaned over the rail.
+
+"Yes; I see," he said huskily.  "A shark, sure enough."
+
+"Yes; only a little one, though," said Murray aloud.  "I say, isn't it
+curious how those brutes can keep themselves just at a certain depth
+below the keel, and go on swimming easily at just the same rate as we
+are going, without seeming to make any effort!"
+
+"Yes, very strange; very, very strange," said Roberts loudly, and with
+his voice sounding husky and faint.  "Hah!" he ejaculated, at last, in a
+tone of relief.  "He's not coming here."  For the doctor had suddenly
+caught sight of Titely and crossed the deck to speak to the man.
+
+"No, he's not coming here," said Murray quietly.
+
+"I oughtn't to be afraid to meet the old fellow, though, Frank," said
+Roberts, with a sigh, "for I must be ill to turn like that."
+
+"Not ill, old chap," said Murray quietly.  "Come on down below."
+
+"Then you think I'm bad?" whispered the midshipman, turning upon his
+companion sharply.
+
+"Not bad, but upset by the accident."
+
+"And nearly losing my life," whispered Roberts.
+
+"Yes, that's it.  Come down and take off your jacket."
+
+"Not to fight," said the lad bitterly.  "Oh, Franky!  And after you had
+just saved my life!  I must have been half mad, old chap."
+
+"Bah!  Drop it, Dick," said Murray quietly.  "You come down, and turn
+into your berth."
+
+"Yes; for a good nap."
+
+"That's right, old chap.  Have a good snooze if you can; but don't mind
+if you can't get to sleep.  I'll open the port-hole as wide as possible
+so as to get as much cool air as I can into the place.  All you want is
+rest.  You don't want the doctor."
+
+"No; that's right; I don't want the doctor."  And then, eagerly taking
+his companion's arm, the lad permitted himself to be led below, where he
+threw off his jacket and turned into his cot with a sigh of relief.
+
+"Ah," he said, "that's better!  Never mind me now.  Go up on deck, and
+if any one asks about me say I'm having a sleep after the ducking."
+
+"All right," replied Murray, and he saw in the semi-darkness that the
+middy had closed his eyes tightly but seemed to have to make an effort
+to keep the quivering and twitching lids still.
+
+"I say, Franky," came from the cot, after a short pause.
+
+"Well?"
+
+"You're not gone on deck."
+
+"No, not yet.  Come, off you go.  Like a glass of water?"
+
+"No!  No water."
+
+"Well, what is it?"
+
+"I only wanted to say something, Frank," whispered the poor fellow, in a
+faltering voice.
+
+"Better not, old chap.  You want rest, and not to bother your brain with
+talking."
+
+"Thank you, doctor," said the lad, with a faint smile.  "Why, you're
+ever so much better than old Reston.  Yes, I want sleep, for my head
+seems to be all of a buzz; but I must say something before I can get
+off."
+
+"Well, then, look sharp and say it.  Well, what is it?"
+
+"Only this, Franky, old fellow--"
+
+"Well, what is it?" said Murray, after the pause which followed the last
+words.  "There, let it go; I'm sure it will keep."
+
+"No, no," whispered the lad excitedly.  "It won't keep.  I feel as if I
+can't bear to say it, and yet that I can't bear to keep it back.  There,
+that sounds half mad, doesn't it?  I--I--"
+
+"Is it anything to do with what you said to me a bit ago?"
+
+"Hah!  Thank you, old fellow; you've made me feel as if I could say it
+now," whispered the lad hoarsely.  "Franky, I feel as if I've been an
+ungrateful beast to you."
+
+"Hold hard, Dick," said Murray quickly; and he laid his hand upon the
+one lying close to the edge of the cot.  "I understand how hard it must
+be for you to talk about it, and it's just as hard for me to listen.  So
+look here, Dick.  You haven't been yourself, lad; when a fellow's a bit
+off his head he isn't accountable for what he says.  I know; so look
+here.  Am I hurt and annoyed by what you said?  Not a bit of it.  That's
+right, isn't it?" he continued, as his hand closed firmly upon that of
+the half hysterical lad.  "You know what that means, don't you?"
+
+"Hah!  Yes!" sighed the lad gently; and it sounded to Murray as if a
+tremendous weight had been lifted off the poor fellow's breast.
+
+"Then now you can go to sleep, and when you wake up again I hope you
+will have forgotten all about it, for that's what I mean to as a matter
+of course, and--How rum!" said the lad to himself, for the hand that had
+been returning his pressure had slowly slackened its grasp and lay
+perfectly inert in his.  "Why, he must be asleep!  Well, I shall soon
+know."
+
+As the lad thought this he loosened his own grasp, and the next minute
+was able to slip his fingers away.  Directly after he drew back a little
+more, and quietly rose from the locker upon which he had been seated
+close to his companion's side with his back to the cabin stairs.
+
+Then turning to go up on deck, Murray started to find himself face to
+face with the doctor, who had followed the lads down and stepped in
+without being heard.
+
+"Asleep?"
+
+Murray pointed to the occupant of the cot without a word, and the doctor
+bent low and then drew back.
+
+"That's good," he whispered.  "It was a nasty shock for the poor fellow,
+but there's nothing for me to do, my lad.  A few hours' sleep will quite
+set him right.  I like this, though, Murray," he continued, laying his
+hand upon the lad's shoulder and giving it a friendly grip.  "You boys
+are thoughtless young dogs sometimes, but this sort of thing shows that
+you have got the right stuff in you--the right feeling for one another."
+
+"Oh, I say, doctor, don't!" whispered Murray.
+
+"Not going to, much," said the gentleman addressed.  "I'm a rough fellow
+sometimes, I know, but I notice a deal, and I like to see a bit of
+feeling shown at the right moment.  You don't know how it pleases me
+when one of our foremast fellows has been laid aside, and I see that a
+messmate has sneaked down to keep him company, and take care that he is
+not short of tobacco to chew--Hang him for trying to poison a man who
+would be far better without it!--Yes, looks as guilty as can be, and
+quite shamefaced at having been caught playing the nurse.  It shows that
+the dog has got the true man in him, Murray, and though I don't let them
+see that I notice anything I like it more than you think.  There,
+Roberts is all right," said the doctor gruffly, "but don't stop here
+breathing up the cool air I want for my patient.  Come on deck, my lad;
+come on deck."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.
+
+"NIGGAH, SAH."
+
+A month passed swiftly away, during which the _Seafowl_ sighted and
+chased vessel after vessel, each of which had been forced to lie to in
+response to a shot fired across her bows, but only with a disappointing
+result--one which sent the captain into a temper which made him
+dangerous to approach for a full half-hour after the strangers' papers
+had been examined, to prove that she had nothing whatever to do with the
+slave-trade.
+
+Then the captain would calm down, and something like the following would
+take place:
+
+"Did I speak rather sharply to you when the boat returned, Mr
+Anderson?"
+
+"Oh!  Well, rather hastily, sir," said the chief officer drily.  "But
+that's nothing, sir.  I'm afraid I was not very polite to you.  I was
+horribly disappointed, sir."
+
+"Naturally," the captain cried excitedly.  "Here we are, getting well
+within range of the islands where we know this wretched traffic is
+carried on, where the plantations are cultivated by the unfortunate
+blacks, and we seem bound to encounter a slaver, and yet the days pass
+on and we prove to be hunting a will-o'-the-wisp."
+
+"Yes, sir, it is maddening," replied the lieutenant.  "Day after day I
+have swept the offing, feeling certain that fate would favour us by
+letting the sloop come up with that Yankee, or with one of his kidney;
+but disappointment is always the result."
+
+"Yes, Mr Anderson," cried the captain; "always the result.  Never
+mind," he continued, speaking through his closely set teeth; "our turn
+will come one of these days."  And then with his telescope tightly
+nipped beneath his arm he would tramp up and down the quarter-deck,
+pausing now and then to focus his glass, take a peep through, close it
+again with a snap and renew his march.
+
+"Look at him," said Roberts, one bright morning, as the two lads stood
+together well forward, where they fondly hoped that they were quite out
+of their chief's way.
+
+"No, thank you, Dick," was the response; "it isn't safe.  He's just in
+one of his fits, ready to pounce upon any one who gives him a chance.
+Every one is getting afraid of him.  I wish to goodness we could
+overtake something and have a chance of a prize."
+
+"Well, we must find something to do soon, lad.  We're right in amongst
+the islands, and we shall have to land and hunt out some nigger driver's
+nest."
+
+"But we can't do anything if we do.  We daren't interfere with any
+plantation where the blacks are employed."
+
+"No, I suppose not; but it would be a glorious change if we got orders
+to land at one of the islands and could pick up some news or another."
+
+"What sort of news?"
+
+"What sort?  Why, information that a slaver was expected to land a
+consignment, and then--"
+
+"Oh yes, and then!  Well, we shall see."
+
+"Yes, we shall see; but I don't believe any of the planters will give us
+a bit of information."
+
+"Don't you?  I do," said Murray.  "There are good planters as well as
+bad planters, and I feel full of hope."
+
+"I don't," said Roberts bitterly.  "I think we ought to go back to the
+West Coast and watch the rivers again.  We shall do no good here."
+
+But Murray proved the more likely to be right, for after touching at the
+little port of one island, where the _Seafowl_ was visited by the
+English gentleman who acted as consul, and who had a long interview with
+the officers in the cabin, it became bruited through the vessel that
+something important was on the way, and after boats had been sent ashore
+and a plentiful supply of fresh water and vegetables taken in, the sloop
+set sail again, piloted by a fishing boat.  Under its guidance the
+_Seafowl_ lay off the shores of what seemed through the glasses to be an
+earthly paradise, a perfect scene of verdant beauty, with waving trees
+and cultivated fields, sheltered by a central mountain the configuration
+of which suggested that it must at one time have been a volcano, one
+side of which had been blown away so that a gigantic crater many miles
+across formed a lake-like harbour.  Into this deep water, after careful
+soundings had been taken, the sloop glided and dropped anchor, the pilot
+with his two men hoisting sail directly after receiving pay.
+
+"This is something like," said Roberts, rubbing his hands.  "I wonder
+how soon we shall go ashore."
+
+"Almost directly, I expect," replied Murray.
+
+"Why?  What do you know?"
+
+"Not much; only what Mr Anderson let drop to me."
+
+"Let drop to you!" cried Roberts pettishly.  "He never lets things drop
+to me."
+
+"Well, what does that matter?  I always tell you anything that I hear."
+
+"Never mind that.  What did Anderson let drop?"
+
+"That the skipper has learned that there is an English gentleman here
+who farms a plantation with a number of slaves."
+
+"Well, lots do," said Roberts sharply.
+
+"And on the other side of the island there is a very large sugar
+plantation belonging to an American who is suspected of having dealings
+with slaving skippers who trade with the West Coast.  What do you say to
+that?"
+
+"That sounds likely; but what then?"
+
+"Well, according to what Mr Anderson told me, the skipper will, if he
+waits for a chance, be able to catch one if not more of the slavers who
+come here to land their cargoes, for this American planter to ship off
+by degrees to other planters who require slaves."
+
+"Ah, yes, I see," cried Roberts.  "This Yankee, then, keeps a sort of
+slave store?"
+
+"Something of the kind," replied Murray, "and if we are careful I
+suppose that the skipper will have his chance at last; only he says that
+he is not going to trust any stranger again."
+
+"Well, never mind that," said Roberts, speaking excitedly now as he
+scanned the slopes of the old verdure-clad hollow in which the sloop lay
+as if in a lake.  "If we are about to lie up here for a time and go
+ashore and explore we shall have plenty of fun and adventure, with a bit
+of fighting now and then."
+
+"Likely enough," said Murray.
+
+"But I should like for us to have hit upon the place where that West
+Coast Yankee brought his cargoes.  There's no possibility of this being
+the spot?"
+
+"One never knows," said Murray thoughtfully.
+
+"Too much to hope," said his companion.
+
+"Oh, I don't know.  We've been horribly unlucky, but the luck is bound
+to turn some time.  One thing we do know for certain: that Yankee
+skipper brings slaves across to the West Indies."
+
+"Yes, we know that."
+
+"Well, this is one of the West Indian Islands."
+
+"A precious small one, though," said Roberts in a depreciatory tone.
+
+"What of that?  We know for certain that there is the owner of a
+plantation here who trades in slaves, and there is nothing to prevent
+his having dealings with the man we want."
+
+"M-m-no; but there must be several such men as he.  Well, we must get
+some fun," cried Roberts, "and if we don't find all we want--"
+
+"We may get something," said Murray cheerfully.  "Now then, which of us
+will have the first chance of going ashore?"
+
+"You, of course," replied Roberts bitterly.  "Some fellows get all the
+luck.  No, no; I don't mean that, old chap."
+
+"Look at Anderson," cried Murray; "he's taking orders from the skipper.
+Hooray, Dick!  See if it isn't for a boat to be sent ashore.  Whose turn
+is it going to be?"
+
+That question was soon answered, for the captain, who was pacing to and
+fro searchingly overlooking the preparations for a boat going ashore,
+suddenly caught sight of the two lads.
+
+"Oh, there you are, Mr Murray!" he exclaimed.  "Well, has not Mr
+Anderson given you your orders to accompany the boat?"
+
+Roberts's face puckered up.
+
+"No, sir," said the lieutenant, taking upon himself to answer.  "I
+intended to take Mr Roberts with me."
+
+Murray felt disappointed, but all the same he could not refrain from
+laughing at the sudden change which came over his fellow middy's face,
+to the latter's wonder.
+
+"Oh, I see," said the captain, raising his hat and re-adjusting it in a
+fidgety way he had when excited, which was followed by a fresh settling
+of the head-covering.  "Quite right; quite right; but here's Mr Murray
+growing dull and sluggish with doing nothing; you had better take him
+too.  One will help to keep the other out of mischief."
+
+Roberts winced, and turned sharply to glance at Murray angrily, as the
+latter hurried to take his place in the stern sheets.
+
+"What's the matter, Dick?"  Murray whispered, as soon as the pair were
+in their places.
+
+"Matter?  Any one would think I was a child and ought to have some one
+to take care of me.  Now, look here, young fellow, if you grin at me
+before old Anderson there's going to be a quarrel."
+
+"All right," said Murray coolly; "but keep it till we get back."
+
+Roberts looked round sharply, but he had no opportunity to say more, for
+the chief officer descended to his place, Murray moved aside to let his
+comrade take the tiller ropes, the boatswain gave the cutter a vigorous
+thrust off, the men lowered their oars, and then bending low to their
+task they made the smooth water of the natural harbour begin to rattle
+beneath the bows.
+
+The boat was run across beside the heavily forested shores, where,
+before long, but after many disappointments, an opening was found which
+seemed to be the entrance to a sluggish river, and as they glided in the
+overhanging trees soon shut them off from all sight of the sunny bay
+they had crossed.  The bright light gave place to a dim twilight which
+at times grew almost dark, while the river wound and doubled upon itself
+like a serpent, and twice over, after a long pull, the lieutenant bade
+the men lie upon their oars, to rest, while he hesitated as to whether
+he should go farther.
+
+But all seemed so mysterious and tempting that, in the full expectation
+of reaching some town or port belonging to the island, the rowing was
+again and again resumed till hours had passed, and at last the chief
+officer exclaimed--
+
+"It's like chasing a will-o'-the-wisp, gentlemen, but I cannot help
+feeling that we are on the highroad to the interior, and, in spite of
+the utter loneliness of the place, I don't like to give up."
+
+"Of course you don't, sir," said Murray, as the men rested upon their
+oars, and he scanned the heavily wooded banks.  "I wonder whether there
+are any plantations worked by the slaves: I can see no sign of a house."
+
+"No, I was thinking of that," said Roberts, who was sweeping the
+distance with a glass; "but there is a bit of an opening yonder which
+looks as if the river branched there, and--Hallo!  I didn't see it at
+first.  There's some sort of a boat lying moored in that nook."
+
+"Where?" cried Murray.
+
+"Yonder among the trees.  Take the glass, sir."
+
+Mr Anderson took the telescope.
+
+"To be sure: the river does branch there.  Steer for that cove, Mr
+Roberts, and let us see what the little vessel is like.  At all events
+here is some sign of the place being inhabited.  Give way, my lads."
+
+The men pulled hard, and as they progressed, instead of obtaining a
+better view of the vessel, it seemed only to glide in behind the trees
+until they were close in and passed up what proved to be the mouth of a
+little creek, when Murray uttered an ejaculation.
+
+"What is it, Mr Murray?" cried the lieutenant.
+
+"The lugger, sir!"
+
+"Well, I see it is, my lad.  I dare say its owner's house is close at
+hand."
+
+"But don't you see, sir?" cried Murray excitedly.
+
+"Of course I do, but there's no one aboard, apparently."
+
+"Oh, I don't mean that, sir!" cried the lad.  "It's the lugger we first
+came upon off that African river."
+
+"What!" cried the lieutenant.  "Impossible!  Run close in, Mr Roberts."
+And the men pulled the cutter close alongside the swift-looking boat
+with its raking masts and lowered lug sails.
+
+"Humph!" said the lieutenant.  "The same build, the same rig, the same
+coloured canvas.  Well, really, Mr Murray, it is a strange
+resemblance."
+
+"I'm almost sure it is the same boat, sir," cried Murray.
+
+"That's as good as saying that the Yankee who tricked us so has sailed
+right across the Atlantic with the slaving schooner, and we have had the
+luck to follow in her track, and caught up to her."
+
+"Yes, sir; I don't think there's any doubt of it," cried Murray.
+
+"Then, if you are right, Mr Murray, the slaving schooner will be
+somewhere close at hand."
+
+"Yes, sir; I hope so," replied Murray.  "I am ready to hope so, my lad,
+but I say it is impossible.  That was a lugger, and this is a lugger,
+and of course there is a certain amount of resemblance in the rig; but
+you are jumping at conclusions just because this is similar."
+
+"I think not, sir.  I took so much notice of the boat; but look here,
+sir, Tom May was with me when I went forward to speak to the Yankee, and
+he would know.--Here, May, isn't that the lugger the American planter
+was on when we brought her to?"
+
+The sailor stared hard at the vessel hanging by a line fastened to what
+seemed to be a cocoanut tree.
+
+"Same build, sir; same rig, sir.  Might have been built up the same
+river, but it arn't the one we saw that day, sir--Wish it was!"
+
+"There, Murray, what do you say now?"
+
+"That I didn't think it possible that I could have been so deceived.
+Would it be possible that it could have been built by the same
+shipwright, sir?"
+
+"Quite, my lad; and it is quite possible that we may come across a
+schooner or two built just like the one we saw escape.  There is no
+doubt that many slaving schooners are built in these islands especially
+for the trade.  Look out, my lads, and don't miss anything.  There may
+be one of them moored safely in a snug creek.--What was that?"
+
+"Nigger, sir," said Tom May.  "I just ketched sight of him squinting at
+us among the trees.  There he is again, sir."
+
+This time Roberts had caught sight of a black figure wearing the very
+simple costume of a pair of loose cotton drawers, his round woolly head
+covered with a broad-brimmed hat formed of extremely thin strips of thin
+cane.
+
+"Scared at us," said the sailor, for as the cutter was rowed alongside
+of the lugger, the black darted out of sight, but, evidently curious to
+know what was going on and the object of the strangers, he peered out
+again.
+
+"Ahoy there!" shouted one of the sailors.
+
+That was enough.  The black disappeared once more, but only for a few
+moments before he was peeping again.
+
+"You hail him this time, Mr Murray," cried the lieutenant.
+
+"Ahoy there!" cried Murray.  "What boat's that?"
+
+The black clung to one of the trees on the bank of the river and watched
+the speaker eagerly.
+
+"He doesn't understand," said the lieutenant.  "I dare say he only
+speaks bad Spanish.  But try him again."
+
+"Can you speak English?" cried Murray.
+
+"Yes, massa!"
+
+"Come, that's better," said the lieutenant.  "Try him again, Mr
+Murray."  And the lad shouted--
+
+"Whose lugger is that?"
+
+"Massa's, sah."
+
+"Oh!" cried Murray; and then obeying a sudden thought, "Where is the
+schooner?"
+
+"Gone sail round um ilum, sah."
+
+"With slaves?" said Murray.
+
+"Gone take big lot black fellow, sah."
+
+"What for?"
+
+"Hoe de cotton, sah; plant de sugar, sah," said the black, showing his
+white teeth.
+
+"When will the schooner come back, Sambo?" said Murray.
+
+"Name not Sambo, sah," said the black.
+
+"What is it then?"
+
+"Jupe, sah, Jupiter."
+
+"Ask him where his master lives."
+
+"Yes, sir!--Where does your master live?"
+
+The black rested the heavy hoe he carried among the thick growth of the
+trees which rang alongside of the stream, and pointed away into the
+dense cover at the back.
+
+"Jupe show massa."
+
+"Is your master away with the schooner?" asked Murray.
+
+"No, sah.  Massa never go to sea.  Cap' Huggum go in um schooner."
+
+"Oh, that's it, is it?" said Mr Anderson.  "Now then, my lad; if we
+land you will show us the way to your master's place?"
+
+"Yes, sah.  Massa Huggum's 'long with massa now."
+
+"Who is Master Huggums?" said the lieutenant.
+
+"Massa, sah.  Make um niggah work, sah;" and as he spoke the black
+showed his teeth, raised his hoe, and brought the handle sharply against
+the trunk of some kind of palm-tree.  "That's de way make um work.  Lazy
+rascal go to sleep.  Massa Huggum wake um up."
+
+"Oh, that's it, is it?  Does he wake you up like that?"
+
+The black burst into a hoarse laugh.
+
+"Iyah, iyah, iyah!" he cackled out, and evidently thoroughly enjoying
+the questioning, he threw himself down in the thick cane growth, rolled
+over and over, and then sprang up again.  "No give Jupe de whip, massa.
+Find Jupe fas' sleep.  _Ck, ck, ck_!"
+
+And he threw out one bare foot as if emulating some one who had heavily
+kicked a slave who was lying asleep.
+
+The feeling of fear that had made the black dart back into the cover of
+the trees had now passed away in favour of a display of eager curiosity,
+and he came close to the boat, where he watched the sailors laying in
+their oars and the coxswain hook on to one of the trees, while the
+officers prepared to land.
+
+"Now, then," said the lieutenant, "show us a dry place; it is all muddy
+here."
+
+"Jupe show landum place, sah," said the man sharply.
+
+"Very well, and then you can lead us up to the house."
+
+"Yes, sah.  Take buccra up through plantashum, but Jupe no dare go."
+
+"What do you mean?" said Mr Anderson.  "You offered to go just now."
+
+"Yes, sah; but Jupe forget all 'bout Massa Huggum.  De overseer go in
+great big pashum, sah.  Call Jupe ugly black nigger, sah."
+
+"What for?"
+
+"Take buccra officer up to plantashum see de niggers, sah."
+
+"Oh, that's how Mr Huggins or Huggum goes on, is it?  Well, never mind
+him," said the lieutenant; "lead us up to your master."
+
+The black showed his teeth again and indulged in his cackling laugh.
+
+"Well, what does that mean, sir?"
+
+"Jupe no dah go, sah.  Massa Huggum say cut him libbah out."
+
+"Never mind Mr Huggins, my lad.  He'd better!  Here, what's your real
+master's name?"
+
+"Massa Allum, sah."
+
+"Well, take us to him."
+
+The black shook his head.
+
+"Mass' Allum 'fraid Massa Huggum, sah.  Massa Huggum call um big name."
+
+"Then this Huggins is the real master; eh, boy?"
+
+"Dat's the trufe, sah.  Ebbery boy in plantation 'fraid of Massa
+Huggum."
+
+"Well, look here, my sable friend, please understand this: nobody here
+is afraid of your Mr Huggins.  Show us the way to the plantation, and
+if he dares to touch you I'll take him on board, and the boatswain's
+mate shall tie him up and give him the cat--flog him; do you
+understand?"
+
+"Mass' say give Mass' Huggum whip?"
+
+"Yes, or any one else, boy.  Now then, show us the way."
+
+"Massa say quite sewer?"
+
+"Yes, quite sure.  Now then, lead on."
+
+The black grinned at everybody in turn, and tramped along by the edge of
+the sluggish stream for some hundred yards before stopping short by the
+trampled bank which was plainly marked, and the commencement of a rough
+path was seen running in amongst the trees.
+
+The lieutenant gave orders for the men to land, a couple of boat-keepers
+were left, and the well-armed crew were ready for starting when a black
+face suddenly presented itself peering round a good-sized tree-trunk and
+gazing curiously at the newcomers.
+
+Murray was the first to catch sight of the fresh comer and draw the
+lieutenant's attention to his appearance.
+
+"Is this one of your men, you sir?" cried the chief officer, and he
+pointed down the winding path.
+
+The black stared for a moment or two before following the direction of
+the officer's pointing hand.  Then catching sight of his fellow black he
+uttered a yell, raised his hoe in both hands, and sent the heavy iron
+implement whirling along the path, to be brought up with a crash against
+a good-sized tree.  But before it came in contact with the trunk the
+black at whom it was aimed sprang in among the bushes and disappeared,
+while the guide trotted on to where the hoe had fallen and picked it up,
+shouting in through the thick growth--
+
+"You let me catch you 'way from your work, you ugly, lazy, black
+rasclum, I crack you cocoanut!"  Then striking the haft of the hoe he
+had picked up against the tree-trunk to tighten the loosened head, he
+turned again to the approaching boat crew.  "Lazy black rasclum," cried
+the grinning guide, as if for the benefit of all the newcomers.  "Jupe
+gib um toco catch him again.  Massa come along now.--Black dog!  Let me
+catch um again!"
+
+The lieutenant frowned and glanced at the two midshipmen, who were
+exchanging glances which meant a great deal.  Then with a shrug of his
+shoulders he made a sign to the black guide to go on, a sign which was
+grasped at once, and the fellow stepped out with his heavy hoe
+shouldered and a grin at the lads.
+
+"Jupe make um run fas'," he said.  "Jupe teach um leave um work!"
+
+"Look sharp, sir, and show the way," cried the chief officer angrily.
+
+"Yes, massa; yes, massa," cried the fellow, grinning.  "Jupe show massa
+de way.  Jupe de boy teach de black fella do de work.  Lazy rasclum.
+Ketchum 'sleep under tree."
+
+"Here, May," cried the lieutenant angrily, "take this black brute
+forward a dozen yards and make him show the way and hold his tongue the
+while."
+
+"Ay, ay, sir!" growled the sailor, with a grim look, as giving his
+musket a hitch and then turning it in his hands he brought the butt
+roughly against the guide's chest.  "Now then, Ebony," he cried,
+"for'ard it is, and drop all that there palaver.  Lead on and show the
+way."
+
+"Yes, sah; Jupe show de--"
+
+"D'yer hear, you black swab!" cried the sailor.  "Show the way to your
+master's house, and keep that talking box of yours shut up, or--"
+
+May made an offer at the black as if to bring the butt of the musket he
+carried down upon his toes, and accompanied it with so meaning a look
+that the guide's eyes opened widely and he was in the act of making a
+dash sidewise into the cane brake at the side, but the sailor's free
+hand came down upon the fellow's shoulder with a loud clap.
+
+"Ah, would you!" he cried.  "None of that!  Bullets run faster than
+legs, my lad."
+
+"That will do, May," cried the lieutenant; "but mind he does not slip
+through your fingers."
+
+"No, sir; right, sir," said the sailor, keeping a firm grip upon the
+black's shoulder and seeming to steer him in and out along the windings
+of the rough track, while the boat's crew and officers followed behind.
+
+"The black fellow disgusted me, gentlemen," said the lieutenant, turning
+a glance at the lads.  "Jack in office generally proves to be the worst
+tyrant."
+
+The distance from the creek proved far greater than the officers
+expected, and they threaded the forest for hours before they came upon
+cultivated plantations dotted with black figures hard at work, and
+evidently superintended by men of the same type as the guide, who moved
+forward quietly and quite cowed by the stern-looking seaman who had him
+in custody, and who at last stopped short pointing at a long, low,
+well-built house half hidden amongst the trees and beautiful enough to
+raise an exclamation from Murray.
+
+"Yes, the place looks beautiful enough," said the lieutenant, "but I'm
+afraid its beauty depends upon the supply of poor wretches who are
+forced to labour beneath the burning sun with the lash as a stimulus
+whenever they show signs of slackening.  Oh, here we are," continued the
+speaker.  "Is this the redoubtable Mr Huggins?"
+
+"No, sir; I should say it would be Mr Allen," replied Murray.
+
+"Yes, you must be right, Mr Murray," said the lieutenant.  "He looks
+more like a sick man than the owner of a slave plantation."
+
+For a quiet, subdued-looking individual in white cotton garments had
+stepped out of a wide window with green painted open jalousies, to take
+off his Panama straw hat and stand screening his eyes with his hand.
+
+The next minute the officer had halted his men in front of the place,
+and May touched his hat.
+
+"Let the prisoner go, sir?"
+
+"Yes: we can find our way back;" and as the sailor slackened his grasp
+and gave his head a jerk in the direction of the well-tilled fields, the
+black made a bound and dashed off, turning sharply before reaching the
+edge of the trees which backed up the house and seemed to shelter a
+range of buildings, to raise his hoe and shake it threateningly at the
+sailor.
+
+"That man ought not to behave in this way," said the gentleman who had
+stepped out.  "Has he been insolent to you, sir?"
+
+"More unpleasant than insolent," replied the lieutenant.  "I have
+required him for a guide to find your house, sir."
+
+"Ah!" said the former speaker slowly, as he looked slowly round.  "You
+are an officer from one of the King's ships?"
+
+"Yes, sir; exactly so," replied the gentleman addressed.
+
+"And I presume that your ship is off the island.  Can I be of any
+service to you?"
+
+"Well, yes," said Mr Anderson, "by giving me the information I am
+seeking."
+
+"I shall be glad to do so, sir, of course.  May I ask what you require?"
+
+"Information about the slaving that is carried on here.  I see you
+employ many slaves."
+
+The stranger winced slightly, and then bowed his head.
+
+"Yes," he said; "I have a large tract of cultivated land here in sugar,
+cotton and a little coffee, but I have a right to employ slave labour
+after the fashion of many of my fellow-countrymen."
+
+"No doubt, sir," said the lieutenant firmly, while the two midshipmen
+and the boat's crew stood listening and looking on--"slaves born upon
+your estate."
+
+The owner of the plantation winced again, and then in a nervous
+hesitating way continued--
+
+"I have employed slave labour for many years now, sir, and I hope with
+humanity and quite in accordance with the law."
+
+"I am sorry to say, sir," said the lieutenant, "that my captain has been
+otherwise informed.  He has been given to understand that at this
+plantation and in connection herewith a regular trade in the unfortunate
+blacks is systematically carried on."
+
+"Do I understand, sir," said the planter, in the same low hesitating
+fashion, "that you are connected with one of the King's ships whose
+object is to suppress the slave-trade?"
+
+"Yes, sir; that is quite right."
+
+"Will you step in, sir?" said the planter.  "You are heated with your
+walk in the hot sun, and your men must need refreshment."
+
+The lieutenant shrugged his shoulders and said gravely, "I am here, sir,
+to do my duty."
+
+"Yes, of course, sir," said the planter; "and I beg you will not think
+that I am trying to bribe you in any way.  I am not surprised at this
+visit.  I have expected it for years.  I am sorry, sir, but I must own
+it: I am not my own master."
+
+At this moment another figure appeared upon the scene in the shape of a
+little thin yellow-complexioned man, dressed like the planter in white
+cotton, and wearing a similar hat of Panama make.  He stepped out of the
+French window where the late speaker had appeared, but with a quick,
+eager movement, and as he stood glancing sharply round the lieutenant
+and the midshipmen simultaneously gave a start which seemed to be
+communicated to the whole of the party, and with a thrill of excitement
+running through him Murray whispered sharply--
+
+"Our friend the Yankee, Dick!"
+
+"Yes," whispered back that individual, "and we're going to hold him
+tight."
+
+As for the lieutenant, he took a couple of steps forward, and exclaimed
+in a sarcastic tone of voice--
+
+"How do, sir!  I think we have met before."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.
+
+THE OVERSEER.
+
+The American turned quickly at the officer's words, and looked at him
+curiously.
+
+"Met?" he said, without the slightest sign of recognition.  "Very like,
+sirr," he added, in a peculiar drawl; "where was it?"
+
+"You do not seem to remember," said the lieutenant.  "Let me refresh
+your memory: a few weeks back, off the coast of Africa."
+
+The man half-closed his eyes and stared hard at the first lieutenant and
+then at the two middies in turn.
+
+"Last year, yew mean, squire?" he said.  "No: don't seem to know you
+again."
+
+"Then I shall have to refresh your memory a little more.  Mr Murray,"
+continued the officer, "who do you say this man is?"
+
+"The indiarubber planter, sir, who played us that trick."
+
+The man turned sharply upon the lad.
+
+"And who do you say he is, Mr Roberts?"
+
+"The skipper of the lugger, sir, who guided us up the African river."
+
+"There," said the lieutenant; "will that do for you?"
+
+"I guess I don't know what you are talking about, mister," said the man
+sharply.  "You said something about a trick.  Is this some trick of
+yours?"
+
+"Why, confound your impudence, sir!" cried the lieutenant hotly.  "How
+dare you speak like this to a King's officer!"
+
+"Don't get in a fuss, mister," said the Yankee coolly.  "We don't deal
+in King's officers here, and don't want to.  Here, Mr Allen, you're an
+Englishman; these people are more in your way.  What do they want?"
+
+"It is the lieutenant of a ship that has cast anchor here, Huggins,"
+said the gentleman addressed agitatedly.  "It is about the slaves."
+
+"Eh?  About the slaves?  Our slaves--your slaves?  Well, what about
+'em?"
+
+"Yes; about the slaves we have here.  You understand?"
+
+"Not me!  Not a bit.  He's been talking to you, has he?"
+
+"Yes--yes."
+
+"Well, then, you'd better finish the business.  Tell him I don't want to
+trade any away.  We've got no more than will get in the crops."
+
+"Speak to him," said the other, who seemed to grow more nervous and
+agitated.
+
+"Oh, very well.  Look here, mister; you've come to the wrong shop.  I
+don't understand what you mean by making believe to know me, but I don't
+know you, and I'm not going to trade in blacks with any British ship.
+Understand?"
+
+"Understand, sir?" cried the lieutenant, who was growing scarlet with
+heat and wrath.  "It seems to me that you do not understand.  Pray, who
+are you?"
+
+"Business man and overseer of this plantation for my friend here, Mr
+James Allen, who trusts me to carry on his affairs for him, being a sick
+man just getting over a fever.  There, I don't want to be surly to an
+English officer, though I never found one civil to me.  You've dropped
+anchor off here, and I suppose you want water.  Well, if you do I'll put
+a gang of my slaves on to help your men fill their casks."
+
+"I am exceedingly obliged to you, sir," said the lieutenant
+sarcastically.
+
+"Wal, that's spoke better," said the American.  "And if you want some
+fresh meat and vegetables you can have a boat-load or two if you like to
+pay for 'em with a chest or so of tea.  You'd like a few bottles o' port
+wine, too, for your complaint, wouldn't you, Allen?" he continued,
+turning to the pale, nervous man at his side.
+
+"Yes--yes," faltered the poor fellow.
+
+"Really, you are too condescending," cried the lieutenant.  "Mr
+Roberts--Mr Murray--did you ever hear the like of this?  Here, May--
+Titely--what do you say to this American gentleman?"
+
+Tom May took off his straw hat and gave his curly hair a rake with his
+fingers, while Titely stared with all his might.
+
+"It caps me, sir," said the latter, while Tom May looked at the
+American, then at the two middies in turn, and shook his head.
+
+"Well, sir, why don't you speak?" cried his officer angrily.
+
+"'Cause it's such a rum un, sir."
+
+"Bah!  Speak out, man, and don't hesitate.  You remember seeing this man
+before?"
+
+"Well, sir, I seem to ha' seen him afore, and then I don't seem, and get
+kind o' mixed up.  Sometimes it looks like him and sometimes it don't
+look like him, sir.  Beg your pardon, sir, but would you mind asking my
+messmate here--Titely?"
+
+"Bah, man!  The sun has made you giddy."
+
+"Well, skipper, when you like I'm ready for an answer.  Want the water
+and fresh vittles?"
+
+"My dear Huggins," said the trembling owner of the place, "it would be
+far better if you explained to the King's officer--"
+
+"You leave me and the King's officer alone, James Allen," said the
+American sturdily.
+
+"But I'm sure--" whispered the planter.
+
+"So'm I.  You keep your tongue between your teeth, and I dessay we can
+settle matters.  Look here, Mr Officer, I'm boss of all the business
+here, and you needn't take no notice of this gentleman.  I telled you
+that Mr Allen has been in bed with fever, and it's left him, as you
+see, very shaky upon his legs.  Your coming has upset him and made him a
+bit nervous.  Here, I'll put in a word for him, poor chap.  Jes' you ask
+your skipper to give him a small bottle o' quinine.  You won't want
+paying for that, being charity."
+
+The lieutenant turned his back upon the speaker angrily, and spoke to
+the feeble-looking planter.
+
+"Look here, sir," he cried, "you are nominally owner of this plantation
+and the slaves upon it."
+
+"Now, look here, mister," said the American angrily; "I spoke civil to
+you, and I offered to help you and your ship with what you wanted in the
+way of fresh meat and vegetables.  What's the good of returning stones
+for stuff?"
+
+"My good fellow, will you be silent," cried the lieutenant, "and let me
+deal with your master?"
+
+"My master!" snarled the American.  "I am my own master, sirr.  I tell
+you I'm boss of all this here show, and if I like to turn nasty--"
+
+"My dear Huggins--" interposed the planter.
+
+"Shut your mouth, you old fool," growled the American, "and don't
+interfere."
+
+"Why, you insulting scoundrel!" roared the lieutenant.  "Here, Mr
+Allen--that is your name, I believe?--you had better leave this matter
+in my hands, and I will settle it."
+
+The American stood listening with his eyes half closed and a peculiarly
+ugly look upon his countenance, while the planter made a deprecating
+sign with his hands.
+
+"I see very plainly, sir," continued the lieutenant, "that this insolent
+Yankee is presuming upon your weak state of health and assuming a power
+that he cannot maintain.  You have been placing yourself in a position
+in which it would be better to--"
+
+"Now see here, stranger," burst in the American, "I'm a man who can
+stand a deal, but you can go too far.  You come swaggering here with a
+boat-load of your men and think that you're going to frighten me, sirr--
+but you're just about wrong, for if I like to call up my men they'd
+bundle you and your lot back into your boat--for I suppose you have got
+one."
+
+"Look here, sir," said the lieutenant, as he caught the flashing eyes of
+the two middies and the fidgety movements of his men, "I am loth to
+treat an American with harshness, but take this as a warning; if you
+insult your master and me again I'll have you put in irons."
+
+"What!" cried the man, with a contemptuous laugh.  "You'd better!"
+
+The lieutenant started slightly, and that movement seemed to tighten up
+the nerves of his men.
+
+"Can't you understand, sirr, that if I like to hold back you'll get no
+provisions or water here?"
+
+"Confound your supplies, sir!  And look here, if I must deal with you
+let me tell you that I have good reason to believe that under the
+pretence of acting as a planter here, you are carrying on a regular
+trade in slaves with the vile chiefs of the West Coast of Africa."
+
+"I don't care what you believe, mister," said the American defiantly.
+"I am working this plantation and producing sugar, coffee and cotton--
+honest goods, mister, and straightforward merchandise.  Who are you, I
+should like to know, as comes bullying and insulting me about the tools
+I use for my projuce!"
+
+"You soon shall know, sir," said the lieutenant, and he just glanced at
+the pale, trembling man, who had sunk into a cane chair, in which he lay
+back to begin wiping his streaming brow--"I am an officer of his
+Britannic Majesty's sloop of war _Seafowl_, sent to clear the seas of
+the miscreants who, worse than murderers, are trading in the wretched
+prisoners of war who are sold to them by the African chiefs."
+
+"Don't get up too much of it, Mr Officer," said the American,
+deliberately taking out a very large black cigar from his breast pocket
+and thrusting it between his lips, before dropping into another cane
+chair and clapping his hands; "this here ain't a theayter, and you ain't
+acting.  That there's very pretty about his Britannic Majesty's sloop of
+war.  Look here, sirr; bother his Britannic Majesty!"
+
+At these last words a thrill of rage seemed to run through the line of
+sailors, and they stood waiting for an order which did not come, for the
+lieutenant only smiled at the American's insolent bravado and waited
+before interfering with him to hear what more he had to say.
+
+"It sounds very lively and high faluting about your sweeping the high
+seas of miscreants, as you call 'em, and all that other stuff as you
+keep on hunting up with African chiefs and such like; but what's that
+got to do with an invalid English gentleman as invests his money in
+sugar, coffee and cotton, and what has it to do with his trusted
+Aymurrican experienced planter as looks after his black farm hands, eh?"
+
+"Only this, sir," said the lieutenant, "that if he or they are proved to
+be mixed up with this horrible nefarious trade they will be answerable
+to one of the British courts of law, their mart will be destroyed, and
+their vessels engaged in the trade will become prizes to his Majesty's
+cruiser."
+
+"Say, mister," said the American coolly--and then to a shivering black
+who had come out of the house bearing a coarse yellow wax candle which
+he tried to shelter between his hands, evidently in dread lest it should
+become extinct,--"Take care, you black cuss, or you'll have it out!"
+
+Murray heard the poor fellow utter a sigh of relief, but he did not even
+wince, only stood motionless as his tyrant took the wax taper, held it
+to his cigar till it burned well, and then extinguished it by placing
+the little wick against the black man's bare arm, before pitching the
+wax to the man, who caught it and hurried away.
+
+"Say, mister," said the overseer again, "don't you think you fire off a
+little too much of your Britannic Majesty and your King George
+fireworks?"
+
+"Go on, sir," said the lieutenant, biting his lip.  "Yes, that's what
+I'm going to do," continued the man coolly.  "What's all this here got
+to do with a free-born Aymurrican citizen?"
+
+"Only this, sir, that your so-called American citizen will have no
+protection from a great country for such a nefarious transaction."
+
+"There you go again, mister!  That's I don't know how many times you've
+let off that there prize word of yours, neefarious.  There, don't bluff,
+sir; to use your old country word, them as plays at bowls must expeck
+rubbers.  No, no, no, don't you begin ordering your fellows to meddle
+with me, because I'm rather nasty when I'm interfered with, 'sides which
+I've got some one inside the house to take care of me if it was wanted,
+as you can see for yourself--twenty of 'em, boys who can use a rifle;
+and that's what your chaps can't do."
+
+In spite of himself the lieutenant started and raised his eyes, to
+become aware of the fact that some dozen or fourteen rifle barrels were
+protruding from the windows of the long low house, while others were
+being thrust from another building away to the right--a shed-like place
+that had been unnoticed before, through its covering of densely growing
+creepers.
+
+"Don't do that, youngsters," said the American, with a sneering laugh;
+"they wouldn't hurt anybody if you pulled 'em out, and some of my
+fellows indoors might take it as what you call a signal to draw their
+knives."
+
+"Trapped!" muttered the lieutenant to himself; but he did not wince,
+only stood thinking out to himself what would be his best course to
+pursue, and his musings were interrupted by the American, who lay back
+sending forth great puffs of smoke without a quiver visible in his face.
+
+"Looks nasty, don't it, Mr Officer?" said the man, in his long, slow
+drawl.  "But don't you be skeart; they won't fire without I give the
+order or they see me hurt.  Then I won't answer for them.  'Tain't
+because they're so fond of me, youngsters," he continued, with an ugly
+cat-like grin, "because they ain't; but they're afraid, and that's a
+good deal better for me.  And look here, they're lying back there in the
+dark because I told 'em to, and you can't see them; but they're not
+niggers--oh no!  You can't trust niggers to fight.  Your Jack Tars there
+would send a hundred of 'em running.  Niggers are good field hands, and
+my chaps are bad at that, but they can fight, and so I tell you.  Now,
+skipper," he continued, turning quietly to the lieutenant, who was
+pressing his lower lip hard between his teeth, "I think we understand
+one another now, and that you see I didn't put up any bunkum when I
+telled you that I was boss of this show.  So you let me alone, and I'll
+let you."
+
+"Sir," said the lieutenant firmly, "I give you fair warning that if harm
+happens to a man of my party my captain will land a force that will burn
+this place to the ground."
+
+"Very kind of him, too," said the man grimly, "but he won't, because he
+mustn't.  You don't seem to savvy, skipper, that you ain't at home here.
+Do you know, sir, where you are?"
+
+"Yes, sir; on the shores of one of his Majesty's West Indian Islands."
+
+"I thought so, squire; well, then, you're jest about wrong, and you've
+no more business here than if this here was Spain.  I dessay you think
+you can hyste the British flag here, but I tell you that you can't, for
+this here island is called South Baltimore, and whenever a flag is
+hysted here it's the stars and stripes and the Aymurrican eagle, what
+some fellows call the goose and gridiron; and that's so."
+
+"South Baltimore!" cried the lieutenant, who looked puzzled by the
+announcement.  "And pray, sir, who gave the island that name?"
+
+"I did," said the Yankee drily.  "Now then, will that do for you?"
+
+"No, it will not do," cried the lieutenant hotly.  "My officer will need
+some far better explanation--one based upon greater authority than
+this--before he gives up the duty he has to fulfil."
+
+"Vurry well, sir, let him go and find a better explanation, then.  It
+don't trouble me.  Only you had better march your men back aboard your
+schooner, or brig, or whatever you call it, before they get falling out
+with my fellows.  You see yon men's sailors like yours are, and my
+fellows may get upset by your chaps, for I always find that British
+sailors get a bit sarcy and quarrelsome when they come ashore, and no
+matter how quiet and patient the Aymurricans, they lay themselves out
+for a fight."
+
+"As in the present case, sir," said the lieutenant sarcastically.
+
+"Jes' so, squire.  So now you take my advice and march your chaps back
+again.  You see how the land lies, and as I've said afore, I don't want
+to ride rusty over your skipper.  You've on'y got to send word ashore as
+you wants fresh provisions and water, and say as you're ready to make a
+fair swap with a few things as we want, and there you are."
+
+The lieutenant stood frowning in silence, turning his eyes from the
+American to the feeble-looking planter, and from him to the two middies
+and his men, in each case finding that he was being watched eagerly,
+every eye seeming to ask the same question--what are you going to do?--
+while on his part he felt the impossibility of responding.
+
+For the responsibility he felt was almost maddening.  It was plain
+enough that his men called upon him to resent the American planter's
+insolence, and that if he did not do so at once, not only would the two
+lads and his men look upon his behaviour as cowardly and degrading to
+the British _prestige_, but the Yankee and his faintly seen scum of
+followers would treat the whole party with contempt.
+
+It was a painful position, for the Yankee had plainly shown him the
+risks he ran.  He would not have hesitated for a moment, in spite of the
+display of armed men ready to attack, for if he had felt free to act he
+would have chanced everything, depending as he felt he could upon his
+little party of thoroughly well-drilled able-bodied seamen, and boldly
+attacked at once; but he had to think of his captain and the great risk
+he ran of bringing him into difficulties and forcing him to answer for
+some international difficulty over the rights of the United States,
+which, if the American overseer was right, were sure to be jealously
+maintained.
+
+It was hard to do, and Murray noticed a peculiar twitching about his
+officer's lips as he turned at last to the smiling, sneering man, his
+first words showing his hearers how bitterly he felt his position and
+the necessity for obeying the teachings of the proverb that discretion
+is the better part of valour.
+
+"Well, sir," he said, in a cold, hard fashion, "I have heard all that
+you have to say.  As to the correctness of your statement that we are
+not upon British soil, I must leave that to my superior's judgment and
+decision, for certainly I cannot feel that it is my duty to proceed
+farther without drawing off my men and going back to lay the matter
+before Captain Kingsberry."
+
+"That's right, Mr Lieutenant," said the overseer.  "Nothing like it.
+You always do that; when you find yourself in a tight corner, you get
+out of it as soon as you can."
+
+"Ha, ha, ha!" rang out in a harsh, discordant tone from somewhere inside
+the house, and this acted as the signal for a burst of jeering laughter
+which made the lieutenant wince and his face turn pale even to his lips,
+which he bit until they were white, while a low, dull murmur that
+sounded like the threatening premonitory growl of the British bulldog
+being pricked by an insult, ran through the group of sailors.
+
+"Silence, there!" cried the lieutenant, in a choking voice; and the
+murmur died away.
+
+"That's right, Mr Officer," said the American.  "Yew always drop on to
+your fellows sharply when they show signs of mutiny.  I allus do.  And
+you within there, none of that row.  Quiet, do you hear?"
+
+There was another low mocking laugh, but the American paid no heed, only
+went on talking at Mr Anderson.
+
+"That was very good of you, squire, but while you're about it if I were
+you I'd just say a word or two to them two bantam-cock-like boys of
+officers of yours, who keep on sneering like at my men and setting their
+backs up.  You don't mean it, of course, being ready to do what's right.
+So you give 'em a good talking to when you get 'em back safe aboard.
+You'd best do it, for if them puppies keep on that how they may make my
+chaps wild.  Now just look at that!"
+
+For the two midshipmen had been growing warmer for some minutes past as
+they listened to the American's insulting language, and at last, hot
+with annoyance, Murray, unable to contain himself and forgetting
+discipline, clapped his hand upon his side-arms and took a step forward,
+his eyes flashing with boyish anger, and exclaimed--
+
+"Do you mean that insulting language for me, sir?"
+
+Perhaps there was something in the lad's manner, as in that of Roberts',
+who immediately followed his example, or maybe the overseer's men were
+only waiting for an opportunity to be aggressive.  At any rate, they
+seized upon the opportunity to burst out into a derisive laugh.
+
+"Quiet!  Steady, my lads!" cried the lieutenant fiercely.
+
+"But, sir--" began Murray hotly.
+
+"Silence, sir!" roared his officer; and then what happened was too much
+for him, for a dark shadow came from somewhere amongst the trees, a
+shadow-like something which described a curve and struck the speaker
+full in the chest, and fell to the ground in the shape of a great
+unhusked cocoanut.
+
+In an instant the lieutenant's hand flew to his sword, but he checked
+himself.  His act, though, had its effect, for there was a yell of
+laughter, and the one great nut was followed by a shower, two of which
+half drove the two young officers mad as they struck heavily, the rest
+having effect amongst the sailors, who with one impulse fell into line
+and presented arms.
+
+There was another yell of laughter, and the overseer sprang up from his
+cane chair.
+
+"That'll do!" he shouted; but he made no effort further to check his
+men, but dashed in through one of the open windows of the house, just as
+from another came the sharp flash and puff of smoke from a rifle,
+followed by a ragged volley from the creeper-covered building that lay
+farther back.
+
+This was answered by a fierce British cheer and a rush on the part of
+the sailors, who either carried their officers with them or were led--no
+one afterwards seemed to know--but in almost less time than it takes to
+describe, the little party of sailors swept through the plantation house
+from front to back, driving its defenders before them, and without
+firing a shot till a few desultory rifle-shots began to spatter from the
+thick patch of tropic forest which sheltered the back of the attractive
+dwelling.  Then, and then only, three or four volleys silenced the
+enemy's fire, and it was evident that the overseer and his men had now
+fled, taking with them the planter, if he had not retreated by his own
+efforts, for he was nowhere visible.  Then all was silence as soon as
+the rustling and crackling of cane and the heavy shaddock-like foliage
+had ceased.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.
+
+MURRAY'S MISSION.
+
+"Hah!  I did not mean this," cried the lieutenant; and his eyes lit upon
+Murray, who winced and felt guilty as he stood dirk in hand panting and
+waiting for his superior officer's reproof, which he felt must come.
+"Ah, Mr Murray," he continued, as he took off his hat and wiped his
+forehead, "you there?  Any one hurt?"
+
+"I saw Tom May fall, sir," replied the lad, as the incident was brought
+to his mind by his officer's question.
+
+"Picked him up again, sir," came in a deep growl, "but two of our
+messmates has got it, I find."
+
+"That's bad," said the lieutenant.  "Who are they?"
+
+There was no response, and the lieutenant turned sharply upon the
+midshipman.
+
+"Mr Murray," he said, "take two men, May and another, and try if you
+can find your way down to the boat.  Do you think you can?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Off with you, then, at the double.  When you reach the boat, out oars,
+and with the two boat-keepers try and reach the sloop.  Don't run more
+risks than you can help.  If you are cut off by enemies on the banks,
+retreat back to me here and help me hold this place until the captain
+sends a force to my relief.  You will report to Captain Kingsberry that
+I did everything possible to avoid an encounter.  But there--you know.
+I trust to your discretion, my lad, in spite of your late mistake.
+There, take May and Titely.  Now off."
+
+Just at that moment Roberts, who had been standing close at hand,
+stepped forward, to cry eagerly--
+
+"Did you say I was to go with Murray, sir?"
+
+"What, you?  Go with Murray?" cried the lieutenant.  "No, sir.  What!
+Do you want to leave me in the lurch?"  Then, knowing from old
+experience the jealous motive which animated the lad who was left out of
+the commission, the officer clapped the midshipman on one shoulder
+warmly.  "No, no, Roberts; I can't spare you.  I want your help, my lad;
+and besides, you will be safer with me than with Murray."
+
+Roberts winced and turned a reproachful look upon his officer.
+
+"I wasn't trying to make myself safe, sir," he said bitterly.  "I wanted
+to be in the thick of it all, sir, and not left out as usual."
+
+"Of course you did, my boy; and that's where you are going to be, I
+expect."
+
+By this time Murray and his two men were passing out of sight, followed
+by the midshipman's longing eyes; and directly after the lad had
+forgotten his disappointment in the orders he was busily trying to obey.
+For in the full belief that the overseer would return with his
+followers, the lieutenant set to work trying to put the house in a state
+of defence.
+
+This was no easy task, for with four times the number of men that were
+at his service the officer would have found it difficult to bar and
+barricade the lower windows of the plantation house and secure the doors
+back and front.
+
+Fortunately it was soon found that the occupant or builder of the house
+must have had some notion of the possibility of an attack being made
+upon the place, for the doors were strong, the lower windows were each
+furnished with stout shutters and bars, and these having been secured
+and the bottom of the staircase carefully barricaded, a better chance
+was offered for holding the house, that is, of defending the first floor
+from any attack that might be made from within or without.
+
+"There, Mr Roberts," cried the lieutenant, "I think that is all we can
+do for the present, and if our friend the overseer ventures to bring his
+men on we shall be able to give a good account of a few of them.  Can
+you suggest anything more to strengthen the bottom of that staircase?"
+
+"I think we might drag some of those chests out of the rooms, sir, on to
+the landing, ready to pile in front of the stairs."
+
+"Good, my lad; it shall be done," cried the lieutenant; "but in addition
+let the lads fill up every bucket, can and jug we can find."
+
+"I did see to that, sir, and I am sure that we have more than the men
+can drink."
+
+"I was not thinking of drinking, my lad," said the lieutenant, "but of
+quenching the fire that may be started by our enemies."
+
+"You don't think that they will try to fire the place, sir?" said the
+lad.
+
+"Indeed, but I do, my lad.  But at any rate we must be prepared for such
+an attack."
+
+Roberts puckered up his forehead and looked aghast at his officer, and
+then bidding four of the men follow him, he did his best to collect
+together on the landing of the well-appointed building a pretty fair
+supply of the element necessary for extinguishing the first
+out-breakings of fire which might be started by the expected foe.
+
+"Well done, Mr Roberts," said the lieutenant; "but we've rather upset
+this Mr--Mr--What's his name?"
+
+"Allen, sir."
+
+"Yes--Allen.  Upset Mr Allen's house.  It's a bit of a surprise to find
+an English gentleman.--Yes, gentleman, Mr Roberts: he is evidently
+quite a gentleman, although he is completely under that Yankee
+scoundrel's thumb.  But what was I saying?  Oh, it's rather a surprise
+to find an English gentleman living like this in an out-of-the-way West
+Indian island?"
+
+"That's what I thought, sir," replied Roberts.
+
+"Ah, well, you need not feel so again, for numbers of men of our best
+families have settled out like this in the plantations, built themselves
+good houses, and surrounded themselves with every comfort, and grown
+rich producing sugar, coffee, cotton and rum by means of a large staff
+of slaves.  We have fallen upon one of these estates, but in this case
+the Yankee overseer seems to be the master, and the real master the
+slave."
+
+"It seems strange, sir, doesn't it?" said Roberts, who was standing by
+one of the first floor windows keeping a sharp look out for danger.
+
+"To a certain extent, my lad," said the officer, "but I have made a
+shrewd guess at what has been going on, and it strikes me that our
+friend Mr Allen has been dabbling largely in the trade that we are here
+to suppress."
+
+"You think that, sir?"
+
+"Yes, my lad--and repented of it when too late, and found himself, after
+growing disgusted with it, unable to draw back on account of this man,
+who has committed him deeply."
+
+"Yes, I see, sir," cried Roberts eagerly.  "That would account for the
+American's overbearing insolence to this Mr Allen and to you, sir.  But
+surely he cannot be right about the island here being under the American
+Government?"
+
+"Certainly not, I think, Mr Roberts," said the lieutenant decisively;
+"but I do think this, that he might have kept up the assertion that he
+was correct and made complaints to the Americans and called our visit
+here a trespass.  This would have caused an enormous amount of trouble
+to the captain, and so much official correspondence that we should have
+bitterly repented coming here in search of a newly-run cargo of slaves."
+
+"Do you think we shall find one here, sir?" asked Roberts.
+
+"I feel pretty certain, my lad, as certain as that we should not have
+dared to prosecute our search in face of the scoundrel's defiance and
+bravado.  But now the tide has completely set in our favour."
+
+"In our favour, sir?" said Roberts wonderingly.
+
+"Why, of course, my lad.  If our visit here had been aggression, all the
+rascal had to do was to call upon us, after his declaration, to
+withdraw; and that was what he meant to do, although the fellow's
+natural insolence induced him to do so in that bullying way."
+
+"And instead of keeping to what he had a right to do, sir," cried the
+middy eagerly, "he let his blackguardly followers attack us as they
+did."
+
+"That's right, Mr Roberts," said the lieutenant; "though I must give
+him the credit of saying that I am sure he never intended that attack.
+He has evidently such a loose rough lot of followers that they became
+out of control, and the result is that they have completely given their
+leader away and played into my hands."
+
+"Of course, sir.  Nothing could excuse that attack."
+
+"Nothing, my lad.  I am master here now, and I feel sure that we shall
+find more than I dared to expect.  I believe now that this is a regular
+Western depot for slaves, and a find that will make up to Captain
+Kingsberry for all previous disappointments."
+
+"Glorious, sir!" cried Roberts.  "But of course this Huggins can't be
+the man we saw in the lugger off the African river."
+
+"Of course not, my lad; but he quite deceived me for the time.  He is
+almost exactly the same in appearance, in voice, manner and speech, and
+the only way in which I can account for it is that both men are engaged
+in the same hideously brutal trade, and that has in time made them
+similar in habit."
+
+"There seems something in that, sir," said Roberts thoughtfully.
+
+"Seems, Roberts?  Is," said the lieutenant, smiling; "and you must add
+to it another point of resemblance: they are both Americans of the same
+degenerate type--little, thin, dark-haired, and speaking in the same
+tone of voice and in the same sneering contemptuous fashion.  But of
+course if we had them both together we should see a strong difference.
+What are you looking at?  See anything?"
+
+"I fancied I could make out something moving across that opening yonder,
+sir," said the lad, leaning a little out of the window.
+
+"I trust not," said the lieutenant, shading his eyes with his hand.  "I
+was in hopes that we had given the fellows such a lesson that they would
+keep away for the present, at all events, for I want no fighting, no
+wounding the enemy, no injuries more than we have received upon our
+side.  I want just to hold our own, Roberts, till our friend Mr Murray
+or Mr Munday brings us help."
+
+"Yes, sir, but there is some movement going on there just among the
+tall-growing coarse reeds."
+
+"Sugar-cane stems, Mr Roberts," said the lieutenant firmly.  "Yes, you
+are right; there is movement there, and the scoundrels have not taken
+their lesson to heart.  Well, I do not see what more we can do to
+prepare for them.  They cannot get up to us without ladders or poles,
+and from our sheltered position we ought to set firing at defiance,
+while they allow us plenty of opportunities for giving them another
+lesson.--What is it, my lad?"
+
+The speaker turned to the big sailor who had just trotted up to the
+door.
+
+"Beg pardon, sir, but Lang reports enemy creeping through the sugar-cane
+a bit for'ard here to the left, and Duncombe says he can see 'bout a
+dozen on 'em out at the back looking as if they meant a rush."
+
+"Hah!  That is fresh," said the lieutenant.  "Mr Roberts here made out
+those amongst the canes.  I'll come and look.  You, Mr Roberts have the
+goodness to keep your eye on them and hold your fire until they show a
+determination to come on.  Then you must fire; but fire low.  We must
+cripple and not kill."
+
+"Yes, sir," said Roberts, and he sheltered himself behind one of the
+curtains of the well-furnished English-looking bedroom where he and the
+officer had been watching.  And then, as the latter walked quickly out,
+followed by the sailor who had made his report, a terrible sense of
+loneliness fell upon the youth, accompanied by a shortness of breath, as
+his heart began to beat with a heavy dull throb that sounded loud and
+strange.
+
+He was gazing out at a scene of tropical beauty, the wild and the
+cultivated blending so that at another time he could have stood in the
+perfect silence dwelling upon the loveliness of the place.  But now
+there was a feeling of awe that seemed to over-master everything, while
+the very fact that where he had plainly made out the movement of figures
+as they evidently sought concealment, all was now motionless, and not a
+leaf waved or was pressed aside, added to the weirdness of his position,
+and made him draw farther back in the full expectation that the next
+moment the vivid green of the surroundings would be cut by a flash of
+light and then turn dim as it was deadened by the rising smoke of a
+shot.
+
+"I wish I wasn't such a coward," he muttered.  "I do try hard to stand
+it all, and get on beautifully when the firing and spear-throwing are
+going on, but now, when the enemy may be going to throw a spear or fire
+a shot at one, it does seem so hard to bear.  No worse for me than for
+other fellows," he muttered bitterly, "but I am myself and they are
+other fellows.  Ugh!  I suppose it's a very beautiful place, but it
+seems very horrible, and it makes a fellow wish that if he is to be
+wounded it would come off at once so that one could get it over.
+There's some one creeping along there now," he muttered.  "I'll shout a
+warning to Mr Anderson.  No, whoever it is doesn't seem to be coming
+on, and it looks so stupid to shout for help when there's no need."
+
+For all was perfectly motionless amongst the vivid green leaves, save
+where from time to time there was a flash of light--red light--topaz
+light--and that changing to a vivid green that looked as if it were
+blazing in the burning sun, and he grasped the fact that he was gazing
+at some lovely humming bird that darted here and there and then poised
+itself, apparently motionless, till he made out that there was a faint
+haze visible which must be caused by the rapid vibration of the tiny
+creature's wings.
+
+"Yes," he said to himself, "it's as beautiful as can be--that is, it
+would be if everything wasn't so silent and still and one didn't know
+that people were ready at any moment to take aim at one with rifle or
+musket.  He said that they used rifles--the wretch!  It's a nasty
+sensation, when you don't want to shoot any one, to feel that they want
+to shoot you."
+
+"Oh, what a while Mr Anderson is!" muttered the lad again.  "He might
+make haste back to a fellow.  He can't be obliged to stop away watching,
+and he ought to visit his posts regularly so as to give each of us a bit
+of company."
+
+Roberts gazed from his sheltering curtain as far as his eyes could sweep
+to left and round to right, going over and over again the arc of the
+circle formed by his vision where he had plainly seen movement going on
+and people creeping amidst the rich growth of the huge saccharine grass;
+but all was motionless and still, and the silence seemed to grow more
+and more awful as he watched.
+
+"Oh," he groaned to himself, "why didn't I make a dash for it and follow
+old Murray without saying a word?  It wouldn't have been half so bad as
+this, and even if it had been a more risky task--no, it couldn't have
+been more risky than this--I could have borne it better.  Wonder where
+he is, and whether he would have felt as bad as I do now if he had had
+my job.  Ugh!  It's horribly still, and if old Anderson doesn't come
+soon I shall make some excuse and go to him."
+
+"Yes," he continued, "Franky would have felt just as bad as I do.  He
+must have done.  No one could help it.  No man could stand this terrible
+silence and the sensation that a shot was coming at him.  No man could
+bear it--no man.  Oh, I say, doesn't it seem bumptious for one to think
+of himself as a man?  Well, why shouldn't I be?  It's man's work, at all
+events.  Oh, I can't stand it.  I must make some excuse.  I'll ask Mr
+Anderson to come and see if he doesn't think there is some one crawling
+along there to the right.  No, I won't--I can't--I must master it.  It's
+sheer cowardice!  And if it is," he added, after a few moments' pause,
+"it's Nature's fault for making a fellow like this.  I don't want to be
+a coward; I want to be as brave as brave--well, as brave as Murray is.
+I wouldn't care if I was just as full of pluck as he is.  Anyhow I won't
+be a sham and go and pretend that some one is coming.  I could never
+look him in the eyes again for fancying that he was reading me through
+and through.  And he would--I'm sure he would."
+
+"Oh!" ejaculated the lad excitedly, for just then one of the
+floor-boards gave out a sharp crack.
+
+"Hallo!" said the familiar voice of the lieutenant.  "Did I startle you,
+Roberts?"
+
+"Something of the kind, sir," said the lad, breathing hard.  "I didn't
+hear you come."
+
+"No, I suppose not.  Seen anything?"
+
+"No, sir.  All is as still as if there wasn't a soul for miles, and I
+felt at times as if I must come and ask you if you could hear anything."
+
+"Ah, this silence is very trying, Roberts, my lad," said the lieutenant.
+"The men are all suffering from it and feeling as if they would give
+anything to be watching together."
+
+"They feel like that, sir?" cried the lad eagerly.
+
+"Yes, of course they do, sir.  So do I: the utter stillness of the
+place, and the expectation of a shot coming at any moment, is most
+trying to a man.  Here, how long do you think Mr Murray has been gone?"
+
+"Can't say, sir.  It feels to me like hours; but it can't be."
+
+"I don't know, my lad.  It certainly does, as you say, feel like hours.
+But he ought to be back by now, with at least a dozen men.  Let's see,
+twelve men with Mr Munday and Mr Murray and his two will make sixteen.
+Sixteen picked men; and they will bring plenty of ammunition.  Well, I
+should like the reinforcement before friend Huggins makes his attack.  I
+don't care then how many he brings with him.  I wonder, though, whether
+he will use any of his slaves to help him."
+
+"He said they won't fight, sir," said Roberts.
+
+"But he may force them to fight, my lad.  Ah!  Look out!  Here they come
+with a rush.  There's no mistake about this."
+
+And the officer ran to the door to shout a warning to the watchers at
+the other windows, for not only away in front were the giant green
+grass-like leaves of the Indian corn in full motion, but the rustle and
+crush of feet reached the listeners' ears, while _click, click_, from
+within, the cocking of the men's muskets was heard.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.
+
+"SEAFOWLS AHOY!"
+
+Murray lost no time in making for the spot where the two men were in
+charge of the boat; but simple as the task appeared on the surface, it
+proved to be far otherwise.
+
+He had told himself that he had only to follow in reverse the
+faintly-marked track taken by the black who had been their guide; and
+that he set himself to do, until he felt that he must be close to the
+stream that they had ascended; but if close by, it was by no means
+visible, and after making a cast or two in different directions without
+result, he pulled up short, the men following his example and looking at
+him wonderingly.
+
+"It was just here that we left the boat-keepers, wasn't it, Tom?" he
+said.
+
+"Don't seem like it, sir," replied the man, "'cause if it was just here,
+where is it?"
+
+"But it must have been here," cried Murray, growing irritable and
+confused.
+
+"That's what I thought, sir," said the man, "but it don't seem to be
+nowhere near.  What do you say, messmate?"
+
+"I warn't a-looking out, lad," replied Titely.  "You see, I didn't take
+no bearings 'cause I says to mysen, `Mr Murray 'll see to that,' and
+what I does was to foller with my eyes screwed back'ards over my
+shoulders like a she hare at the dogs."
+
+"Same here, messmate," says Tom May.  "`Mr Murray took the bearings to
+begin with,' I says to myself, `and I'll keep a sharp lookout for the
+enemy, who maybe 'll try to run us down.'"
+
+"Then you neither of you feel that you can remember the black fellow's
+trail?" said Murray, speaking excitedly, and looking hard at the big
+sailor the while.
+
+"Well, I can't answer for Titely, sir," said the man.--"Why don't you
+speak up like a man, messmate, and say what you know?"
+
+"'Cause I can't, lad," replied the man addressed.  "It warn't my watch,
+and I telled you I was too busy looking out for squalls.  I dunno which
+way we ought to go, messmate.  Don't you, Mr Murray, sir?"
+
+"No, my lad; I've lost our bearings for a bit, but you two try off to
+right and left while I go straight on, and the first that comes upon the
+river holloa gently.  Not loud, because it may bring the enemy down upon
+us.  Now then, off with you, and when you shout, stand fast so that we
+may come and join you."
+
+"Stand fast it is, sir," said Tom May, and without further hesitation
+the three separated and began to thread the dense cane brake, each fully
+expecting to come upon the windings of the overshadowed river at once.
+But somehow every step seemed to lead the seekers into greater
+difficulties.  It was plain enough that the river must be near, for
+their steps were in and out among the dense patches of cane and over
+soft spongy soil into which their feet sank slightly, the earth being
+springy and elastic; but though Murray expected to see the dense foliage
+open out and the brake look lighter from the presence of the river, he
+was disappointed again and again, and to all intents and purposes the
+stream had ceased to exist.
+
+For some minutes, as Murray strode on, the steps of his companions were
+audible in two directions, and making up his mind to proceed in that
+being taken by May, he struck off so as to cross the man's track.
+
+This seemed practicable enough for a while, and he went on till the
+brake began to grow more dense and he had to force his way through the
+thicket.  Then to his disgust he found himself entangled in a little
+wilderness of thorny palms, out of which he had a hard struggle to free
+himself, and he stood at last, panting and exhausted, rubbing the
+bleeding spots beneath the rents in his garments which asserted
+themselves plainly.
+
+Murray rubbed himself and listened, and then listened and rubbed, but he
+could not hear a sound.
+
+"Let me see," he thought.  "Oh, how vexatious, just when we ought to be
+close to the boat and sending her down stream!  Must be this way where I
+heard Tom May--if it was Tom May.  Well, it doesn't matter if it was
+Titely.  Let's get to either of them, and then we'll hail the other."
+
+The lad hesitated for a few minutes longer, listening hard the while,
+and then more in passion than in despair he started off in a bee line
+through the thick canes, hopefully now, for the earth felt softer than
+before.
+
+"Must be right here; and as soon as I reach the river I have only to see
+which way the stream runs and follow it down to where the boat lies.
+Oh, look sharp, old fellow," he muttered, "for this is horrible."
+
+He increased his pace, with the earth certainly growing softer, and then
+he pulled up short, turned and darted back, for as he stepped forward
+the soft spongy earth seemed suddenly to have grown horny and hard and
+to heave up beneath his feet, convincing him that he had stepped upon
+one of the horrible alligators of the Western swamps.  There was a
+violent splashing, the reptile struck to right and left, mowing down the
+canes, and the midshipman, suffering from a sensation of horror and
+creepiness, stopped at last, panting.
+
+"Why, that must be the direction of the little river," he thought; "and
+instead of following the horrible brute here have I run away; and now
+how am I to find the way that it pointed out?  That's soon done," he
+said, as he thought of the broken and crushed-down canes which must mark
+the alligator's track; and he began at once to search for what proved to
+be absent.  There were bruised and trampled growths which he sprang at
+directly, but his reason soon pointed to the fact that they had not been
+made by the huge lizard he had started from its lurking place where it
+had crawled ashore to watch for the approach of prey, but by himself in
+his flight, and though he tried over the swampy ground again and again,
+it was only to grow more confused, and at last he stopped short, baffled
+and enraged against himself.
+
+"Oh!" he ejaculated, as he raised one foot to stamp it down heavily upon
+the earth, with the result that he drove it through a soft crust of
+tangled growth and sent up a gush of muddy, evil-smelling water, and
+then had to drag his shoe out with a loud sucking sound, while the foot
+he had not stamped was beginning to sink.  "It's enough to drive any one
+mad," he muttered.  "Just as I am entrusted with something important I
+go and muddle it all, and the more I try the worse the hobble grows."
+
+He took a few steps to his right, to where the earth beneath him felt
+firmer, and listened, but the floundering and scuffling of the alligator
+had ceased, and he looked in vain for the traces of its passage.
+
+"Think of it," he said, half aloud; "I trod on the brute, and it dashed
+off, frightened to death, to make for the river; and then what did I
+do?--Turned round and ran away as if the brute was coming after me with
+its jaws opened wide ready to take me down at a mouthful!  Alligators
+are not crocodiles.  Here, I'm a brave fellow, upon my word!  I'm
+getting proud of myself, and no mistake!"
+
+He stood and listened as he looked around and tried to pierce the dense
+growth, but in vain, for all was thick vegetation, and eye and ear were
+exercised in vain.
+
+There was a soft, dull, half croaking sound here and there at a distance
+which suggested the existence of frogs, and from the trees whose
+clustering leaves overhead turned the brake into a soft twilight, he now
+and then heard the twittering of some bird.  But he could see nothing,
+and for a few minutes he began to give way to a feeling of despair.
+
+"I daren't shout," he thought, "for it would be like calling the
+attention of the enemy.  The Yankee and his people are sure to be on the
+lookout to pounce upon one, and though if they took me prisoner--they
+wouldn't dare to do anything else--my being taken would not so much
+matter if May or Titely got down to the boat and reached the _Seafowl_.
+How do I know that they would get there?  Oh, was ever poor wretch in
+such a hole before!"
+
+"Here, I must do something," he cried, at last, rousing himself to take
+some action.  "The river must wind about, and if I keep on I shall be
+sure to come across it at last."
+
+He started off in what he hoped was the right direction, and forced his
+way through the tangled growth, to find that after a short time the
+earth began to grow firmer beneath his feet; and then he stopped short.
+
+"Must be wrong," he thought, "for the river banks were swampy."
+
+Striking out in a fresh direction, he was not long before he found that
+the ground began to yield again, and his spirits rose as he found that
+he was plunging into a swampy part once more, while his heart literally
+leaped as all at once right in front there was a rush as of one of the
+great alligators being startled from its lair.
+
+The lad stopped short, but only for a few moments, before mastering the
+sensation of dread, and plunging on as nearly as he could make out in
+the direction the great lizard had taken.
+
+"It's afraid of me," he muttered, as he drew his dirk, "and if it turns
+at bay on finding itself followed, I ought to be able to do something
+with this, though it is such a stupid ornament of a thing.  I'm not
+afraid, and I won't be afraid, but I wish my heart didn't beat so fast,
+and that choking sensation wouldn't keep on rising in my throat."
+
+But though the lad behaved as bravely as was possible to any man, by
+pressing on and determinedly following in the track of the alligator,
+his heart kept on with its heavy pulsation and the perspiration streamed
+down his face in the stiflingly hot swamp.
+
+He had the satisfaction, though, of making out that the reptile was
+scuffling on before him, and now he grew more accustomed to the fact he
+was able to make out the creature's trail and just dimly see the
+movement ahead of the thick cane growth as it rapidly writhed itself
+along.
+
+"It's getting softer," thought Murray, "so I must be getting towards the
+river.  Won't turn upon me and attack, will it, when it gets in its own
+element?"
+
+That was a startling thought, but it was only another difficulty in the
+way of one who had mastered his natural dread and determined in his
+peril to make a brave fight.
+
+"It's no more an alligator's element than the land is," thought the lad.
+"The brute's amphibious, and I don't believe it will turn upon me
+unless I stick my dirk into it; and I don't care, I'll risk it, if I die
+for it.  I don't believe they're so tough as people say."
+
+Then a more staggering thought assailed him, and this time, instead of
+forcing his way through the tangle and dragging his feet out of the
+swampy soil, he stopped short.  For the hope that had sustained him
+suddenly sank away.  He had been feeling sure that the guide he feared
+to a great extent was after all leading him towards the little river,
+and that once he reached the bank he would know by the current, however
+sluggish, the way down to the boat; but now the terrible thought
+attacked him that the reptile might after all have its dwelling-place in
+some swampy lagoon such as he had read was common in the islands and the
+Southern States.
+
+"It's of no _use_," he said to himself, as he stopped short, panting and
+exhausted; "this can't be the right way.  There's no clear river down
+which a fellow could wade or swim; this is one of those dreadful
+swamps--dismal swamps, don't they call them?--and the farther I go the
+worse off I shall be.  Oh, where's my pluck?  Where it ought to be," he
+said, answering himself; and he struggled on again, for he had awakened
+to the fact that the rustling and splash made by the reptile was dying
+out.
+
+Rustling and splash, for now he awoke plainly enough to the fact that he
+was sinking ankle deep at every step, and he roused himself fully once
+more.
+
+"Giving up," he panted, "just when I had won the day!  Hurrah!  There's
+the river!"  And making a tremendous effort he struggled on, for there
+was the alligator floundering through mud and water now where the growth
+was getting more open, and at the end of some dozen yards there was
+light--golden-looking light--coming down from above.  Then there was a
+loud flopping, followed by a heavy splash, and the lad snatched at and
+seized the boughs that closed him in, and just saved himself from
+following the reptile he pursued by clinging with hands and legs to a
+stout cypress, to which he held on as he indistinctly made out the
+sobbing sound of the wave that the reptile had raised as it plunged into
+what seemed to be the edge of a swampy lake.
+
+"He won't come back, will he?" thought Murray, and he obeyed the natural
+instinct which prompted him to drag himself up amongst the evergreen
+boughs of the tree, which slowly rocked to and fro with his weight.
+
+But the water beneath him gradually settled down, the cypress in which
+he clung ceased to bend, as he got his feet settled better to support
+his weight, where he could look along a dark green verdant tunnel to a
+spot of golden light where the subdued sunshine fell upon a glistening
+level of amber-hued water so beautiful that for a time the lad could not
+withdraw his eyes.
+
+"It's no river," he said, "but the edge of a lagoon, and it would be
+madness to go any farther.  Let's have a rest.  Might have been worse
+off after all, and it's no use to get despairing and tiring oneself out.
+I should have liked this adventure if my two lads had been with me,
+and--and--Yes, that's it," he groaned--"if I hadn't been sent on such a
+tremendous task!  There, it's of no use to despair.  I've done my duty,
+and no matter what happens now I can say that.  Who knows what may come
+next?  I mustn't think I can hang here till it grows dark.  I could
+climb up higher, but this is a swamp, and though I might save myself
+from alligators and snakes--Ugh!" he shuddered.  "This is the sort of
+place where they live!--I couldn't escape from fever.  There, I must
+hail now till some one hears me and answers, even if it's the enemy.
+But it may be one of my fellows, or if not it's sure to be one of the
+slaves, for there must be plenty about here."
+
+But Frank Murray did not shout for help.  Perhaps it was due to
+exhaustion, that the place seemed to have a strange restful fascination,
+as he hung there in the thick growth of the cypress, gazing along the
+soft green tunnel at the little glistening lake, which he now saw was
+full of living things, for every now and then the surface was stirred by
+creatures which he made out to be tiny terrapins--water tortoise-like
+creatures which just thrust out their heads and drew them beneath again.
+Then water beetles skimmed about, forming glistening geometric figures
+for a time before they disappeared.
+
+Then the lad shuddered, for from the side of the bright verdure-framed
+lagoon a snake writhed itself in horizontal waves across the surface and
+began to climb up the foliage, to glisten as it reached where the light
+fell strongest and the burnished scales flashed with bronze, silver grey
+and gold.
+
+"I wonder whether it's a poisonous snake," thought Murray; and then he
+made an effort to awaken himself from the pleasant feeling of
+restfulness, for he knew that he must exert himself if he intended to
+find a way back to where he had been separated from his companions--
+those whom he must urge on to the fulfilment of his task.
+
+"And I have not done what I felt that I must do at all risks," he said,
+as he once more made an effort to rouse himself from the drowsy inertia
+which was holding him in something resembling a trance.
+
+Drawing a deep breath, he took more tightly hold of the cypress boughs,
+and was about to hail at any risk and with all his might, when he
+uttered a loud sob of relief, for suddenly from somewhere far away,
+came, strangely softened and subdued, though prolonged, the words--
+
+"Ahoy-y-y!  _Seafowls_ ahoy-y-y!"
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.
+
+WITH SHOT-HOLES.
+
+"Ahoy-y-y!  _Seafowls_ ahoy-y!" came again after a pause, and though he
+felt that he ought to have hailed in reply, Frank Murray's lips remained
+closed, and he still clung there listening for the hail to come again.
+
+It was not until he heard the hail for the fourth time that the
+midshipman was able to throw off the nightmare-like feeling, and,
+drawing a deep breath, shout with all his might--
+
+"_Seafowls_ ahoy!"
+
+Then he held his breath and waited, feeling that his voice could not
+have been heard, and a feeling of despair began to assail him and the
+fancy grew that he was sinking back into that horrible sensation of
+inertia which had mastered him for a time.
+
+But it was fancy, for throwing off the weakness he shouted now joyously
+and lustily--
+
+"_Seafowl_ ahoy!"
+
+There was silence for a few moments; then came the inspiring sound of
+some one struggling through the tangled growth and splashing over the
+mud and water--sounds which were followed by--
+
+"Where away there?  Ahoy!"
+
+"Here!  Is that you, Tom May?" shouted Murray, and from not far from the
+foot of the cypress where the lad clung there was a wallowing sound and
+a splash in the water which sent a wave-like movement across the little
+lake at the end of the tunnel.
+
+"Tom May it is, sir!  Where are you?"
+
+"Up here in this fir-like tree, Tom.  Where's Titely?"
+
+"What, ain't you got him along o' you, sir?"
+
+"No!  I haven't seen him since we parted.  Haven't you any notion where
+he is?"
+
+"Not a haporth, sir.  I on'y hope he arn't gone through."
+
+"Gone through!" cried Murray, in horror.
+
+"Yes, sir; I hope not, but it's solid soft everywhere I've been.  I've
+been most through half-a-dozen times, and twiced over I've felt as if
+some of them there lizardy crorkendillo things had got hold of my toes
+and tugged at 'em to get me down."
+
+"Oh, don't talk about it, Tom," groaned the midshipman.
+
+"All right, sir; on'y you arksed me."
+
+"But you have no right to think such a horror as that.  He may have got
+down to the boat."
+
+"Yes, sir, he may," said the man, in a low growl, "but I've been trying
+my best, and I couldn't."
+
+"Then you haven't seen the boat-keepers, Tom?"
+
+"Not a squint of 'em, sir, and there's going to be the wussest row that
+ever happened aboard ship if we don't make haste and find them and fetch
+the first luff help."
+
+"It's horrible, I know, Tom, but I've tried all I could.  What's to be
+done?"
+
+"Dunno, sir.  But anyhow I've found you--leastwise, a'most; and I'm
+coming to jyne yer.  Whereabouts are you, sir?  Hail again; it's rayther
+puzzling like."
+
+"It is, Tom--dreadful.  But here, where I told you--up in this fir
+tree--cypress.  But mind how you come, for it's very soft."
+
+"Soft ain't the word for it, sir.  I've been going to make a swim on it
+over and over again.  But it's reg'lar hugga-my-buff, sir; neither one
+thing nor t'other.  It's too soft to walk in, and it ain't soft enough
+to swim."
+
+"That's true, Tom," said the lad.
+
+"Oh, you've found it so, have you, sir?  Then look here; you arn't so
+heavy as I am, so s'pose you comes to me 'stead o' me coming to you.
+What do you say to that?"
+
+"I'll try, Tom," cried Murray; and he began to descend, feeling the
+elastic evergreen begin to sway and vibrate as if before long it would
+double down with the weight of its load; and this it finally did,
+leaving the midshipman floundering on the surface of the cane and
+reed-covered swamp, so that it was only by a vigorous effort that he
+managed to scuffle along in the direction of the man, who kept on
+shouting encouragement until he was able to reach out a hand and drag
+the lad to his side.
+
+"Hah!" panted Murray, with a sigh of relief.
+
+"Hah it is, sir," said the man.  "But beg your pardon, sir; arn't you
+a-spoiling your uniform?"
+
+"Don't talk about it, Tom," said Murray, breathing hard.  "Let's be
+thankful that we've saved our lives."
+
+"Saved our lives!  But have we, sir?  Don't seem to me that we're out of
+the muddle yet.  There, look at that!" added the man.
+
+"Look at what?" cried Murray.
+
+"I meant feel that, sir," said the man, correcting himself, and stamping
+with one foot.  "It felt just as if one of them short four-legged
+sarpints had laid hold of my leg to pull me down for supper."
+
+"Surely not, Tom," said Murray, with a shudder, as he felt attacked by a
+sense of horrible insecurity.
+
+"All right, sir.  Say so if you like; I'm willing.  But I'd keep on
+stamping as long as we're here in this lovely place.  I do hope, though,
+as they arn't making a meal of poor old Titely; he do desarve better
+luck after being speared as he was over yonder across the herring pond."
+
+"Let's hail him again."
+
+"All right, sir.  I've wanted to do so ever so much more, but I
+wouldn't, for it was telling the enemy where we are, and if we do much
+of that sort of thing we shall be having that pleasant Yankee coming
+shooting with his men, and we don't want that."
+
+"Of course not, Tom, but we must risk it, for the poor fellow may be
+somewhere within reach waiting for help."
+
+"Then why don't he holler, sir?"
+
+"Perhaps he has shouted till he is worn-out, Tom."
+
+"Then he can't be within reach, sir, or else we should ha' heered him,
+for he's got a pretty good pipe of his own."
+
+"Well, hail him, Tom."
+
+"All right, sir, but 'tween you and me and the starn post your voice
+would go farther than mine would."
+
+"Think so, Tom?  Very well, then.  _Seafowl_ ahoy!"
+
+It was a loud tenor shout that doubtless penetrated the cane jungle
+farther than would the deep bass of the able-seaman, and after a
+minute's listening, Murray hailed again; but somehow the shout did not
+seem to have any result.
+
+"Let me have a try, sir," growled the sailor, and upon the middy
+nodding, the man shouted five times at intervals, listening with his
+hand to his ear after every hail.
+
+"It's of no good, Tom," said Murray bitterly.  "Come along, and let's be
+doing something."
+
+"That's what I was a-thinking, sir, for if we stop here much longer we
+shall be reg'larly sucked down into the mud.  'Sides which, if my poor
+mate hears us he won't come here.  He'd on'y hail."
+
+"And if the enemy hear us they are quite at home here, and they'll come
+down upon us and put a stop to our getting across to the boat.  What do
+you mean by that?--What are you chuckling about?"
+
+"You, sir," said the man.  "I was thinking what an orficer you will make
+some day."
+
+"Do you mean that for banter, my man?" said Murray angrily.
+
+"Banter, sir?  What, chaff?  Not me, sir.  I meant it.  I felt a bit
+proud of you, sir, for using your head like that."
+
+"Well, this is no time for paying compliments, Tom.  You take the lead."
+
+"I'll do what you orders, sir, of course, you being my orficer, but you
+might tell me which way I oughter lead."
+
+"I can't, Tom, my lad.  We want to get down to the boat, and hope to
+pick up Titely on the way.  I've tried till I grew more and more puzzled
+than ever; so now you try.  You must chance it, my lad."
+
+"Mean it, sir?"
+
+"Mean it?  Of course!" cried Murray; and the man shut his eyes close,
+knit his brow, and then began to mutter in a low tone, much to the
+midshipman's surprise.
+
+"What are you doing, Tom?" he cried at last.
+
+"What you telled me, sir--charnshing of it."
+
+"Chancing it?"
+
+"Yes, sir; that's right," said the man.  "Same as we used to when we was
+little uns playing at _Blind Man's Buff_.  `How many horses has your
+father got?'  Then the one as had the hankychy tied over his eyes used
+to answer, `Black, white and grey.'  Then the one who arksed about the
+horses used to say, `Turn round three times and ketch who you may.'"
+
+And as soon as the man had repeated these words with his eyes still
+closely shut he turned round three times and then opened them and stared
+straight before him.
+
+"This here's the way, sir; right ahead."
+
+"What nonsense, Tom!" said the middy sadly.  "You're old enough to know
+better."
+
+"Maybe, sir, but you said I was to charnsh it, and that's what I'm
+a-doing of; and if I don't find the way down to the boat it won't do us
+no harm as I can see; so come along."
+
+The man stepped off, keeping as nearly as he could to the line he had
+marked down, and without turning his head he called back to his young
+officer--
+
+"Don't you mind me giving o' you orders, sir, but you telled me to lead
+on, and I should like to say, sir, as you'd find it better if instead of
+walking hard and stiff, sir, like the jollies march up and down the
+deck, you'd try my way, sir, trot fashion, upon your toes, with a heavy
+swing and give and take.  You'd find that you wouldn't sink in quite so
+much, seeing as one foot's found its way out before t'other's got time
+to sink in."
+
+"I'll try, Tom," said the middy quietly; and after following the man for
+a few dozen yards he whispered, "Yes, I think that's better, Tom; but I
+have no faith in your _Blind Man's Buff_ plan."
+
+"Give it time, sir; we arn't half tried it yet."
+
+"Go on, then," cried Murray; and the man trotted on as fast as the
+tangled growth would allow him, pausing from time to time to listen
+before going on again.
+
+"I'm afraid we must make a change, Tom," said Murray, at last, when the
+man drew up suddenly.  "Are you, sir?"
+
+"Yes; this seems hopeless."
+
+"That's what it all seems, sir, but I don't like being in too great a
+hurry to pitch a hidee overboard.  There's nothing like trying, sir, and
+just as like as not we may be getting nigher and nigher to poor old
+Titely."
+
+"I'm afraid--"
+
+Murray did not finish his sentence, but made a spring forward and
+clapped his hand hard upon his leader's shoulder.
+
+"What's wrong, sir?" cried the sailor, turning sharply upon him.
+
+"Hark!  Listen!" cried Murray excitedly.
+
+"Oh, Mr Murray, sir," groaned the man despairingly, "you've been and
+gone and done it now!"
+
+"Nonsense!  What do you mean?"
+
+"Pitched me off my bearings, sir.  I've looked round, and I shall never
+pick 'em up again."
+
+"Well, what does that matter?" cried Murray.  "Don't you hear?"
+
+"Hear, sir?  Hear what?"
+
+"Oars.  I heard them rattling in the rowlocks as plain as possible."
+
+"Whereabouts, sir?"
+
+"Away there through the canes yonder.  Didn't you?"
+
+"No, sir," said the man gloomily; "I didn't hear no oars."
+
+"I did, quite plainly," said Murray, leaning forward and straining his
+ears.  "No, it's stopped now."
+
+"Yes, sir," said the man, shaking his head; "it's stopped now."
+
+"Well, don't talk like that, Tom.  You look as if you didn't believe
+me."
+
+"Oh, I wouldn't go for to say as I don't believe anything you say, sir,"
+said the sailor; "but all the same it do seem queer."
+
+"Yes, queer because they've stopped rowing to listen.  Don't you see?"
+
+"No, sir," said the man, shaking his head sadly.  "I don't see nothing,
+on'y as you're a bit overdone, sir, in the head, and gets fancying
+things."
+
+"Fancy, man!" cried the middy angrily.  "It was no fancy, I tell you.
+Now then, listen."
+
+Tom May shut one eye and cocked his head on one side in obedience to his
+young officer's command; but all was perfectly still.
+
+"It's very strange," said Murray.
+
+"Yes, sir; very," said the sailor, in a tone of voice which made the
+young officer turn upon him fiercely.
+
+"Oh, you obstinate--"
+
+Murray did not say what, but ceased speaking and stood straining
+forward.
+
+"Of course you thought you heered oars, sir, because you wanted to hear
+'em," said the sailor; "but it's a pity you did, sir, because it made me
+lose my bearings, and I know I shall never--"
+
+"There, then," cried the middy excitedly.  "Now, did I fancy I heard
+rowing?"
+
+"No, sir; that's oars, sure enough," replied the sailor; "and it seems
+to come from right for'ard there, and not far away."
+
+"Hail the boat, then," cried Murray excitedly.
+
+"I dunno as I would, sir," whispered the man, "because it mightn't be
+our boat."
+
+"What!  Oh, we must chance that.  Hail away."
+
+Tom May, who looked exceedingly unwilling, clapped his hand to his cheek
+and yelled out, "_Seafowls_ ahoy!" just as the regular beat of oars had
+ceased once more.
+
+But there was no further doubt, for in a dull smothered tone, as if the
+reply came through so much dense forest, there was the answering hail--
+
+"Ahoy there!  Where away?"
+
+"Ahoy!" shouted Tom May.  "That's the right sort, sir.  Come along;" and
+stepping out, the sailor beat the dense growth to right and left, with
+his feet sinking deeper in the soft soil, till the cane brake began to
+open out and the forest grew lighter, the splashing of oars sounding
+nearer and nearer till there was a shout of welcome and the sloop's
+cutter came into sight, gliding towards them till the light vessel's
+nose was run into the river bank.
+
+"At last!" cried Murray, as he scrambled over the bows, to sink
+exhausted into Titely's arms.  "Why, how did you get here, my lad?" said
+the young officer.
+
+"I d'know, sir.  Lost my way, and couldn't find it nohow."
+
+"But you managed to find the boat."
+
+"Nay, sir; not me, sir!  I didn't find her.  I did find the side o' the
+river, but couldn't get no furder.  I was hanging on to a branch and
+trying to keep up because I was sinking into the boggy shore, when my
+two mates here come pulling up stream and picked me up.  It was them
+found me, sir, not me found them."
+
+"Well, never mind that now," cried Murray angrily.  "What about you two?
+Your orders were to stay by the boat where we landed."
+
+"Yes, sir," said the first boat-keeper, "but they wouldn't let us, sir."
+
+"They!" cried Murray.  "Whom do you mean by they?"
+
+"Oh, I dunno, sir, who they was, only that it was a big party o' rough
+uns with guns and rifles as come up all to wunst as we sat hanging on by
+the grapnel and line, out in the middle o' the river, and one on 'em
+hails us and tells us to pull ashore."
+
+"Well," said Murray, "and did you?"
+
+"You go on, messmate," said the man.  "You can spin the yarn better nor
+I can."
+
+"Yes, go on," cried Murray; and the second boat-keeper took up the
+narrative.
+
+"Well, sir, we just didn't."
+
+"Just did not what?" asked Murray.
+
+"Pull ashore, sir.  They warn't our people, and him as hailed us warn't
+our officer.  'Sides, we didn't like the looks of 'em."
+
+"Well done, my lads," said the middy; "that was right.  But what did you
+do then?"
+
+"I hystes up the grapnel, sir, and Harry Lang there gets an oar over the
+side."
+
+"Well?"
+
+"Well, sir, then a Yankee sort of a chap as seemed to be the head on 'em
+leans hisself up again' a bush and rests his gun upon a bough of one of
+the trees on the bank, and he says to me, he says, as he looks along the
+barrel, `Now, you sir,' he says, `just you run that boat's nose into
+this here bank, and tidy quick too, 'fore I draws this here trigger.'
+
+"`All right, sir,' I says, and I shoves another oar over the side; and
+as soon as he sees me do that, quite easy like, he lowers down his gun--
+rifle, I think it was--and turns his head to say something to the chaps
+who was with him.
+
+"`Easy, messmate,' I says then; `get her head straight first,' making
+believe as Harry warn't doing right.  The 'Merican chap was just turning
+round then, but I sees my chance, and I whispers to Harry, `Up stream,
+lad, for all you're worth.'  `Right you are,' he says, and my word! sir,
+we did take hold of the water and put our backs into it, 'gainst stream
+as it was; and as I pulled I was all the time wishing as hard as I could
+that you'd got hold of the rudder lines so as to steer, sir, and leave
+us nothing to do but pull while you kept the boat's head right in the
+middle of the river.  `Here, hi, there!  What are you doing?  Pull
+ashore, or--' He steps to the same tree again and rests his gun on the
+bough and takes aim, while I thinks to myself what a pity it was that we
+hadn't turned the boat's head down stream."
+
+"You said arterwards, messmate, as that would ha' been like leaving the
+first luff and the lads in the lurch," said the other boat-keeper.
+
+"So I did, messmate; and so it would," said the narrator.
+
+"But he didn't fire at you?" cried Murray eagerly.
+
+"Didn't fire at us, sir?" said the man.  "But he just did, while we
+pulled with all our might."
+
+"And missed you?"
+
+"He missed me, sir, but he hit the boat.  Sent his bullet slap through
+the bow planks just between wind and water, and the brown juice come
+trickling in quite fast, but we couldn't stop to plug it."
+
+"Hah!" ejaculated Murray, who was breathing hard with excitement.  "Oh,
+do go on a little faster!"
+
+"That we did, sir--pulled faster, for some of the enemy come shouting
+after us along the side of the stream.  You see, they couldn't come on
+the far side, 'cause it was all trees, while luckily for us they
+couldn't get along much where they were, for it was all boggy, and I see
+three of them sink in up to their knees and stick fast cussing and
+swearing.  But they warn't the only ones, for him as we took to be their
+boss, he let go at 'em orful, sir, and yelped at 'em to follow us up,
+knowing all the time that they couldn't do nowt o' the sort, and him not
+trying a bit, because he warn't going to fill his boots."
+
+"But they kept on firing at you?" cried Murray.
+
+"Fast as ever they could, sir.  They kep' on loading and firing, and
+Harry and me kep' on pulling like hooray.  You see, the shooting spurred
+us on a bit, for they kep' on hitting the boat when they didn't send the
+bullets spattering into the trees over our heads, and cut the little
+twigs and leaves and make them fall upon us."
+
+"But didn't they get to the bank higher up?" asked Murray.
+
+"I dunno, sir," replied the man.  "We was too busy to think about that.
+Precious hot it was too, pulling under boughs as kept all the air away.
+I don't want to brag, Mr Murray, sir, but we had a precious nice time
+on it, pulling, and hearing the beggars shouting and firing till we got
+well round a bend and out o' their sight, same as they was out of our
+sight, when I says to Harry Lang as best thing we could do was to see to
+damages, and seeing as it warn't likely that they could get at us for a
+bit we run the boat's nose into the far side bank where Harry could get
+hold of a branch, and then he outs with his Jack knife and whittles a
+peg to fit into the shot-hole, for the water kep' on coming in tidy
+fast."
+
+"Is that the hole?" said Murray eagerly.
+
+"That's it, sir, and there's two more plugged up astarn, 'sides that
+there chip out o' the back by the starn sheets."
+
+"But you neither of you got hurt?"
+
+"No, sir; you see they warn't very handy with the guns, and we kep'
+going pretty fast."
+
+"But there's a blood-stain upon your shirt, my lad."
+
+"Oh, that, sir?  It did bleed a little bit, but it was only a scrat--
+nowt to speak about."
+
+"Indeed!" said Murray.  "Well, it has left off bleeding, but the doctor
+must see to it when we get back to the _Seafowl_."
+
+"Oh yes, sir; that'll be all right," said the man, smiling; "and that's
+all, I think, 'cept that we baled out the boat till we began to pull on
+again, for we was obliged to put some distance 'twixt us in case they
+should find some way up to the bank and begin practice again.  Same
+time, sir, of course we had to think of not getting too far, so as to be
+handy when our fellows came back and wanted the cutter."
+
+"Well, but about finding Titely?" said Murray.
+
+"Oh, there's nothing to say about that, sir, on'y we didn't quite get it
+settled whether he found us or we found him.  Theer he was, hung up in
+one of the trees over the river, and glad he was to be took aboard--just
+as glad as we was to take him, sir, for you see it made another to share
+the 'sponsibility like of our not being where we ought to be with the
+boat.  After that, sir, I wanted to hang about as close as we could to
+the enemy, ready to be handy and help our officers and men; but messmet
+Titely says we must go on pulling up stream in search of you and Tom
+May, and this must be all, sir, and my throat's as dry as dust.  Think
+this here water's good to drink, sir?  It looks too much like beer to be
+quite to my taste."
+
+"No, my lad; I wouldn't venture to drink it.  Better wait."
+
+"That's what I says to Harry Lang, sir."
+
+"And very wisely too.  Now, Tom," continued Murray, turning to his
+companion in adversity, "you have said nothing.  What do you think of
+the state of affairs?"
+
+"I think it's hard, sir--precious hard on a man."
+
+"But they have done splendidly, Tom."
+
+"Yes, sir, I s'pose so, for them," said May sourly; "but I warn't
+thinking about them.  I mean it comes hard upon a man like me, shut out
+of a fight like that.  Don't you think we might drop down with the
+stream now, seeing as we're tidily strong like?"
+
+"Yes, I do think something of the kind," replied Murray.
+
+"And give 'em a right down good dressing, sir?"
+
+"No; we have got something else to think of, Tom," said the middy
+sternly.  "Dressing them down is tempting, but that is not what we want
+to do.  We must get down to the bay as quickly as we can, and without
+the loss of a man.  The fighting must rest till the captain sends up
+reinforcements."
+
+Tom May nodded his head.
+
+"Bit disappointing, though, sir."
+
+"Yes, my lad, but we can wait.  Now then, we must drop down a little
+farther, and then drop the grapnel or hook on to one of the trees of the
+farther bank."
+
+"And not make a dash of it, sir?"
+
+"No, my lad; not till it is quite dark."
+
+Tom May stared.
+
+"According to what your messmates said, the enemy was in pretty strong
+force.  How many of them were there?"
+
+"'Bout twenty, sir," said Lang.
+
+"And all armed?"
+
+"Yes, sir; they'd all got guns," said the other.
+
+"Then they will be lying in wait for us," said Murray decisively.  "I
+only said that we shall be trying to run by them as soon as it is dark."
+
+"Well, sir, but we could do it," said May warmly.
+
+"Yes, we could run by them if I risked everything, my lad," said the
+middy, "but I can't afford to lose a man.  Besides, they will have been
+making arrangements to receive us.  There is that lugger we saw lying in
+the mouth of the river; they have plenty of men, I am sure, and they may
+have brought her up to block our way, for they are bound to try and
+capture us if they can."
+
+"Yes, sir; bound to take us if they can," assented the sailor.
+
+"How long do you think it will be before it is dark?" asked Murray.
+
+"Not half-an-hour, sir," was the reply.
+
+"And how far are we above the landing-place?" said the middy, speaking
+in a low tone now and turning to the first boat-keeper.
+
+"Can't say, sir, for sartain," replied the man.  "What do you say, Harry
+Lang?"
+
+The man shook his head.
+
+"You see, sir, we put our backs into it when we started to row, and
+pulled and pulled, thinking of nothing else but getting as far up'ards
+as we could.  Hour's hard rowing, I should say, in and out, and we got a
+long ways before we come upon Bill Titely."
+
+"Then we'll begin moving as soon as it is quite dark, my lads," said
+Murray.  "Till then, a careful watch and silence, for there is no
+knowing whether the enemy may not have a way through the cane brake
+which will enable them to come upon us by surprise."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.
+
+A FIGHT IN THE DARK.
+
+It was sooner than they expected that the darkness came on--thick,
+black, dense darkness, which in spite of its gradual approach seemed
+strange and full of suggestions of being peopled with enemies ready to
+draw trigger on the banks and send lightning-like flashes at the
+occupants of the boat--flashes each of which might be a messenger of
+death.
+
+The boat was set in motion and glided down stream slowly, with Murray in
+the bows peering straight before him, trying to pierce the darkness; Tom
+May right astern with one oar dipped, with which he kept the boat level;
+while the others sat with oars balanced ready for use in case of attack,
+and so as to ensure retreat.
+
+In this fashion they floated down, carried along by the gentle current,
+not a word being spoken, and the midshipman hardly daring to breathe as
+he listened to the strange nocturnal sounds which came from the banks on
+either side--weird croakings, pipings, and strange trumpeting notes
+which sounded like a challenge to the strangers who were daring to
+penetrate the thick darkness of the night.
+
+More than once there was a sudden motion, a heaving and a rising wave as
+of some huge fish or reptile which had been disturbed from its slumbers,
+and from which attack was expected at any moment.
+
+It was a strange ride, with the black water whispering by the boat's
+side, while the men as they listened hardly seemed to breathe.
+
+Murray had laid down his plan of action to the men before starting, and
+that was to plunge oars and back-water with all their might to get out
+of the sphere of danger, for to press on in the darkness seemed too
+great a risk to run.  But for quite two hours nothing occurred that
+could be attributed to the agency of man, and the midshipman, who had
+begun to grow used to the cries, croaks and movements of bird and
+reptile, felt his spirits begin to rise, his heart to swell with hope of
+reaching the mouth of the river unmolested, where he felt sure that
+another boat would be awaiting them, and then and there he would at last
+be able to perform his long-delayed mission.
+
+"I've done wrong," he said to himself, "and alarmed myself without
+reason.  There have been no enemies waiting for us.  They have settled
+in their own minds that we should not venture to come down the river in
+the darkness, and we might very well have had the oars out and come
+quickly."
+
+He had no sooner thought this than he mentally retracted his notion as
+being so much folly, feeling as he did that it would have been
+impossible to steer, and that in all probability they would have been
+aground--perhaps wedged in amongst the trees or shrubs of the bank.
+
+"I don't know what to do for the best," said the lad to himself.  "One
+moment I feel one way; the next something seems to tug at me the other.
+I wish I could come to a decision that I knew was for the best."
+
+He had his wish, for he had hardly had the desire when as the boat
+glided on through the profound darkness it came in contact with
+something hard with a heavy shock.
+
+For the moment all was excitement.  To the men it seemed as if the
+cutter was rising up to ride over some huge tree-trunk that was floating
+across the centre of the stream--some obstruction that had been washed
+out of the bank during a flood and whose roots still clung to the place
+of its growth.
+
+"Boat-hook," said Murray, in a low business-like tone.  "Steady, lads.
+Try if you can shove her off."
+
+Then like a flash the lad grasped the reality of their position, for
+voices rose from the right bank of the river, to be answered from the
+left, and as the occupants of the boat came to the same conclusion, that
+the great trunk against which the boat had struck must have been placed
+there by their enemies, so many flashes of light streaked the darkness,
+followed by loud reports, and then came a fierce yell of despair or pain
+and a loud adjuration full of rage.
+
+"Shove all you know with that boat-hook," whispered Murray, "and strain
+all with those oars.  Do you hear?  Back-water!"
+
+There was no question about the men hearing, for every one was striving
+his best in a fierce struggle to get free from a tangle of sharp
+water-washed boughs; but the boat, after running stem on to the floating
+trunk and making as if to climb over the impediment, had swung round
+almost parallel; the water pressed heavily all along its side, and then
+seemed to be engaged in heaving it over, so that when Murray thrust one
+hand down over to his left he found that the stream was rippling within
+an inch of the gunwale, and in another few moments would have been over
+the side.
+
+It was a question of decisive action, and Murray shouted--
+
+"Trim the boat starboard, all!"
+
+That saved them for the moment, but at terrible risk, for it spoke
+loudly to the enemy of their position, and in rapid succession almost
+simultaneously three more streaks of light came from the right bank of
+the river with their reports.
+
+Murray gave vent to a low hissing sound, and then remained silent,
+striving his utmost the while to thrust the boat away from the strong
+tree-trunk; but his efforts, like those of his companions, were in vain.
+
+"It's no good, sir," whispered Tom May; "we're a-shoving against one
+another.  Let me lead, sir, and I think I can do it.  There's hard
+bottom here, sir, and we're almost aground.--Fire away, you lubbers," he
+added, in a whisper; "you can't hit us in the dark.  Now then, Mr
+Murray, sir, you take an oar along with the lads and wait till I say
+`Pull.'  Then all on you do your best."
+
+"But what about you?" whispered Murray.
+
+"You leave that to me, sir.  I'm big enough and old enough to take care
+o' mysen."
+
+Murray was silent, for it was no time to dispute.  Every now and then--
+as fast as their enemies could reload--there was a shot from the bank,
+and the bullets whizzed just over the heads of the men.  The young
+officer's disposition was to ask what the sailor intended to do, but he
+contained himself, and, feeling for an oar, thrust it over the side and
+into the rowlock, conscious the while that the others had done the same,
+but in his case and that of the man in front for the oar-blades to rest
+upon branches of the submerged tree.  He realised, though, that his was
+the bow oar, and for a few moments that was all he could grasp.  Beyond
+that everything was confusion, and he sat ready to pull, and in spite of
+himself starting violently at every shot from the shore when the bullet
+struck the boat or splashed in amongst the branches of the ingeniously
+contrived dam.
+
+Then the lad felt something like a hysteric sob escape from his breast
+as the puzzle and confusion from which he suffered gave place to clear
+mental light, and he grasped the full force of the big sailor's plan.
+
+The noise of panting and splashing which accompanied what felt like a
+sudden lightening of the boat was caused by Tom May lowering himself
+over the side, after laying down the boat-hook with which he had been
+sounding the depth; and then Murray felt that the brave fellow had begun
+to wade with the water close up to his arm-pits, forcing the bows of the
+boat away from the tree-trunk against which it was pressed by the water,
+and gaining a little.
+
+"That'll do it," he said, with a deep grunt.
+
+"Shall I get to the boat-hook, messmate?" whispered Titely.
+
+_Bang_! came from the bank.
+
+"There's your answer," growled Tom May fiercely.  "You 'bey orders and
+stick to your oar.  That was precious nigh, though."
+
+Murray heard every word, and it was to him as if he could see everything
+that the big sailor did, as with one arm over the cutter's bows he
+forced it a little more and a little more away, fighting against the
+pressure of the water and meaning to get the boat at right angles to the
+dam and her stem pointing straight up stream before he gave the order to
+pull.
+
+But it was slow work, for the pressure of the water was so great and the
+man's foothold on the bottom so insecure that at last, and just as he
+was about to call upon the middy and the man who handled the third oar
+to try and pull, there was a slip and a splash, May's feet glided over
+the bottom, and he was swept back, fortunately still clinging to the
+bows, back to where he had started from--close against the trunk.
+
+"Are you there, Tom?" whispered Murray excitedly, for he feared the
+worst.
+
+"Here I be sir," growled the man.  "I'm sticking tight enough."
+
+"Hah!" ejaculated the lad.  "If it were only light!"
+
+"Jolly for us it ain't, sir," said the man.  "Bad if they could see.
+Hear that?"
+
+_That_ was another shot from the right bank of the river, followed by a
+couple more, and the bullets splashed up the water not far from their
+heads.
+
+"Are you going to try again?" whispered Murray.
+
+"Arn't I, sir!  I'm a-going to try till to-morrow mornin' if I don't do
+it afore.  Now then, all on yer, I'm going to begin shoving off her bows
+again, and this time don't wait, my lads, for any orders from me.  Use
+your own gumption, and all on it at once.  It'll take all my wind to
+keep me going.  You, Mr Murray, you get hold of the water first charnsh
+and pull, and you t'others back-water; on'y just remember this: a broken
+oar means done for.--Now here goes."
+
+Once more Murray felt right through his brain every movement of the big
+sailor as he began to wade, holding the cutter's bows nipped between his
+arm and his broad chest; and as the boat began to move the middy felt
+among the boughs and twigs with the blade of his oar to such good effect
+that at the risk of breakage he turned the oar into a lever which
+slightly helped to move the boat's head from its position.
+
+"Good!" grunted Tom May softly, and he thrust away steadily a little and
+a little, while the two who held the stout ash blades on the other side
+began to back-water.
+
+"Good!" grunted Tom again, and, as if in answer, _Bang!  Bang_! came
+from the shore, and a couple of splashing sounds rose from the woodwork
+where the bullets struck.
+
+"All together," whispered Murray, as he bent forward and got a fresh
+hold of the boughs, while to his intense satisfaction he felt that the
+man behind him had got a good grip too, and the boat's head was thrust
+farther and farther away.
+
+"Good!" grunted Tom May again, and Murray could not refrain from
+uttering a low Hurrah! for at his next bending forward his oar cut down
+into the water so that he got a good hold and pulled with all his
+might--steadily too.
+
+"Back-water hard!" he panted, and the men whose oars dipped on the other
+side thrust with all their might.
+
+"Hooray!" came now from the man behind Murray.  "I've got water!"
+
+"Then pull all you know," panted Tom May as he gave the boat's head what
+he intended to be one last tremendous thrust, "for you've got it all
+your own way now."
+
+"No, no," whispered Murray excitedly.  "Keep on, Tom!"
+
+"Can't, sir," said the man, with a low hiss.  "I'm off the bottom.  Pull
+all!" he shouted now, and Murray felt the boat lose its trim, and sank
+over on his side bending down, knowing full well now that the brave
+fellow was heaving himself up so as to get over and seize an oar.
+
+But it was dark, black darkness.  Every one was pulling his best now in
+obedience to the cry "Pull all!"  There was no regular swing, but plenty
+of confusion, while a thrill of excitement half intoxicated the men, as
+they felt that they had mastered the pressure of the stream, and
+consequently they pulled away madly, conscious as they were that they
+were moving up stream and leaving the enemies, who were still firing,
+though with no effect, behind.
+
+"Starn all, you lubbers!" literally roared Tom May.  "D'yer want to
+scrat me right out of the cutter's bows?"
+
+"Stroke there!" cried Murray to the man who wielded that blade.  "Get
+your oar over astarn and steer.  We're running into the bank."
+
+There was a quick movement, the boat rocked, and a scraping sound and a
+splash told that the order had been obeyed.
+
+"I can't see, sir," cried the man, who had begun to steer.
+
+"Do your best, my lad.  Pull gently, my lads.  We must feel our way.
+What about you, Tom May?  Are you all right?"
+
+"Me, sir?  I'm no use to steer," grumbled the man.  "Let me come and
+take stroke oar; the lubbers pretty well scratted my eyes out."
+
+_Bang!  Bang!  Bang_!
+
+Three shots came quickly now in succession, but the flashes were from
+fully fifty yards back.
+
+"Keep silence, my lads," whispered Murray.  "They're firing at the
+splashes of our oars."
+
+A minute later those scattered irregular splashes became almost as one,
+and though they were given slowly, the effect was steady and the
+steersman proved to be doing his part so carefully and well that the
+flashes from behind became more distant and sounded fainter, and the
+last seemed to come from round a bend of the river.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.
+
+LOST.
+
+"Now, my lads," said Murray, at last; "speak out; let me know the worst.
+Who is hurt?"
+
+There was no reply, the men tugging slowly and regularly at the oars.
+
+"Well, speak out," cried the middy.  "Don't be too modest to let me
+know.  You, Tom May, what about your eyes?"
+
+"Don't want 'em now, sir," said the man, in his deep, low growl.  "Won't
+be daylight yet awhile."
+
+"I know that," said Murray testily; "but you said that you were getting
+them scratched out."
+
+"Yes, sir, but I just spoke out in time, or else they'd ha' gone.  I'm
+all right, sir; don't you worry about me."
+
+"But I shall worry about you, Tom May," said the lad, "especially when I
+make my report.  You saved us all when it seemed all over with our
+chance of escape."
+
+"Did I, sir?"
+
+"Ay, ay, that he did," chorussed the men.
+
+"Well, don't make such a fuss about it, messmets," grumbled the man.
+"Mere's two on 'em got a scrarp from that shooting, sir."
+
+"Ah!" cried Murray.  "Well, the wounds must be seen to as soon as it's
+daylight.  Can you tie the places up for the present?"
+
+"Ay, ay, sir," said one of the men.  "A hankychy's been teared up, and
+there's nothing bad, sir."
+
+But though nothing could be seen till daybreak, the young officer,
+knowing his men as he did, insisted upon making an examination by touch
+during a short rest in the darkness, with the boat hitched up to an
+overhanging tree, after which the slow pull was resumed hour after hour,
+till overhead the stars began to pale, and Murray sat trying to scheme
+out some sensible course to be carried out in the daylight.
+
+The lad thought and thought, gradually growing more low-spirited, as he
+was always face to face with the thought that he had made a miserable
+failure of the task he had attacked in such high spirits.  He had hoped
+to reach the boat-keepers and take them down the river to the _Seafowl_,
+and return with the second lieutenant and a strong party of men to the
+aid of Mr Anderson and his lads, who would probably proceed to rout out
+the slaving nest.  In fact, he had started full of glee to carry out his
+instructions, but only to be dogged at every step by mischance.
+
+Murray sank down in his seat, the image of despair.  He had pulled on
+for some hours, only to give up faint with hunger, and wearied by his
+efforts during the night; but all these were as nothing to the trouble
+that was to come with the rising sun.  He would sooner or later have to
+face the first lieutenant, who would say to him, "I sent you for
+reinforcements and to make a report to the captain; and what have you
+done?"
+
+"It is of no use to make excuses," the lad said to himself; "I have
+failed."
+
+He was bending very low now with his elbows resting upon his knees, and
+the only comfort he could find was in the thought that if Dick Roberts
+had been sent instead, he could have done no better, when he roused
+himself with the thought that he must not run any more risks; he must
+reach the place where the boat had been left the previous day, and he
+was now face to face with the thought that he might over-run the spot
+during the dark hours, or, when full daylight came, be in the troublous
+position of incertitude as to whether they had rowed too far or not far
+enough.
+
+The daylight at last, and the cane brake alive with the cries of the
+various strange occupants of its wilds.  A light mist was floating
+overhead, the leaves were drenched with dew, and when the pale mist
+began to grow opalescent, shot as it were with purple, ruby and gold,
+everything was so beautiful that the lad's spirits rose with a bound.
+
+"I did my best," he said to himself, "and though I shall get a good
+bullying for not doing more, old Anderson will come round and make me
+tell everything I have gone through, and then nod his head and say that
+I could have done no more."
+
+There was a good deal too in the way of making the subject appear more
+cheerful, for the men were pulling at their oars easily and looked full
+of contentment, in spite of a few bruises, blood-smears and bandages,
+ready, too, to smile at him, when he fully expected to encounter surly
+glances full of reproach, while as soon as a question arose for
+discussion they plunged into it full of eagerness and excitement.
+
+The first boat-keeper was thoroughly decisive about the spot where the
+boat had been left.
+
+"Further on yet, sir," he declared.  "I can recollect going along here
+yesterday."
+
+"No, you don't," said Tom May surlily.  "You don't know nothing about
+it, lad."
+
+"Not know?  That I do, messmate!  Why, I'm sure on it."
+
+"On'y a-guessing, sir.  Don't you believe a word he says."
+
+"Oh, come, mate," said Lang, the other boatman; "he's right enough.  We
+ought to know better than you, because we stopped with the boat."
+
+"Well, that's why you don't know, my lad," said the big sailor.  "All
+you did was to stop and sit cutting sticks or pegs.  We others know
+better because we landed and went with the first luff right inland."
+
+"What of that?" said Lang.  "You didn't go about the river high-up or
+low down; so now then!"
+
+"Don't argue, my lads," cried Murray sharply.  "Pull, and let's see if
+Lang and his fellow are right.  For my part, I think we must be just
+about the place where we landed now.  Why, yes; there, it's just beyond
+that overhanging tree."
+
+"To be sure, sir," said Tom May excitedly.  "That's the landing-place."
+
+"Right you are, mate," cried the boat-keepers in a breath, "and there's
+the sticks we whittled when we cut down that furren sapling to make
+pegs."
+
+A very few minutes' pulling brought the little party to the
+landing-place from which the start had been made for the plantation, and
+Murray stood up in the boat, trying to settle in his own mind what the
+next step ought to be.
+
+It was his greatest crisis of responsibility, and his face puckered up
+as he glanced at his men and grasped the fact that they were looking to
+him to lead.  They were ready enough to obey his orders, but not to give
+him the advice which he needed at such a crucial time.
+
+"What can I do?" he asked himself.  "It is a horrible task, but I must
+let Mr Anderson know of my failure.  I feel as if I could find my way
+up to the plantation house now; but I can't leave the boat here, knowing
+that the enemy may follow us up the river and attack and capture it.
+That would be like cutting off Mr Anderson's retreat.  I can't send one
+or two of the lads up to the house, for Tom May and Titely proved that
+they could lose themselves hopelessly, and if I sent the others they
+don't know the way at all.  There's only one I feel as if I could
+trust--myself; and I can't trust him.  Oh, was ever a fellow in such a
+hole before!"
+
+He stood thinking, and the longer he thought the worse off he seemed to
+be; and his position grew more painful as he realised the fact that his
+men were waiting for his orders; and, though they remained silent, they
+kept on casting glances down stream as if expecting to see the armed
+party of the enemy in pursuit.
+
+"It's of no use," he said to himself; "the more I think the worse the
+difficulties seem to grow;" and pulling himself together, he turned
+sharply upon May.
+
+"Look here, my lad," he said sharply, "you must find your way up to the
+plantation and tell Mr Anderson how I am fixed.  I can't leave the
+boat, for I must hold that in case the enemy comes on; and I can't spare
+any one to go with you, for three fellows will be small enough force to
+beat the enemy back."
+
+"Ay, ay, sir!" said the sailor promptly.
+
+"You can tell Mr Anderson everything, and then he will settle whether
+he will hold the plantation house or come here and help us to get back
+to the sloop."
+
+"Ay, ay, sir!  Start?"
+
+"One moment, Tom.  You mustn't lose your way, but try and recollect the
+track that black fellow led us; and one word more--this is not a time
+for fighting, but for cunning.  Now, off!"
+
+The man stood for a few moments to thrust the ramrod down his piece and
+make sure that it was well loaded; then throwing it over his shoulder,
+he sprang ashore as lightly as if neither his rest nor his regular meals
+had been interfered with, gained the track, which now seemed plain
+enough, and disappeared.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.
+
+"WHERE'S YOUR DESPATCH?"
+
+"It's all right, sir," cried Roberts.  "Our lads coming."
+
+"Well done!" said the lieutenant, with a sense of relief running through
+him.  "Can you see who it is?"
+
+"Tom May, sir."
+
+"Only May?  Well, he brings a message, I suppose.--Where's your
+despatch, man?" he cried, as the big sailor came within hearing.
+
+"Not got none, sir; on'y a message from Mr Murray, sir;" and the man
+related his experience.
+
+"A regular fight, then?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"But no one badly hurt?"
+
+"No, sir."
+
+"Tut, tut, tut!  Whatever has Mr Murray been about to go astray like
+that?  I did think I could trust him!  And now it is quite open to his
+being taken, boat and men, by these scoundrels before I can get down to
+him?"
+
+"Yes, sir," replied the messenger.  "I don't think they'll be long afore
+they come up the river after him."
+
+"Then how could he be so absurd as to send you, when either of the
+others would have done?  He ought to have kept you."
+
+"Thought I was a bit crippled, sir," said the man.
+
+"But you didn't say you were much hurt."
+
+"No, sir; no good to holloa, as I see."
+
+"What to do?" muttered the lieutenant; and his first thought was to fire
+the building, his second to gather his men together and make a start.
+
+He paused for a few moments to glance round in the full expectation of
+seeing a movement among the trees or some sign of their being watched;
+but the place was perfectly quiet and apparently deserted.
+
+"Well, May," he said, as he caught the man's eyes fixed questioningly
+upon him, "what is it?"
+
+"Thought perhaps you might be going to give orders to fire the place,
+sir."
+
+"What for, man?" said the lieutenant, starting at the sailor's
+similarity of idea.
+
+"Keeping 'em from holding it, sir."
+
+"We may want to hold it ourselves, and there seems to be a want of
+fortification."
+
+The next minute the big seaman was ordered to the front to act as guide,
+and being thoroughly now in an enemy's country every needful precaution
+was taken--precautions which soon seemed to be highly necessary, for the
+little party had not proceeded far before, as Roberts with a couple of
+men brought up the rear, he became aware of the fact that they were
+being followed by what seemed to be a strong body of men stealing after
+them through the plantation.
+
+A halt was called, and the rear-guard faced round, with the effect that
+those who followed could be seen to retire amongst the long lines of
+sugar-canes and maize, which offered plenty of cover.
+
+The lieutenant impatiently gave the order again to advance, and this was
+followed by halt after halt; but the enemy seemed to be content with
+keeping just in touch, no attack being made; but it was evident that
+whoever was answerable for the tactics was pretty keen and ready, and
+the lieutenant thoroughly realised the precariousness of his position
+and the need for care if he intended to reach the boat.
+
+"Nothing better can be done, Mr Roberts," he said.  "We must let them
+see that we are ready for them.  It seems to check them every time."
+
+"Yes, sir," replied the middy; "but doesn't it mean that they are
+waiting till we reach some other party hidden between here and the
+river, and that as soon as we get close up they'll make a dash for us?"
+
+"Very likely, Mr Roberts," said the lieutenant; "but if it does we must
+make a dash for them.  Anyhow we must not let them think we are afraid."
+
+"Oh no, sir," replied the middy excitedly.  "But what about me letting
+my fellows give them a volley to drive them back a little faster?"
+
+"A volley of two, Mr Roberts," said the lieutenant sarcastically, "and
+a waste of ammunition that we must husband."
+
+"Beg pardon, sir; only what I thought," said the middy.
+
+"Quite right to speak, my lad; but tell me, can you make out what our
+pursuers are like?"
+
+"Mixed lot, sir.  They seem to be sailors and blacks."
+
+"Humph!  Well, we are pretty well surrounded.  I don't like these
+cowardly-looking tactics, but I must get back to Mr Murray and the
+boat.  We are gaining a knowledge of the country, and when we come again
+it must be in force.  Much farther, May?" said the lieutenant, after
+pressing on to the front to where the big sailor was trudging steadily
+on.
+
+"'Bout two hours, sir," replied the man.
+
+"Two hours?  Surely not!"
+
+"Yes, sir; quite that."
+
+"Are you certain?  Surely you have not lost your way?"
+
+"Not this time, sir," replied the man confidently.  "It's much further
+than you thought."
+
+The officer was silent, and always with the signs behind of a party
+getting ready to close up, the retreat was kept up, till all at once Tom
+May stopped short, and once more the lieutenant hurried to his side.
+
+"What is it--enemy in front?"
+
+"No, sir.  All clear; but that comes from about where the boat lies,
+sir."
+
+"Firing?"
+
+The answer came at once in the sound of a distant shot, a faintly heard
+report which sent a thrill through every man of the party, who needed no
+incitement to stretch out in a quicker step, one which would have been
+increased to a trot but for the checking of the officer in command, who
+kept the sturdy fellows well in hand so that they might come up to their
+companions with the boat, cool and ready to take action.
+
+But as the pace was increased somewhat, Roberts was made fully aware of
+the presence of the secretive enemies, who still kept under cover--cover
+that was fast becoming cane brake and wilderness, as cultivation grew
+more sparse.
+
+"It means a rush before long," thought the lad, and he did not fail to
+utter a few words of warning from time to time as his heart began to
+beat heavily with excitement, and at the same time he had hard work to
+control the longing to hurry forward to the help of those who were
+plainly heard to respond to a steadily-kept-up fire which all felt must
+come from the enemy.
+
+"We're getting pretty close now, sir," said May, in answer to a question
+from the lieutenant, who was marching by the guide's side.  "Enemy's got
+a boat up the river, sir, I'm sartain, and that's our Mr Murray and the
+lads keeping 'em in check.  Don't you think it might be double, sir,
+now?"
+
+"I'd say yes, my man, but we must get in cool and steady."
+
+"Ay, ay, sir!" replied the big sailor, and he gave a sidelong glance at
+his officer as he spoke, shifted his musket from his right shoulder to
+his left, and passed a hand over his streaming face in a way which made
+Mr Anderson smile.
+
+Another five minutes, during which the fire on both sides was evidently
+growing hotter, and then with a cheer which was answered from the river,
+the party of relief dashed forward, and the firing ceased as if by
+magic, while the lieutenant, as he reached the water's edge at the head
+of his men, looked down the slowly gliding water in vain for signs of
+the enemy, the long curve of the bend to his right being unoccupied, and
+_no trace_ of a boat in sight.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.
+
+WHERE IS THE SLAVER'S LUGGER?
+
+"Murray!" came from the _Seafowl's_ boat, as Murray gave orders for the
+men to let it float down from beneath the trees where he had kept it
+moored with his men, partly screened by the overhanging boughs, while
+lying down in the bottom firing from behind the bulwark.
+
+"Thankye, sir," cried the lad excitedly.  "We have been longing for
+you."
+
+"But the enemy, my lad?"
+
+"Place four men behind the trees there, sir, ready to fire.  You'll see
+their boat come stealing out from round the bend, sir, directly.  We
+have driven them back for the moment."
+
+"A boat attacking from below?"
+
+"Yes, sir; a lugger, full of men.  We were quiet for some time;" and the
+lad hurriedly explained to his chief how that the enemy must have
+cleared away the tree-trunk with which the river had been dammed, and
+brought up a boat, from which for quite an hour they had been firing,
+after making one fierce attack, and being met with a steady fire which
+drove them back.
+
+"Bravo!  Well done, my lad!" said the lieutenant warmly.
+
+"But it was quite time you came, sir.  We couldn't have held out much
+longer."
+
+"Nonsense!" said the lieutenant, laughing encouragement.  "You would
+never have given up.  Why, you had plenty of water."
+
+"Yes, sir," said Murray, with a grim smile; "but the cartridges had
+nearly run out."
+
+"Ours have not, Murray," said the lieutenant, for the men whom he had
+posted according to the middy's advice just then opened fire upon a
+boat, which looked at the first glance uncommonly like the dismasted
+lugger which had been seen lying in the mouth of the little river when
+the _Seafowl_ first entered the river.
+
+A shot or two came in reply from the enemy before the lugger drew back
+round the bend, to be followed by the cutter, which came in sight of the
+enemy at last in time to see that the lugger's masts had been stepped
+and her sails hoisted, to be filled out by the breeze, which sent the
+boat rapidly gliding down stream.
+
+The men looked sharply at their commander, as if fully expecting to
+receive orders to row with all their might; and Mr Anderson noticed it,
+for he turned to the two middies, and by way of answering the silent
+question--
+
+"No," he said; "we're all fagged as it is, and no pulling on our part
+will bring us alongside of a boat that can sail like that.  Pull
+steadily, my lads, and let the stream do the rest.  The chances are that
+the captain has sent a boat up the river to look after us, and that we
+shall catch the lugger between two fires, if Mr Munday has not been
+first."
+
+A good lookout was kept as the cutter dropped down the stream, and at
+every bend the men were ready to fire, but they searched with eager eyes
+in vain, and a general feeling of disappointment had attacked the hungry
+and exhausted party, while the lieutenant's countenance was over-clouded
+by a stern look which betokened the bent of his thoughts in connection
+with the coming meeting with his chief, when a glimpse was seen through
+the trees at a sharp curve which sent a thrill of excitement through the
+boat and made Murray spring to his feet.
+
+"What's that?" cried the lieutenant.
+
+"The lugger, I think, sir," whispered the middy.  "I just caught sight
+of one of her masts."
+
+"Hist!  Silence!" said the lieutenant.  "Dip as quietly as you can, my
+lads.  Two of you there, Titely and Lang, be ready to fire, and drop the
+steersman if they don't lower their sails."
+
+"Ay, ay, sir!" came back, in a whisper, followed by the clicking of
+musket locks, and the oars dipped into the water with scarcely a sound.
+
+"I can't make her out, Mr Murray," whispered the lieutenant.  "Are you
+sure that you were not deceived?"
+
+"Certain, sir," was the reply.
+
+"I saw her too, sir," put in Roberts, "but the trees were very thick and
+there's a big bend there."
+
+"Humph!  Yes; the stream winds and doubles upon itself like a snake.
+You, Tom May, you've got a voice like a speaking trumpet; be ready to
+hail them, and if they don't lower their sail directly, fire, as I said
+before, at their steersman."
+
+The minutes which followed were full of excitement, and then a low
+murmur arose, for one of the men forward turned to draw the attention of
+the officers in the stern sheets to the head of a mast which was seen
+for a few moments passing along above the bushes apparently at the edge
+of the river, and only some five hundred yards from where the cutter was
+gliding swiftly down.
+
+"We shall do it, my lads," whispered the lieutenant to the middies.
+
+"But they've altered their course, sir," said Roberts softly.  "They're
+coming to attack."
+
+"No, no; that's only because the stream winds so; or else--yes, that's
+it.  They've caught sight of one of our boats coming up, and, bravo! we
+shall take the scoundrels, as I expected, between two fires."
+
+The lieutenant sprang to his feet and clapped his hand to his sword, for
+a clean white lug sail came fully into sight.  But he thrust his sword
+back into its sheath before dropping into his seat, for Tom May growled
+out in his siren-like voice--
+
+"Second cutter, sir, and yon's Mr Munday, sir, in the starn sheets."
+
+"Then where's the slaver's lugger?" cried the first lieutenant, and a
+voice from the man-o'-war boat which was coming up stream under oars and
+a couple of lug sails shouted--
+
+"_Seafowls_ ahoy!"
+
+"Bah!" cried Mr Anderson.  "Then we must have passed some branch of the
+river; and I'm sure we kept a sharp lookout.  How stupidly blind!"
+
+"Perhaps Mr Munday's lads passed a branch, sir," cried Murray eagerly.
+
+"Thank you, Mr Murray," said the lieutenant, clapping the lad on the
+shoulder.  "I hope you're right, for I could never have forgiven myself
+if we had been met by this fresh misfortune."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THIRTY.
+
+BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME.
+
+"Why, where have you been?" cried the second lieutenant, as the two
+boats ran alongside.  "The captain's been nearly mad with excitement and
+anxiety."
+
+"Oh, don't ask me," cried Mr Anderson.  "But tell me this, has the
+stream forked anywhere as you came up?"
+
+"Yes, once: about a mile lower down; but the river was very shallow and
+insignificant, and I did not think it was worth while to explore there.
+But why?"
+
+"Shallow--insignificant!" said the lieutenant bitterly.  "It was big and
+important enough to float a large lugger--the one we are pursuing."
+
+"The one that we saw at the mouth of the river when we entered the bay?
+I was wondering where that had gone as we came up."
+
+"No doubt the same," replied Mr Anderson.  "Well, you've let the enemy
+slip, Munday."
+
+"Nonsense!  You don't mean that, man?"
+
+"There's no mistake," said the lieutenant; "and it means this, that you
+will have to share the captain's anger and disappointment over my
+failure."
+
+"I?  But why?"
+
+"For not catching the gang of scoundrels I was driving down before me.
+Oh, Munday, you ought to have taken that boat!"
+
+"But how was I to know, man?"
+
+"Don't stop to talk.  Run on back and find the lugger if you can, while
+I keep on down the main stream.  We may overtake the wretches after all,
+and if either of us sees the enemy in the offing of course we must
+pursue, even if it's right out to sea."
+
+"But the captain--the _Seafowl_?  We must report what has happened."
+
+"I will, of course, in passing.  You, if you come up first, need only
+say that there is a nest of slavers up the river, and that I have had a
+sharp fight.  If the captain has seen the lugger, tell him it is full of
+a gang of scoundrels who have fired upon us, and that the vessel ought
+to be sunk."
+
+"You had better tell him all this yourself, Anderson," said the second
+lieutenant, in a whisper that the men could not hear, "and I wouldn't
+say a word about my missing the lugger on the way, for he's in a
+towering rage, and will only be too glad to drop on to me for what I
+really could not help."
+
+"No, I suppose not," said the first lieutenant good-humouredly; "but you
+might take your share of his ill-humour."
+
+"But it is all on account of your being so long away."
+
+"Well, that was not my fault, man.  We've had a rough time of it; but be
+off sharply, and as to the missing business, follow and catch the
+scoundrels, and I won't say a word."
+
+"Oh, I say, Anderson!" protested the second lieutenant.
+
+"Well, there, be off and I'll see."  The second cutter's sails were
+sheeted home, and she glided off without more being said, while at
+little more than half the rate the first cutter went on under oars, but
+well helped by the current; and they had not gone far down the winding
+river before the silence of the cane brake was broken by a dull report
+which made the two middies half rise from their seats by their leader.
+
+"That means the _Seafowl_ firing at the lugger to heave to, sir," said
+Murray.
+
+"May you be right, my lad," replied Mr Anderson.  "Step the masts, my
+lads, and hoist sail."
+
+The orders were obeyed, and sometimes catching the light breeze and at
+others helped by the sturdy pulling at the oars, the cutter sped on, her
+occupants hearing shots fired from time to time, and reading clearly
+enough that the occupants of the lugger, if it was she who was being
+summoned to heave to, had not obeyed, but were racing on and trying to
+make their escape.
+
+This grew more and more certain as the time glided on, and Roberts went
+so far as to assert that he could tell the difference between the
+unshotted and the shotted guns which followed.
+
+Then, to the delight of the two lads, the firing ceased, and as they sat
+anxious and excited, they compared notes and passed opinions, while the
+lieutenant sat sombre and silent, looking straight out before him, only
+uttering an ejaculation of impatience from time to time as the wind
+dropped in some bend of the river, or filled the sails again upon a
+fresh tack.
+
+Only once did the lieutenant rouse himself a little, and that was when
+they came in sight of the place where the river forked and down which
+the second cutter had long passed.  Murray pointed it out, while Roberts
+exclaimed--
+
+"Of course!  I remember that well now; but I had forgotten all about it
+before."
+
+"Yes; I can recollect it now," said the lieutenant bitterly; and he
+relapsed into silence again, though he was listening to the conversation
+of the two middies all the same, as he proved before long.
+
+"You may be right or you may be wrong," said Murray, after a time.  "I
+think you are wrong and haven't told the difference between the shotted
+and the unshotted guns; but the firing has quite ceased now, and that
+means that the lugger has given up, and lowered her sails."
+
+"Maybe," said Roberts, "but more likely after holding on so long she has
+had an unlucky shot and been sunk."
+
+"Lucky shot," said Murray grimly.
+
+"Ah, that depends upon which side you take.  I believe that our lads
+have grown pretty savage, and sunk her."
+
+A low murmur of satisfaction arose from amongst the men who overheard
+the conversation, and then there was silence again, till the lieutenant
+suddenly spoke out.
+
+"You've only provided for two alternatives, gentlemen," he said.
+
+"Do you mean about the lugger, sir?" asked Murray.
+
+"Of course.  You settled that she had lowered her sails or been sunk."
+
+"Yes, sir; there is no other way."
+
+"Indeed, Mr Roberts?" said the lieutenant.  "It seems to me that there
+is another alternative."
+
+"I don't understand you, sir," said the lad.
+
+"Perhaps Mr Murray does," said the lieutenant sadly.  "What do you say,
+my lad?"
+
+"I'm afraid so, sir, but I hope not," cried the lad; "but we shall soon
+know, for the river is opening out fast."
+
+"Yes, that will soon be proved," said the first lieutenant; and he
+relapsed into silence.
+
+"I say," whispered Roberts, giving his companion a nudge, "what do you
+mean by your alternatives?  The lugger must either have lowered her
+sails or been sunk."
+
+"What about the coast here?" replied Murray.
+
+"Well, what about it?"
+
+"Isn't it all wooded and covered with jungle?"
+
+"Of course: don't we know it well!"
+
+"Yes, and don't the slaving people know it well?"
+
+"Of course they must."
+
+"Then isn't it possible for them to have held on, sailing all they knew,
+and made for some other river or creek running into the shore right up
+perhaps into some lagoon or lake known only to themselves, and where we
+could not follow, knowing so little as we do of the country?"
+
+"Oh, I say," cried Roberts, "what a miserable old prophet of ill you
+are, Frank!  You shouldn't go on like that.  Haven't we been
+disappointed enough, without coming in for worse things still?  You
+might as well stick to it that the lugger has been sunk."
+
+"I can't, old fellow," said Murray, "for I honestly believe--"
+
+"Oh, bother your honest beliefs!" cried Roberts pettishly.  "Be
+dishonest for once in a way.  You might give us a bit of sunshine to
+freshen us up.  Haven't we got enough to go through yet, with the
+captain fuming over our failure and being ready to bully us till all's
+blue?"
+
+"Can't help it, old fellow; I must say what I feel.  But there, we
+needn't talk, for we shall soon know now."
+
+The lieutenant was of the same opinion, for he suddenly rose from where
+he was seated, and pressing the sheets on one side as he went forward he
+made for the bows, where he stood looking out where the mouth of the
+river became a wide estuary, and then came back to his place in the
+stern sheets, and as he sat down he pointed past the sails.
+
+"There, gentlemen," he said; "there lies the _Seafowl_, in quite a
+different position; but there is no lugger."
+
+"No, sir, but there lies the second cutter," cried Roberts; and he
+pointed to where their fellow boat was sailing far away and close in
+shore.  "That means she had been chasing the _lugger_ until a lucky shot
+from the sloop sunk her."
+
+"No, my lad," said the officer gravely.  "I hold to Mr Murray's idea--
+that the second cutter chased the scoundrels till they dodged into one
+of their lairs, and they have by this time penetrated far up the
+country, perhaps been able to get round by some back way through some
+forest labyrinth to where the plantation house is."
+
+"Well, sir, we know our way better now," said Murray, "and we must go
+again.  Better luck next time."
+
+"Thank you, Mr Murray.  Better luck next time.  Now to hear what the
+captain has to say!"
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.
+
+MR ALLEN'S VISIT.
+
+The captain had too much to say when the first cutter's crew went on
+board and learned that matters had taken place just as had been
+anticipated, the lugger having suddenly glided out of what had seemed to
+those on board the sloop to be a patch of dense tropical forest, and
+then sailed away as if to reach the open sea, paying not the slightest
+heed to the repeated summonses which she received from the _Seafowl_.
+
+More stringent commands in the shape of shot would have followed, but
+for the fact that the second cutter, which had been despatched up the
+river in search of Mr Anderson's expedition, suddenly, to the surprise
+of all on board, glided out of the same patch of forest as the lugger
+had appeared from some little time before, and upon catching sight of
+the sails of the craft they had followed, had continued the pursuit as
+rapidly as the crew could force their boat along.
+
+"The place is a regular maze, Mr Anderson," said the captain, as he
+described all that had taken place, "and the scoundrel who commands the
+lugger--I'll hang him to the yard-arm, Mr Anderson, whether he's a
+Yankee or English born, and the bigwigs of the United States and in
+Parliament at home may settle among themselves whether I've done right
+or not, for he has got the wrong man to deal with if he thinks he is
+going to play with me.  He played with me, Mr Anderson, and tricked me
+into the belief that he had surrendered, so that I should not fire upon
+him, and manoeuvred his lugger so as to keep Mr Munday with the second
+cutter between us.  Bah!  I'll never forgive Mr Munday for letting
+himself be so out-manoeuvred.  He has been as bad as you have, sir."
+
+"I'm very sorry, sir," said the first lieutenant meekly.
+
+"And so you ought to be, sir!  But, as I was telling you, the scoundrel
+led the second cutter a pretty dance, Munday following him till from the
+deck here it seemed that all he had to do was to tell his coxswain to
+put his boat-hook on board the lugger and bring his prisoners alongside
+here."
+
+"Well, sir, and he did not?" asked the chief officer.
+
+"No, sir, he did not!" cried the captain angrily; and then he stopped
+short for a few moments.  "Well," he continued then, "aren't you going
+to ask why he didn't take the lugger a prize?"
+
+"I was not going to interrupt you, sir, but I should be glad to hear."
+
+"Very good, then, Mr Anderson, I will tell you.  It was because the
+scoundrel played a regular pantomime trick upon us--yes, sir, a regular
+pantomime trick.  Look yonder," continued the captain, pointing towards
+the shore.  "What can you see there?"
+
+"The edge of the forest that comes down to the bay nearly all round as
+far as I can make out, sir."
+
+"Exactly.  Well, somewhere over yonder the lugger suddenly sailed out,
+and of course we were astonished, for no glass that we have on board
+shows the slightest sign of an opening, while before we had got over our
+surprise, all of a sudden the second cutter, which went up the river to
+follow you, popped out of the same place as the lugger.  Now, sir, how
+do you explain?  Could you come out of the mouth of the river where you
+went in, while the second cutter, which I sent up the river after you,
+came out at the same spot as the lugger?  Explain that, if you please."
+
+"It is simple enough, sir; the little river forks and forms two mouths.
+I sailed down one, and Mr Munday after we had met sailed down the other
+in pursuit of the enemy, and came out as you saw.  It is quite simple,
+sir."
+
+"Then I must be too dense to understand it, Mr Anderson," said the
+captain angrily; "and now look here, sir," he continued, "you tell me
+that the river has two mouths?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"There's one, then," said the captain, pointing to where it could be
+plainly seen.
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Then where's the other, sir?"
+
+"Really, sir," replied the first lieutenant, glancing round and seeing
+that the two middies were hearing every word and striving hard to keep
+their faces straight in spite of an intense desire to laugh--"Really,
+sir, I cannot point out the exact spot, but I suppose that it is where
+the lugger and the second cutter came out."
+
+"You suppose that, sir, do you--suppose it!" roared the captain,
+thumping the rail with his open hand.  "Well, that's what Mr Munday
+supposes; but where is it, sir--where is it?"
+
+"I must ask Mr Munday, sir, for I suppose he examined that part of the
+coast when he came out himself."
+
+"Suppose--suppose--suppose!" cried the captain.  "I'm sick of all this
+supposition.  Mr Munday knows nothing whatever about it.  The lugger
+sailed out, and after a bit the second cutter sailed out and continued
+the pursuit--for I suppose it was a pursuit?"
+
+"Yes, sir, of course."
+
+"Don't say of course, Mr Anderson.  I tell you it was all like a
+pantomime trick.  He has thoroughly examined the coast there, and he can
+find no second mouth."
+
+"River's shut it up again, Dick," whispered Murray.
+
+"He has regularly muddled it, Mr Anderson," continued the
+captain--"just as you muddled your part of the expedition; and the
+fact is that these slaver people have here an intricate
+what-do-you-call-it?--the same as the classical fellow.  Here, you boys,
+it is not long since you left school: What did they call that puzzle?
+You, Mr Roberts."
+
+"I forget, sir," said the midshipman, upon whom the captain had turned
+sharply.
+
+"More shame for you, sir!  Now, Mr Murray, I hope you have a better
+memory."
+
+"Labyrinth, sir," replied the lad.  "Of course--labyrinth!  A child
+could have answered such a simple question;" and the speaker turned to
+the first lieutenant again, while Murray cocked his eye at Roberts and
+Roberts made a derisive "face" suggestive of scorn and contempt, and as
+much as to say, Then if a child could have answered it, why couldn't
+you?
+
+"Yes," continued the captain--"a labyrinth, Mr Anderson, and it is very
+plain that the slaving scoundrels believe that their place is _so_
+confusing and strong that they can set his Majesty's sloop of war at
+defiance, and continue to carry on their abominable traffic as they
+please.  But I think not, Mr Anderson--I think not, sir, for we are
+going to show them that we laugh at all their slippery talk about the
+island, or whatever it is, belonging to the American Government, and
+that we are a little too sharp to be deceived over their hiding-places.
+Only narrow ditches like so much network through swamps.  Dreadfully
+confusing, of course, till you have been through them once, and
+afterwards as easy to thread as a big packing-needle.  I'm disappointed
+in Mr Munday, I must say, but here is a splendid opportunity for you,
+you young gentlemen.  You are not going to allow yourself to be baffled
+by a bit of a maze, Mr Murray?"
+
+"No, sir; I hope not," said the lad.  "And you, Mr Roberts?"
+
+"No, sir, now we have been through forest, or cane brake, as Murray
+calls it."
+
+"Of course you will not let such trifling obstacles stand in your way,"
+said the captain, beginning to pace up and down now, and rubbing his
+hands.  "We are going to find out here more than we expect, and after
+long disappointments make up for the past.  Now, Mr Anderson, it is
+very plain that this Mr er--What do you say the American scoundrel is
+called?"
+
+"His principal, Allen, addressed him as Huggins," replied the first
+lieutenant.
+
+"Huggins!  Bah!  What a name!  It suggests a convict of the worst type.
+It is a name bad enough, young gentlemen, to condemn any ruffian.
+Huggins!  Why, it literally smells of villainy.  But as I was going to
+say, this Huggins has placed himself completely in our hands by firing
+upon his Majesty's forces, and we are now going to give him a thoroughly
+severe lesson."
+
+"I hope so, sir," said the chief officer.  "Hope so, Mr Anderson!"
+cried the captain, turning.  "We are going to, and at once.  But look
+here, you tell me that the man's principal owns quite a handsome country
+seat up yonder?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"And you saw the slaving barracks where they collect the unfortunate
+wretches which are brought over from the West Coast of Africa?"
+
+"No, sir; we saw nothing of that kind, but the surroundings are thickly
+wooded as well as highly cultivated, and this must all be done by
+numbers of slaves."
+
+"Exactly, and this--what do you say his name is?--Allen?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"--lives the life of a wealthy slave-owner there?"
+
+"Boat just slipped out from among the trees, sir!" cried Murray
+excitedly.
+
+"How dare you interrupt me in that rude--Eh?  Yes, of course!  A boat,
+Mr Murray?  What do you make her out to be?--Not coming to the attack?"
+
+"No, sir," replied the middy, giving his fellow a quick glance full of
+mirth.  "Row-boat, sir, pulled by a dozen black fellows--six oars a
+side.  Man holding the ropes in white.  Looks to me like--"
+
+"The scoundrel Huggins coming out to surrender?"
+
+"No, sir," said the lad eagerly.  "I can't quite make out at this
+distance, but I think it's like the thin delicate-looking Mr Allen whom
+Huggins was so insolent to."
+
+"What!" cried the captain.
+
+"Yes, sir," said the chief officer, who had had his glass to his eye;
+"Mr Murray is quite right.  This is the head man--proprietor, I
+suppose--of the plantation."
+
+"Come to surrender," said the captain, rubbing his hands, and then
+taking the glass his chief officer offered to him.  "A nice scoundrel!"
+muttered the captain, as he scanned the boat.  "Everything in style, eh,
+and a black slave to hold a white umbrella over his head for fear the
+sun should burn his cheeks.  Well, things are going to alter a good deal
+for him.  The cowardly dog!  This is showing the white feather, and no
+mistake.  Well, Mr Anderson, I did not expect this."
+
+The captain tucked the telescope under his arm and drawing himself up,
+marched off, while preparations were made for the coming boat's
+reception.  The men were at their stations, and a couple of marines took
+their places at the gangway, while the young officers eagerly scanned
+the chief occupant of the boat, the doctor, who had just come on deck
+after seeing to the slight injuries of the first cutter's men, joining
+the midshipmen.
+
+"Thank you, Murray," he said, handing back the glass the lad had offered
+him.  "So this is the diabolical ruffian whose men fired upon his
+Majesty's able seamen and officers, is it?  Well, he doesn't look very
+terrible.  I think I could tackle him with a little quinine."
+
+"Yes, doctor; he looked to me like a thorough invalid," whispered
+Murray.
+
+"He is an invalid, my lad.  Had fever badly.  The fellow's come for
+advice."
+
+"What's that?" said the captain sharply, for the doctor had made no
+scruple about giving his opinions aloud.
+
+"I say your slaver or pirate captain looks as if he had come to visit
+the doctor and not the captain," replied the gentleman addressed.
+
+"Come to go into irons," said the captain.
+
+"Not he, sir.  He doesn't want iron; steel is more in his way.  Poor
+fellow!  He looks as if you could blow him away."
+
+"From the mouth of a gun?  Well, he deserves it."
+
+"But surely this is not the ruffian you folks have been talking about--
+firing upon the boats, and--Ah, here he is!"
+
+For the well-made cutter now came alongside, the slave crew who rowed it
+and the coxswain being well-armed, and hooking on quite as a matter of
+course, the latter showing his white teeth, an example followed by the
+rest of the crew, while the occupant of the stern sheets rose feebly and
+painfully, gladly snatching at the hands offered to him, by whose aid he
+climbed the side with difficulty and stood tottering on the deck.
+
+"The captain?" he said to Mr Anderson.  "No; I saw you ashore, sir.
+Thanks," he added, taking the arm the chief officer extended to him.  "I
+am greatly obliged, sir, for I am very weak."
+
+"Yes," said the doctor, stepping forward.  "A deck-chair, there.  That's
+right, Mr Murray; a little more under the awning.  Sit down, sir.  Mr
+Roberts, a glass of water, if you please."
+
+"You are very good, gentlemen," said the visitor, recovering a little,
+for he was evidently on the point of fainting.  "I am better now.  Can I
+speak to the captain?"
+
+"Yes, sir," said that gentleman, coming forward frowning, and rather
+taken aback by the aspect of one he looked upon as a surrendered
+prisoner.  "Now, sir, what have you to say?"
+
+"Only that I wish to express my grief, captain, that the untoward
+business of the past twenty-four hours or so should have occurred."
+
+"Very pretty, sir," said the captain sternly.  "You set me at defiance,
+fire upon his Majesty's forces, and then presume to come aboard my ship
+having the insolence to suppose that all you have to do is to offer an
+apology."
+
+"No, sir," said the visitor sadly.  "This has all been none of my doing.
+I think your officers will bear me out when I tell you that it was far
+from my wish that any resistance should be made to one of the King of
+England's ships."
+
+"Indeed!  To one of your king's ships?"
+
+"Yes; I own myself to be one of his Majesty's most unworthy subjects."
+
+"Indeed!" said the captain sharply.  "Why, Mr Anderson, I understood
+you to say that this man claimed to be a subject of the United States
+Government."
+
+"No--no!" interrupted the planter.  "I can bear this no longer; the end
+has come.  All this trouble, sir, has arisen from my weakness in
+allowing myself to be subjected to the oppression and led away by the
+villainy of the man whom I at first engaged to manage my plantation."
+
+"Look here, my good fellow," cried the captain sternly, "I do not want
+to know anything about your overseer, but I take it that you are a
+slaver.  Answer me that--yes or no."
+
+"Unwillingly, sir, yes."
+
+"And you confess to having fired upon his Majesty's forces?"
+
+"No, sir; no."
+
+"What, sir!" cried the captain.  "Do you deny that your servants--your
+slaves--have done this thing?"
+
+"Sir," cried the planter bitterly, "for long enough my chief servant has
+made himself my master.  I, the slave, have fought hard against what has
+been carried out in my name."
+
+"Indeed?" said the captain sharply.  "But _qui facit per alium jacit per
+se_.  Eh, Mr Murray?  You can render that for this gentleman if he
+requires an interpreter."
+
+"I need no rendering of the old Latin proverb, sir," said the planter
+sadly, "and I know that I am answerable.  I am a sick man, sick to
+death, sir, of the horrible life I have been forced to lead for the past
+two years, and I come to you ready to render you every assistance I can
+give in clearing away this plague spot."
+
+"Indeed," said the captain, after exchanging looks with Mr Anderson,
+"but this plague spot is, I understand, a very prosperous one, and you
+seem to lead rather a lordly life with your state barge and retinue of
+slaves."
+
+"I beg that you will not mock me, sir," said the planter.  "I am indeed
+sincere in what I say, and I offer to do everything possible to enable
+you and your men to root out this nest of slavery."
+
+"Exactly," said the captain; "now that I have found it out and do not
+want your help.  Yours is rather a late repentance.  Upon what terms do
+you propose this?"
+
+"On very easy terms for you, sir," replied the planter; "only that you
+will let a broken man die in peace."
+
+The captain looked at his visitor searchingly, and then turned to the
+doctor.
+
+"What is your opinion of this gentleman's state?" he said.
+
+"Most serious," replied the doctor, after a very brief examination of
+the visitor.
+
+"Humph!" ejaculated the captain.  "And I understand," he continued,
+"that you are ready to give me every assistance I need to root out this
+plague spot, as you term it?"
+
+"Every help I can," replied the planter.
+
+"Now that I do not need it, eh?"
+
+"I beg your pardon, sir," said the planter; "you do need it.  You have
+made your way to my house and plantations without help."
+
+"Yes; my officers soon made their way there," said the captain.
+
+"And it will be easy to burn and destroy there; but you will not be able
+to deal with the slave quarters in different parts of the island, nor
+with the three well-equipped slaving schooners that voyage to and from
+the West Coast of Africa and carry on their sickening trade with this
+depot and the other stations."
+
+"H'm!" ejaculated the captain.  "Perhaps not; but I have no doubt that
+we shall soon find out all I require."
+
+The planter shook his head sadly.
+
+"No, sir; the task will prove more difficult than you anticipate.  Your
+officer here has some little experience of one of your opponents."
+
+"Oh!  There is more than one to deal with, then?" said Mr Anderson
+sharply.
+
+"There are two, sir, who act as heads of the traffic--my overseer
+Huggins, and his twin brother."
+
+"Ah!  I see," said the chief officer, smiling.  "I am of opinion, then,
+that we have met the brother yonder upon the West Coast."
+
+"Most likely, sir," said the planter feebly.  "If you have, you have
+encountered another of the most cunning, scheming scoundrels that ever
+walked the earth."
+
+"And these are your friends that I understand you are ready to betray to
+justice?" said the captain sternly.
+
+"My friends, sir?" said the planter bitterly.  "Say, my tyrants, sir--
+the men who have taken advantage of my weakness to make me a loathsome
+object in my own sight.  Captain," cried the trembling man, "I must
+speak as I do to make you fully realise my position.  I am by birth an
+English gentleman.  My father was one of those who came out here like
+many others to settle upon a plantation.  In the past, as you know,
+ideas were lax upon the question of slavery, and I inherited those
+ideas; but I can answer for my father, that his great idea was to lead a
+patriarchal life surrounded by his slaves, who in their way were well
+treated and happy."
+
+"As slaves?" said Mr Anderson sternly.
+
+"I will _not_ enter into that, sir," said the planter sadly, "and I
+grant that the custom became a terrible abuse--a curse which has exacted
+its punishments.  I own fully that I have been a weak man who has
+allowed himself to be outwitted by a couple of scheming scoundrels, who
+led me on and on till they had involved me in debt and hopelessly so.
+In short, of late years my soul has not seemed to be my own, and by
+degrees I awoke to the fact that I was nominally the head of a horrible
+traffic, and the stalking-horse behind whose cover these twin brothers
+carried on their vile schemes, growing rich as merchant princes and
+establishing at my cost this--what shall I call it?--emporium of flesh
+and blood--this home of horror."
+
+"Do I understand you to say that in this island there is a kind of
+centre of the slave-trade?"
+
+"In this island and those near at hand, sir," said the planter.  "In
+addition there are depots on the mainland which the slavers visit at
+regular intervals, and from which the plantations are supplied."
+
+"And you are ready to give information such as will enable me to root
+out a great deal of this and to capture the vessels which carry on the
+vile trade?"
+
+"I can and will do all this, sir," replied the planter feebly.  "I
+thought I had explained as much."
+
+"Yes, yes," cried the captain impatiently, "but I want to know more
+about the bargain you wish to make."
+
+"What can I say more, sir?" replied the planter.  "Your protection, so
+that I may die in peace, trying to make some amends for the past."
+
+"H'm!" ejaculated the captain thoughtfully.
+
+The planter smiled.
+
+"You are thinking, sir," he said, "that you cannot trust me, and that
+you will be able to root out this accursed trade without my help."
+
+"Perhaps so," said the captain drily.
+
+"Let me tell you, then, that you are setting yourself to cleanse an
+Augean stable.  You are pitting yourself against men who have made these
+swampy forests, these nets of intertwining water-ways, a perfect maze of
+strongholds in which your little force of sailors would be involved in a
+desperate fight with Nature at her worst.  Your officers and men here
+have had some slight experience of what they will have to deal with, but
+a mere nothing.  I tell you, sir, that you have no idea of the
+difficulties that await you.  I am speaking the plain truth.  You cannot
+grasp what strong powers you would have to contend with.  Ah, you,
+doctor, you should know.  Tell your captain.  You must have some
+knowledge of what Nature can do here in the way of fever."
+
+"Humph!  Yes," said the gentleman addressed.  "You are a proof
+positive."
+
+"Yes," said the planter sadly; "I am one of her victims, and an example
+of what a strong man can become whose fate has fixed him in these swampy
+shades."
+
+"I'll trust you, sir," said the captain suddenly.  "I must warn you,
+though, that at the slightest suspicion you arouse of playing any
+treacherous trick upon me, your life will be the forfeit."
+
+"Of course, sir."
+
+"Then tell me this first; how am I to lay hands upon this overseer of
+yours?  He is away somewhere in hiding, I suppose, on that lugger?"
+
+"Oh no; that lugger is under the command of one of his men, a mulatto.
+He has gone off in a canoe, as I expect, to bring round one of his
+schooners."
+
+"What for?  Not to attack us here?"
+
+"I expect so; but I can soon tell."
+
+"Ah, how?" asked the captain eagerly.
+
+"By sending a couple of men whom I can trust, to find out."
+
+The captain rubbed his ear and stood looking at the planter
+thoughtfully, and then turning to the first lieutenant, he took his arm
+and led him right aft, speaking to him hurriedly for a few minutes
+before they returned to where the doctor stood evidently looking upon
+their visitor in the light of a new patient.
+
+"Now, Mr--Mr Allen," said the captain sharply, "I have been consulting
+my chief officer, and he agrees with me that it will be wise to accept
+your offer; so tell me what you propose first."
+
+"To return to my little house."
+
+"How can that help us?" exclaimed Mr Anderson sharply.  "How are we to
+communicate with you right away in that swampy forest?"
+
+"You misunderstand me," said the planter.  "I mean I shall return to the
+place I have by the side of the bay here;" and he pointed across the
+water.
+
+"I do not see where you mean."
+
+"Not from here.  It is up one of the little rivers quite hidden amongst
+the trees."
+
+"Everything seems to be hidden amongst the trees," said the lieutenant.
+
+"Exactly," replied the planter, smiling; "that is what I wish you to
+understand.  You must trust me, sir."
+
+"Well," said the captain, "I will trust you, but you understand that you
+are offering to serve me at the peril of your life?"
+
+"It is at the peril of my life I am offering to help you, sir.  Ezekiel
+Huggins will not scruple about shooting me like a dog as soon as he
+finds that I am actively helping you."
+
+"Then I must place you under my protection."
+
+"If you please," said the planter gravely.  "Your officer here will give
+me the credit of being upon your side from the first."
+
+"Yes," said Mr Anderson; "I do that."
+
+"Then I will go back home at once," said the planter, "and I shall look
+to you as a friend.  It would be best if you sent a boat and men to lie
+up in the little river.  When will you land?"
+
+"At once," said the captain, and he walked slowly to the gangway with
+his visitor, saw him into his boat, where, in quite man-o'-war fashion,
+the black crew sat with oars erect, ready to lower them with a splash
+and row off for a few dozen yards, and then rest while the first cutter
+was lowered again with a well-armed crew, including a couple of marines.
+
+"You will take command, Mr Murray," said the captain, "and take note of
+everything, being well on your guard.  I trust to your discretion."
+
+Murray listened, conscious the while that Roberts was looking on
+scowling blackly.
+
+"In four hours you will be relieved."
+
+"That means you're to take my place," said the middy, telegraphing with
+his eyes, greatly to the improvement of his brother middy's aspect.
+
+"Off with you!" was the next command, and as the sailors lowered their
+oars, the black crew waiting received their orders to start, leading off
+in the direction from which they had come, the cutter following closely,
+while her young commander kept a sharp lookout for the mouth of the
+little river, which remained invisible, hidden away as it was by the
+dense foliage which on all hands came right down to the calm, smooth
+water of the great crater-like bay.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THIRTY TWO.
+
+ON DUTY.
+
+"I didn't expect this," said Murray to himself, as after sweeping the
+shore of the bay he once more fixed his eyes upon the well-manned boat
+in front; and then he started in wonder, for Tom May, who sat close to
+him astern, said in a low voice--
+
+"I didn't expect that the captain would send us off again directly, Mr
+Murray, sir."
+
+"Neither did I, Tom; and, what is more, I did not expect to hear you say
+that you were thinking just the same as I did."
+
+"Was you, sir?"
+
+"Yes.  You didn't want to come, I suppose, after going through so much?"
+
+"Not want to come, sir?  I just did!  But what sort of a game is this
+going to be?"
+
+"I don't know, Tom," replied Murray gruffly, "only that we've got to
+watch this Mr Allen."
+
+"Don't mean no games, do he, sir?"
+
+"I think not; but I look to you to keep your eyes open."
+
+"Which I just will, sir.  But I say, look at that."
+
+"Look at what, Tom?"
+
+"That there little creek opening out, sir.  Seems to me as if they've
+got little rivers all round the bay ready for going up or coming out on.
+It's just as if they shut 'em up and no one could see 'em afterwards."
+
+Some little time later the planter's boat, which was only a short
+distance ahead, turned off at right angles in obedience to a pull at the
+starboard line, and seemed to disappear through a beautiful screen of
+tropic growth, and as the cutter was steered in after her it was to pass
+along a soft green tunnel, flecked with golden sunlight, into a smooth
+lake, at one side of which, standing back a short distance from the
+silver sandy shore, with its open windows, green shading jalousies,
+sheltering trees, and scarlet creepers, was as perfect a little Eden of
+a home as mortal eye ever looked upon.  There was nothing to suggest
+slavery, sorrow, or suffering in any shape, but everywhere Nature decked
+the place with her richest beauties, and as the middy sprang up
+involuntarily, a low murmur of admiration ran through the crew.  Then,
+as if ashamed of the habit in which he was indulging, Tom May doffed his
+straw hat, placed it upon his knees, thrust his crooked index finger
+into his capacious mouth, and hooked out from his left cheek a
+disgusting-looking quid of well-chewed tobacco, which dropped into the
+crown of the hat and was quickly tossed out, to fall _plop_ into the
+deep still water of the lake.  The next moment a golden-scaled fish made
+a rush for what suggested itself to its ignorance as a delicacy, which
+it took, delivered a couple of strokes with its tail which sent it to
+the surface, flying out and falling back again with a heavy splash, and
+then disappeared beneath the glittering rings which began to open out
+and widen more and more towards the borders of the little mirrorlike
+lake.
+
+"And sarve you jolly well right too," growled the big sailor, as if
+talking to himself.  "What call had you to meddle with luxuries as is
+on'y sootable for eddicated people?"
+
+Murray suppressed a smile and looked as serious as he could, giving
+orders to the men to pull a few strokes with their oars, sufficient to
+send the cutter into the place that had been occupied by the planter's
+boat, which was now gliding away from the great bamboo piles driven in
+by the rustic steps and platform upon which their guide had landed,
+while he now stood resting upon a rail beneath the verandah, which
+offered ample shade for the cutter and her crew.
+
+Murray gave a few further orders, sprang out and stepped to the
+planter's side as the feeble invalid signed to him to come.
+
+"I heard the commands given to you, sir," he said, "and you will, I
+hope, forgive me if I do not seem hospitable."
+
+"I know you are ill, sir," said Murray coldly, "so you need not trouble
+at all about me and my men."
+
+"I thank you," said the planter, "and of course I know enough of the
+Navy and its discipline not to proffer drink to your men."
+
+"Certainly not," said Murray stiffly.
+
+"Still," continued the planter, "in this hot climate the shelter will be
+acceptable.  There is a spring of excellent water in the rockery behind
+the house, of which I beg you will make every use you desire.  I am
+going to lie down in the room to the left.  You have only to ring, and
+my slaves--well, servants," said the planter, smiling sadly as he saw
+the lad's brow knit--"my servants will attend to your summons directly,
+and bring fruit--oranges, and what your men will no doubt appreciate,
+fresh green cocoanuts.  They will make you fresh coffee and bring
+anything else you desire, sir."
+
+"I am much obliged," said Murray, rather distantly, "but you must
+recollect that I am on duty."
+
+"I do not forget that, sir," replied the planter, smiling; "but you will
+not find your duty a very hard one--to guard a poor feeble creature such
+as I.  There, sir, you and your superiors are masters here, and I am, I
+know, only a prisoner."
+
+"I shall make your position as little irksome as I can, sir," said
+Murray; and then, feeling a certain amount of pity for the wretched man,
+he added, "Not a very terrible-looking prison, this."
+
+"No," replied the planter, "and when you begin to go amongst the
+slave-huts, you will, as a stranger, begin to wonder at their aspect,
+for the simplest shelter made with a few bamboos is soon turned by
+Nature into a home of beauty."
+
+"But all the same it is a slave's prison," replied Murray.
+
+"We had better not discuss that question, young gentleman," said the
+planter bitterly, "for I am sure that I could not convince you that I
+have tried for years past to render the slaves' lot more bearable."
+
+"Nothing could make it more bearable," said Murray sternly.
+
+"Certainly not," said the other sadly, "as matters are here."
+
+He raised his broad-brimmed Panama hat and turned to leave the bamboo
+platform, but, misjudging his strength, he reeled and would have fallen
+headlong into the placid water if it had not been for Murray's prompt
+action.  For, starting forward, he flung his arm round the sick man's
+waist, and supported him to the doorway that had been pointed out
+beneath the broad verandah.
+
+"Thank you!  Thank you!" panted the sick man; and with a painful smile
+he continued, "Ah, it is a great thing to be young and strong, with the
+world before you and nothing to repent.--If you please, through that
+door to the left."
+
+They were standing now in a simply but handsomely furnished hall, whose
+principal decorations caught the lad's eyes at once, being, as they
+were, sporting and defensive weapons of all kinds, and of the best
+manufacture, hung about the walls; but for the moment Murray had no
+opportunity for inspecting these objects of interest, his attention
+being taken up by the planter, who availed himself of his guardian's
+help to pass through the door upon their left, where he sank upon a
+couch at one side of the room and closed his eyes.
+
+"Would you like to see our doctor, sir?" asked Murray.
+
+"No, no; thank you, no; it is only weakness," was the reply.  "I have
+often been like this, and it will soon pass off.  I shall go off to
+sleep before many minutes have passed, and wake up rested and
+refreshed."
+
+"Then you would like me to leave you for a while?" asked Murray.
+
+"I should be most grateful, sir," was the reply, "and I shall sleep in
+peace now, feeling safe in the knowledge that I have the protection of a
+guard."
+
+The planter had opened his eyes to speak, and now closed them tightly,
+leaving his guardian to glance round the room, which had but the one
+door, that by which they had entered; while the window was open save
+that one widely arranged green jalousie shut out some of the sunshine
+and subdued the light that floated in.
+
+Murray stepped out, after noticing that an oblong, shallow, brass-bound
+box lay upon a side-table--a box whose configuration had but one meaning
+for the lad, and that was of a warlike or self-protective character, an
+idea which was strengthened by the fact that an ordinary military sword
+was hung above the mantelpiece.
+
+"Sword and pistols," thought the lad.  "What does he want with so many
+weapons?  I should have considered that there were enough in the hall
+without these."
+
+He noticed that there was a hand-bell upon the side-table, a fact which
+suggested that a servant was within reach, and as the lad stood in the
+hall once more he looked about him, and then, feeling that he had
+entered upon a special charge, he crossed to the next door, that facing
+the one he had just left, and upon thrusting it open found himself in
+what was evidently used as a dining-room, being about double the size of
+the other, and having two windows whose lath-like shutters half darkened
+the room.
+
+"I don't want to play spy all over the house," said Murray to himself,
+"but I am in charge of this planter fellow, and I ought to know who is
+about the place.  But I don't know," he muttered; "it isn't the duty of
+a naval officer."
+
+Frowning slightly, he stepped out on to the bamboo platform again and
+signed to the big sailor to follow him back to the door.
+
+"Here, Tom," he said, and glancing down at the man's bare feet, he
+added, in a low tone, "You have no shoes on, so just go quietly through
+the bottom of the building and see what rooms there are and what black
+servants are about."
+
+"Ay, ay, sir!" said the man softly.
+
+"Go quietly," added Murray; "the owner is ill and has dropped asleep."
+
+"Ay, ay, sir!" replied the sailor, and in regular able-seaman swing upon
+the points of his toes he stepped out of the hall-like central room of
+the place, taking in the little armoury the while, and left his officer
+alone, the door closing behind him as silently as he stepped.
+
+"How still it all is," thought the middy, and he went cautiously back to
+the little room which he looked upon as the planter's study, pressed the
+door slightly open, and peered in, to see that the occupant had not
+stirred, while his deep breathing now sounded plainly, till Murray let
+the door fall to and went back towards that through which Tom May had
+passed upon his mission.
+
+As the middy approached, it was drawn open again.
+
+"Hallo, Tom!" said the lad.  "Back already?"
+
+"Ay, ay, sir!  There's on'y two cabins to look at there, and one's a
+cook's galley, and t'other's stooard's pantry."
+
+"Did you see the black servants?"
+
+"No, sir, and there ain't no white uns neither."
+
+"Sort of summer-house," thought Murray; and then in connection with his
+duty he told the sailor to go up-stairs and examine the bedrooms.
+
+"Which way does the cabin ladder lie, sir?" asked the man.
+
+"I don't know, Tom," was the reply.  "Try that door."
+
+He pointed to one that was on the far side of the hall and had struck
+him at first as a movable panel to close up a fire-place; but upon the
+light cane frame being drawn out it revealed a perpendicular flight of
+steps, up which the sailor drew himself lightly and lowered himself down
+again.
+
+"Well?"
+
+"Arn't no rooms there, sir," whispered the man, with rather an uneasy
+look in his eyes.
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"It's just the ship's hold, sir, turned upside down like.  Sort o' cock
+loft of bamboo spars jyned together at the top--rafters, don't they call
+'em, sir?"
+
+"Yes, of course."
+
+"That's right, then, sir, and they're all thatched and caulked with palm
+leaves."
+
+"Not a bedroom at all, then, Tom."
+
+"No, sir, but it's a sort o' sleeping accommodation all the same, 'cause
+there's a couple o' netting sort o' hammocks slung all ready; but I
+shouldn't like to have my quarters there," continued the man uneasily.
+
+"Why not?  It must be cool and pleasant."
+
+"Cool, sir, but not kinder pleasant."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Well, you see, sir, it's so plaguey dark."
+
+"What of that?  So's the sloop's hold."
+
+"Yes, sir, but this here's so unked dark."
+
+"Well, you don't mind the dark?"
+
+"No, sir, I dunno as I do so long as I've got my messmates nigh at
+hand."
+
+"Look here, Tom, I don't understand you," said Murray.  "You're keeping
+something back.  Why are you hesitating?  You don't mind the dark."
+
+"No, sir; it's the rustling sounds as I don't like."
+
+"Pooh!  Rats," said Murray.
+
+"Nay, nay, sir.  I knows what a rat can do in a ship's hold as well as
+any one who has been to sea.  What I heered arn't no rats."
+
+"Birds, then."
+
+"Tchah, sir!  That arn't no birds."
+
+"What is it, May, since you seem to know?"
+
+"Some'at oncanny, sir."
+
+"_Uncanny_?  What can it be uncanny?"
+
+"I dunno, sir.  Some'at as arn't real."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"I dunno, sir, and I 'spects--"
+
+"Suspect what?  Why, Tom, you don't mean to tell me that a great strong
+sailor like you fancies that the place is haunted?"
+
+"Oh no, sir, I don't go so far as to say that," said the man.
+
+"Then what do you mean?"
+
+"That's what I can't exackly tell you, sir.  All I knows is that as soon
+as I got my head and shoulders well up among them bamboos there was a
+roosh as if half-a-dozen people was a-comin' at me, and then some one
+whispered something to the others, and they whispered back.  It was jest
+for all the world, sir, as if some one said `Hist!  It ain't him,' and
+t'others whispered back and that settled 'em into going on talking
+together oneasy like; and then I come down."
+
+"Without making out what it was, Tom," said Murray, laughing softly.
+
+"Nay, sir; I seemed to know right enough; and it arn't nothing to laugh
+at."
+
+"What is it, then, Tom?"
+
+"Why, sir, I don't go for to say as it is, but it sounded to me like
+oneasy slaves as had met their ends aboard some o' they slaving craft,
+and couldn't rest."
+
+"Tom May!" said the middy; and he would have burst out laughing, but for
+the thought that he might awaken the sick man in the room where he had
+lain down to rest.  "Come out here."
+
+"It's of no use to say anything to the lads outside," grumbled the big
+sailor, "for they think just the same as I do, sir."
+
+"Why, you haven't spoken to them," said Murray.
+
+"Not to-day, sir, but we often have talked about it, sir, and what might
+happen to them fellows as man the slaving schooners.  Something must
+come to 'em some time or another after what they've done to the niggers.
+Stands to reason, sir, as they can't go on always as they do."
+
+"I'm not going to argue about that at a time like this, but I do wonder
+at a big sensible fellow like you are, Tom--a sailor I always feel proud
+of--beginning to talk about ghosts and rooms being haunted, just like
+some silly superstitious old woman."
+
+Tom May drew himself up proudly and smiled at the first portion of his
+young officer's speech, but frowned at the latter and shook his head.
+
+"Ah, it's all very well, sir, for a young gentleman like you to talk
+that how, and you and Mr Roberts, sir, has been at me before and
+laughed at me and my messmates; but, you see, we're a deal older than
+you are, and been at sea two or three times as long.  We've seen bad
+storms, and all sorts o' wonders such as young people don't come
+across."
+
+"No doubt, Tom," said Murray quietly; "but come along outside.  I want
+to station my posts."
+
+"Ay, ay, sir!" said the man, with a sigh of relief; but before he
+followed his officer he stepped on tiptoe to the opening leading up to
+the loft, and made an offer, so to speak, shrank back, then advanced
+again, and ended by sharply and shrinkingly closing the screen-like door
+and backing away with a sigh of relief.
+
+"Feel better, Tom?" said the middy, with mock seriousness, as they stood
+out in the full light of day again.
+
+"Ah, you're a-laughing at me, sir," said the big sailor, shaking his
+head.  "I know, sir, though you're a-pretending to look as serious as a
+judge."
+
+"Enough to make me look serious, Tom.  But are you sure that any of the
+restless ones didn't slip down after you before you shut the door?"
+
+"Eh?  What, sir?" whispered the man hurriedly.
+
+"You don't think as--" He looked behind and round about him, before
+continuing.  "Why, of course I am, sir.  You're a-making fun of a
+fellow, sir.  But if you'd been up yonder and heered 'em--"
+
+"I should have poked about with the barrel of my musket and found that
+the rustling was made by birds or rats."
+
+"Nay, sir," said the man confidently, "'twarn't neither o' they things.
+If it had been they'd ha' skilly wiggled away at once.  And besides,
+sir, they wouldn't ha' made a man feel so 'orrid squirmy like.  I felt
+all of a shudder; that's what made me know that they were something as
+didn't ought to be."
+
+"Snakes, perhaps, Tom."
+
+The man started, stared, snatched off his straw hat, and gave his head a
+vicious rub, before having another good look back at the thatch-roofed
+summer-house of a place.
+
+"Say, Mr Murray, sir," he said at last, "did you say snakes?"
+
+"Yes, Tom; perhaps poisonous ones."
+
+The man gave his head another rub, and then ejaculated in a strange
+long-drawn way the one word--
+
+"Well!"
+
+"I've read that in places like this they creep in under the flooring,
+and then make their way up the holes and into the thatch after the birds
+or rats upon which they live."
+
+"Do they now, sir?" said the man excitedly.
+
+"Yes, and some of them are horribly poisonous; so you must take care how
+you deal with them."
+
+"Poisonous, sir?" continued Tom.  "Them sort as if they bite a man it's
+all over with him and the doctor arn't able to save his life?"
+
+"Yes, Tom," continued Murray; "in one of these islands particularly the
+people call the serpent the _fer de lance_, a bite from which is very
+often fatal."
+
+"Kills a man, sir?"
+
+"I believe so."
+
+"Then I arn't surprised at them calling it so, sir.  Nothing could be
+too bad for it.  That's it, sir, and now I arn't a bit surprised at my
+feeling as I did, sir.  I wondered what made me come so all-overish like
+and fancy there was something about as oughtn't to be.  I arn't a chap
+as gets skeared about a bit o' danger, sir; now, am I, sir?"
+
+"No, Tom; I believe you to be a brave fellow that your officers can
+always trust."
+
+"Thankye, sir; that's what I want to be--chap as can stand a bit o'
+fire, sir, eh?" said the man, with a broad grin.
+
+"Yes, Tom, and that's what made me feel vexed at your being so
+superstitious."
+
+"Sooperstitious, sir?" said the man, giving his head another rub.
+"That's what you call it, is it, sir?  Well, but arn't it enough to make
+a fellow feel a bit creepy, sir, to have them dry-land eels squirming
+about overhead ready to give him a nip as means Dr Reston shaking his
+head all over you and calling your messmates to sew you up in your
+hammock with a twenty-four pound shot at your feet, and the skipper
+reading the sarvice over you before the hatch upon which you lays is
+tilted up, and then _splash_, down you goes out o' sight at gunfire.  I
+don't see, sir, as a fellow has much to be ashamed of in being a bit
+shivery."
+
+"Nor I, Tom, if he shivered from an instinctive fear of a poisonous
+serpent.  But you were not afraid of that, eh?"
+
+Tom May screwed up his face again with a comical grin, shook his head,
+and then, after a glance here and there at his messmates who were to be
+stationed as sentries--
+
+"Well, not azackly, sir," he said.  "I was reg'larly skeared at
+something, and I did not know what; but I see now, sir.  It was my
+natur' to--what you called 'stinctive."
+
+"Well, we'll leave it there, Tom," said Murray smiling, "but I'm not
+quite satisfied.  I'll go and have a look by and by."
+
+"Ah!  But Mr Murray, sir, you won't go and think I was a bit--"
+
+"Never mind what I thought, Tom; and now come on.  I want to see about
+the positions the men are to be in.  To begin with, I should like the
+two men in the cutter to lie off a bit further."
+
+The order was given, and a fresh position was taken up before the middy
+walked carefully all round the planter's rest-house and carefully
+stationed his men on duty, adding a few words about keeping a sharp
+lookout for the approach of danger, and at a whisper from the big
+sailor, including snakes.
+
+This done, the lad began to amuse himself by examining the attempts that
+had been made to render the place beautiful, and it was while thus
+engaged, and noting that the forest all round the clearing and
+cultivation was apparently impenetrable, giving the idea that the
+cottage could only be approached by water, that Tom followed up three or
+four rather peculiar sniffs by one that was most suggestive of a desire
+to call his officer's attention to something he wished to say.
+
+Murray, who was pretty well acquainted with the sailor's peculiarities,
+turned upon him at last sharply--
+
+"Well, Tom," he said, "what is it?"
+
+"Oh, nothing, sir, on'y I didn't want to seem imperent."
+
+"I'm glad to hear it, my lad; but what did you want to say?"
+
+"I was on'y thinking, sir."
+
+"What about?"
+
+"Why, sir, it seemed to me as if we was taking so much trouble to keep
+watch over this here sick gentleman."
+
+"Well, go on; don't hesitate so."
+
+"Beg pardon, sir; I hesitate like 'cause I don't want to seem imperent."
+
+"Then I'll forgive you if it is, Tom.  Now then, what were you going to
+say?"
+
+"Only this, sir; wouldn't it have been handier like to ha' kep' him
+aboard the _Seafowl_ where the watches are going on reg'lar, and the
+doctor could ha' looked in upon him now and then?"
+
+"Perhaps it would, Tom," replied Murray, "but Captain Kingsberry and the
+first lieutenant may have had special reasons for what they are doing."
+
+"Of course, sir; azackly, sir; but somehow this here does seem a bit
+quiet like after what we was doing before."
+
+"Less exciting, Tom?"
+
+"Yes, sir.  Don't think it likely, do you, sir, that the Yankee chap who
+has been giving the gent inside so much trouble and nearly wherriting
+his life out over the slaver, may drop in to see him, do you, sir?"
+
+"No, Tom, I don't," said the middy shortly.  "Neither do you."
+
+Tom May shook his head and looked very hard at his officer.
+
+"Beg pardon, sir, but you arn't quite right like, because that's just
+what I was thinking, and that you might like for us all to be quite
+ready for him if he did come."
+
+"What more could I do, Tom?" said the lad anxiously, for the man's words
+made him think that he had been neglecting some precaution.  "A good
+lookout is being kept, isn't it?"
+
+"Seaward, sir," replied the man, "but I was thinking as the lads round
+the back arn't in sight of one another."
+
+"Oh!" cried Murray.  "And you think that the enemy might come stealing
+down one of the paths through the forest?"
+
+"Didn't see no paths, sir," said the man, looking at him wonderingly.
+
+"Neither did I, Tom."
+
+"O' course not, sir," said the man, giving himself a punch in the ribs
+with his doubled fist.  "Here, I don't know what I could be thinking
+of."
+
+"Nor do I, Tom.  Mine's rather a curious duty, namely, to take care that
+this gentleman does not leave this place, and to treat him as it seems
+to me so that while he is a prisoner he shall not in his state of health
+fancy that he is one."
+
+"Skipper wants to keep friends with him so as he'll show us where all
+the niggers are, sir, and give us a chance to make a good haul of prize
+money?"
+
+"Perhaps so, Tom."
+
+"Well, sir, captain knows best, and the first luff knows what's second
+best.  I dunno about Mr Munday, sir, but I wish some un else had my
+watch, that I do, sir.  Our job burning out the black chief's place over
+yonder was a bit too hot a job, but I'd rather have orders to do the
+same sort o' thing again than be doing this here.  It's too sleepy for
+me.  Can't you set me 'sploring, sir, or something of that kind?  For
+I'm no good at all onless I'm on active sarvice."
+
+"You'll have plenty to do by and by, Tom, depend upon it."
+
+"Hope so, sir, but I want something to do now.  Couldn't do a bit o'
+fishing, could I, sir?"
+
+"No, Tom; we have no hooks and lines."
+
+"That's a pity, sir.  Seems to me that one might catch a good dish for
+the gunroom mess, and a few over for the men, judging from the way they
+bit out in the lagoon there, sir."
+
+"We're on duty, Tom."
+
+"O' course, sir.  What do you say to me and a couple of the lads cutting
+bamboos and routing out the snakes I heered yonder in the roof.  Too
+dangerous, perhaps, sir?"
+
+"Much, Tom, and I don't think it would accord with our duty here."
+
+"No, sir; o' course not, but you'll excuse me, sir?"
+
+Murray nodded, and then, feeling hot and drowsy with the heat and
+silence, he suddenly recalled what the planter had said about summoning
+the servants if he wanted anything.
+
+"Fruit!" he said to himself.  "Well, I'll begin with a good drink of
+water.--I'm going to have a look round, Tom," he said quietly.
+
+"Thankye, sir; I'm glad of it," said the man eagerly; and he followed
+his officer promptly as he walked round the cottage, and said a few
+words to his sentries, who seemed to gladly welcome the coming of some
+one to relieve the silence and monotony of their task.
+
+As he passed round the extreme pale of the garden-like clearing, Murray
+noted more than ever how the grounds were enclosed by a natural hedge of
+the densest kind, so that it was like a wall of verdure which was
+admirably tended and for the most part of the tropical kind, being kept
+clipped and intertwined to such an extent that it would have been
+impossible for wild creatures if they haunted the island to pass
+through.
+
+Returning to the front, and after glancing at his boat, Murray signed to
+the big sailor to follow him, and entered through the verandah and the
+porch into the armoury-like hall, where he stood listening for a few
+moments before making a gesture to silence his man, who was about to
+speak.  For Tom stood with wrinkled brow gazing hard at the screen which
+covered the way up to where the hammocks hung, as if rather uneasy in
+his mind about what that screen covered.
+
+"I'll be back directly, Tom," said Murray, and then he went on tiptoe
+into the room he had mentally dubbed the study, and found that
+apparently the planter had not stirred, but was plunged in the deep
+sleep of exhaustion.
+
+"I will not wake him," thought the lad, and after gazing down at the
+worn and wasted countenance before him, his eyes again wandered over the
+walls and their decorations.  He again noted the case upon the table,
+and then stepped back to where his man stood musket in hand watching the
+screen.
+
+"Well, Tom," said the lad; "heard anything of the snakes?"
+
+"No, sir, and I've been listening for 'em for all I'm worth.  I don't
+think they'll stir onless they hear the way up shook.  Seems a rum place
+to get up and sleep.  I should expect to find the snakes had took the
+hammocks first."
+
+"Well, we're not going to disturb them, my lad; but come into that other
+room; I want a glass of water, and I suppose you could manage a drink
+too."
+
+"Thankye, sir; I just could--a big one.  I should ha' ventured to ask if
+I might get one, only I'm pretty sure that lake water's as salt as
+brine."
+
+"There must be a spring somewhere," said the lad, and making his way
+into the room that was used for meals, he advanced to the table at one
+side, where there was another hand-bell.  "I don't want to awaken our
+prisoner, Tom," he said.  "Here, take up the bell and go through to the
+back where the pantry place is, and ring gently."
+
+"Ay, ay, sir!"  And the man softly raised the bell, thrusting in his
+hand so as to secure the tongue, and then the pair stepped back into the
+hall and through the door at the back, Murray closing it after them,
+before he signed to his follower to ring.
+
+The man obeyed, at first gently, but as there was no reply he rang more
+loudly, and followed up his summons by thrusting the bell through a
+window at the back and sounding it vigorously.
+
+"Can't be no one at home, sir," said the big sailor, turning to gaze at
+his officer.
+
+"So it seems," said Murray, as he stood in the intense silence
+listening; "but that Mr Allen said that his servants would come and
+attend to any of my wants."
+
+"Them chaps as rowed was all his servants or slaves, I suppose, sir?"
+said the man.
+
+"Yes; but it is the hottest time, and these people out here always sleep
+in the middle of the day.  Go out and follow up the side of that stream
+where they poled up the boat."
+
+Tom May looked at him in a peculiar way.
+
+"Well, what are you waiting for?" said Murray.
+
+"I warn't with you when the blacks pulled the boat away."
+
+Murray started, and stared at his man in turn.
+
+"Neither was I there," he said, with a strange feeling of being puzzled
+assailing him.
+
+"You said poled up the stream, not pulled, sir," said the man.  "I
+didn't think when I spoke."
+
+"How absurd!" said Murray.  "Here, let's go out this way round to the
+front and hail the cutter.  The boat-keepers will know."
+
+"It's all right, sir," said May, for there was a rustling sound at the
+back and light steps, and the man exclaimed, "Here's one of them."
+
+"Why, it's one of our lads," said Murray excitedly.
+
+"There's a bell ringing somewhere, sir," said the sailor, who now came
+out of the deep shadow at the back of the cottage.  "Was it you,
+messmate?"
+
+"Yes, my lad," said Tom, speaking to his brother sailor, but staring
+hard at his officer the while.  "This here's the bell, lad, and it was
+me."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.
+
+BOILING OVER.
+
+"Have you seen any of the black servants about?" asked Murray.
+
+He was going to say slaves, but the word sounded so repugnant that he
+changed it.
+
+"Them black chaps, sir?" replied the man.  "You mean them as rowed the
+boat?"
+
+"Yes, or any other ones about the place."
+
+"No, sir, only them as rowed, sir, and I was wondering where they got
+to.  They seemed to go out, boat and all, like a match.  I see 'em one
+minute, and the next they'd gone in amongst the trees; but where it was
+I couldn't make out, and when I asked one of my messmates he didn't seem
+to know neither."
+
+"Go back to your post, my lad," said Murray.  "Keep a sharp lookout, and
+report everything you see."
+
+"Ay, ay, sir!" said the man, saluting and going back amongst the trees,
+watched by Murray and May till he disappeared, when their eyes met in a
+questioning look.
+
+The sailor was the first to speak.
+
+"Yes, sir!" he said.  "Was you saying anything?"
+
+"No, Tom; I thought you were going to speak."
+
+"No, sir.  I was only thinking it seemed precious queer."
+
+"Yes, it does--queer is the word, Tom.  I can't quite make it out."
+
+"That's what's the matter with me, sir.  Seems so lonesome like.  Makes
+me feel as if somebody was dead here, and I was precious glad when you
+spoke.  Something arn't right somehow."
+
+"The place is lonely because the people have taken fright at our coming
+and gone off into the forest, I suppose.  It is a lonely place, as we
+found out for ourselves when we had lost our way."
+
+"Oh, that's it, is it, sir?  Well, I'm glad to know it, but somehow that
+don't seem quite enough for me.  I still keep feeling as something's
+wrong, and as I said sir,--don't laugh at me, sir, 'cause I can't help
+it.  I arn't got a head like you as eggsplains everything for you.  I
+get a bit silly and puzzled like sometimes, and just now it seems to me
+like a man might feel if some one was dead here."
+
+As the sailor spoke he pushed his straw hat back from his forehead and
+wiped the big drops of perspiration away.
+
+"Tom," said Murray sharply, "you're about the most superstitious fellow
+I ever ran against.  You're frightened of shadows."
+
+"Yes, sir, you're right," whispered the man eagerly, and he glanced
+sharply about him.  "Shadders--that's it, sir; that's just what I am:
+things as I can't understand and feel like.  I allers was, sir, and fell
+foul o' myself for it; but then, as I says to myself, I ain't 'fraid o'
+nothing else.  I'm pretty tidy and comf'table in the wussest o' storms,
+and I never care much if one's under fire, or them black beggars is
+chucking their spears at you, because you've got some'at to shoot at
+again."
+
+"No, Tom; you're stout enough then."
+
+"Thankye, sir; I am, arn't I?  But at a time like this, when you've got
+pyson sarpents crawling about over your head, and what's worse, the sort
+o' feeling comes over you that you're in a place where as we know, sir,
+no end of them poor niggers as was torn away from their homes has come
+to a bad end, I'm that sooperstitious, as you call it, that I don't know
+which end of me's up'ards and which down.  I don't like it, Mr Murray,
+sir, and you may laugh at me, sir, but I'm sure as sure that there's
+something wrong--some one dead, I believe, and pretty close to us too."
+
+"Not that Mr Allen, Tom?" said Murray, starting, and in spite of his
+fair share of common sense, lowering his voice, as for the moment he
+seemed to share the sailor's fancies.
+
+"Him, sir?" whispered the man.  "Like as not, sir.  He looked bad enough
+to be on his way for the locker."
+
+"Yes," agreed Murray; "he looked bad enough.  But pooh!  Nonsense!"
+
+"Pooh!  Nonsense it is, sir.  But mightn't it be as well to go in and
+see how he is, sir, and ask him 'bout where the black servants is?"
+
+"Wake the poor fellow up from a comfortable sleep just because you have
+taken a silly notion into your head, Tom?  Why, you are going to make me
+as fanciful as you are yourself!"
+
+"Yes, sir, I wish you was," said the man.  "I should feel a deal better
+then."
+
+"But I don't know, Tom," said Murray suddenly.  "I don't want to disturb
+him; still, as he told me to do just as I pleased here, and when I
+wanted anything to ring for the servants--"
+
+"Yes, sir, and they don't obey orders, sir, as they should; it's like
+doing him a good turn, sir, to let him know that his crew's a bit
+mutinous, being on'y slaves, you know, and like us, sir, agen him."
+
+"Come with me, Tom," said the lad, yielding to a sudden resolve.  "I
+will just wake him and ask a question or two."
+
+"Come with you, sir!" said the man to himself.  "I just think I will!
+You don't ketch me letting you leave me all alone by myself in this here
+unked old place;" and after a sharp glance in the direction of the way
+up, he followed his young officer on tiptoe into the room where they had
+left the planter asleep; and then both started back in astonishment, to
+stare one at the other.  For the couch was vacant, and for a few minutes
+the surprise sealed the middy's lips.
+
+"Why, Tom," he said at last, "we left that Mr Allen there asleep!"
+
+"He'd got his eyes shut, sir," said the sailor dubiously.
+
+"And now he has gone, Tom."
+
+"Well, he arn't here 't all events, sir."
+
+"But where can he be?" cried Murray.  "I did not see him come out."
+
+"No, sir, I didn't neither," said the man, shaking his head very
+solemnly.
+
+"I--I can't understand it, Tom.  Can he have--"
+
+"Gone up-stairs to get a nap there, sir, 'cause the hammocks is more
+comf'table?" suggested the man.
+
+"Impossible."
+
+"I dunno, sir.  He's used to snakes, o' course, and they knows him."
+
+"But we must have seen him go, Tom.  We have been about all the time."
+
+"Must ha' been when we was out at the back, sir, ringing the bell.
+That's it, sir; you woke him up, and he turned grumpy like and went
+somewheres else so as not to be disturbed."
+
+"That must be it, Tom, and you have hit the mark.  There, slip up the
+stairs quietly and see if he is in one of the hammocks."
+
+The sailor's face crinkled up till it resembled the shell of a walnut;
+then he twisted his shoulders first to the left, then to the right, and
+followed up that movement by hitching up his trousers, staring hard at
+his young officer the while.
+
+"Well, Tom, look sharp!" cried the latter.
+
+"Ay, ay, sir!" replied the sailor.
+
+"Why don't you go?" cried Murray severely.  "What are you thinking of?"
+
+"Snakes, sir," said the man laconically.
+
+"Bah!"
+
+"And I was a-thinking, sir, that p'raps you'd do it easier than me."
+
+"Why, Tom," cried Murray angrily, "that is disobeying your officer's
+orders."
+
+"Disobeying, sir?" said the man sharply.  "Nay, sir; not me.  Only you
+see, sir, you was a-telling me about the way in which them snakes
+pricked a man with their tails."
+
+"Tails!  Nonsense, man!  Teeth."
+
+"I didn't 'member for sartin, sir, which end it was; but you said they
+did it so sharp, sir, that it killed a man out-and-out before the doctor
+could 'stract the sting."
+
+"Yes, I did tell you something of the kind, Tom."
+
+"Nay, sir, not something of the kind," cried the sailor reproachfully;
+"that's what it was azackly.  And then you see, sir, I don't want to
+brag, but you telled me yourself another time that I was a werry useful
+man."
+
+"That must have been a mistake, Tom, for you are not proving it now,"
+said Murray, speaking sternly but feeling amused by the man's evasions
+all the while.  "Why, Tom, I thought you were not afraid of anything
+that was solid."
+
+"No, sir, but you can't call them squirmy tie-theirselves-up-in-a-knot
+things solid; now, can you?"
+
+"Tom May, you're a sham, sir," said Murray sternly.  "There, I am
+deceived in you.  I'll go myself;" and he made for the screen quickly.
+
+But the man was quicker, and sprang before him.
+
+"Nay, you don't, sir!  I am mortal skeared of snakes and sarpints, but I
+arn't going to let my officer think me a coward and call me a sham.
+Case I do get it badly, sir, would you mind 'membering to tell Dr
+Reston, sir, as they say whiskey's the best cure for bites?  And as
+there's no whiskey as I knows on aboard, p'raps he wouldn't mind trying
+rum."
+
+"I'm sure the doctor wouldn't like me meddling with his prescribing,
+Tom," said Murray shortly.  "Now then, up with you!"
+
+"Ay, ay, sir!" cried the man, in tones which sounded like gasps; and
+Murray stood by, dirk in hand, ready to make a chop at any reptile which
+might appear, while Tom drew himself up into the shadowy loft, and after
+a good look round lowered himself down again with a sigh of relief.
+
+"No Mr Allen's up there, sir," he said.
+
+"Then where can he be?" cried the middy excitedly, and he ran back
+across the hall and into the study, to pass his hand over the couch,
+which still felt slightly warm.
+
+"P'raps he's gone into the gunroom, sir," said Tom respectfully.
+
+"What, the hall where the guns and things are?"
+
+"Nay, nay, sir; I meant the eating quarters--the dinin'-room, as you
+call it."
+
+Murray ran back across the hall to see at a glance that no one was
+beyond, and he turned upon his follower again.
+
+"Tom," he exclaimed angrily, "what do you make of this?"
+
+The man shook his head.
+
+"But he can't have come out of the study while we were looking out at
+the back."
+
+"That's so, sir," said the man, shaking his head the while.  "It's quite
+onpossible, sir, but he did."
+
+"Tut, tut, tut!" ejaculated Murray quickly.  "We must visit all the
+posts and see if any one saw him pass."
+
+"They couldn't, sir, 'cause if they had they'd have challenged and
+stopped him."
+
+"Of course they would," cried the lad excitedly.  "Here, let's have
+another look round the study.  He must be there."
+
+"That's just what I'm a-thinking, sir," cried the man solemnly.
+
+"Then where is he?  Don't stand staring at me like a figure-head!
+Haven't you anything to say?"
+
+"No, sir; only you 'member how all-overish I come, sir."
+
+"Yes, when you declared it was as if there was a dead man in the place."
+
+"Yes, sir; I knowed there was something wrong."
+
+"Well, then, stupid," cried the lad, in a passion, "there's no live man
+here."
+
+"No, sir," said Tom, shaking his head.
+
+"Well, then," cried Murray, passionately, striking his open palm with
+the blue and gold inlaid blade of his dirk, "where's your dead man?"
+
+"Can't say, sir," replied the man, speaking very slowly.  "Seems to me
+it's a mystery."
+
+"A mystery?" cried the middy, looking round at the pictures and other
+decorations of the place and addressing them as if they were sentient,
+listening creatures.  "Here's a big six-foot strongly-built British
+sailor talking to his officer like an old charwoman about mysteries!
+You, Tom May, if ever you dare to talk such nonsense to me again, I'll
+punch your silly head."
+
+"Beg pardon, your honour," said the man coolly, "but don't the articles
+o' war say something 'bout officers not being allowed to strike their
+men?"
+
+"Bother the articles of war!" roared Murray, leaping at the man, seizing
+him by the shoulders, and shaking him to and fro with all his might.
+"Bother the articles of war!" he repeated, breathless from his
+exertions.  "They don't say anything about knocking an idiot's head
+off!"
+
+"No, sir," said the man humbly and respectfully; "not as I knows on."
+
+"Then I feel disposed to do it," cried the middy passionately.  Then
+stooping to pick up the dirk, which had slipped from his hand, to fall
+with a loud jingle upon the polished floor, "No, I don't," cried the
+lad, in a vexed, appealing way.  "I couldn't help it, Tom!  Look here,
+old lad; you've always been a good stout fellow, ready to stand by me in
+trouble."
+
+"Ay, ay, sir, I have," said the man quietly, "and will again."
+
+"Then help me now, Tom.  Can't you see what a mess I'm in?  Here has the
+captain entrusted me with the care of this prisoner--for prisoner he is,
+and you can't make anything else of him."
+
+"Ay, ay, sir; prisoner he is, and you can't make nowt else of him."
+
+"That's right, Tom," cried the lad, growing quite despairing in his
+tones.  "Sooner or later Mr Anderson or Mr Munday will be coming to
+relieve me of my charge, and the first question whoever it is will ask
+me will be, Where's your prisoner?"
+
+"Ay, ay, sir!  That's right enough."
+
+"There, there!  Look at it in a straightforward business-like way,"
+cried the lad, and to his disgust the man slowly turned his eyes all
+about the place.
+
+"Bah!" cried Murray angrily.  "What are you thinking of?  Can't you
+understand that I want you to help me?"
+
+"Ay, ay, sir, and I'm a-trying as hard as nails, sir," said the man,
+rousing himself up to speak more sharply; "but somehow my head don't
+seem as if it would go."
+
+"Think, man--think!" cried the middy appealingly.
+
+"That's what I'm a-doing of, sir, but nothing comes."
+
+"He must be somewhere, Tom."
+
+"Yes, to be sure, sir; that's it," cried the man excitedly.  "You've hit
+it now.  I couldn't have thought that myself."
+
+"Oh-h-h-h!" groaned Murray.  "Was ever poor wretch so tormented!  What
+shall I do?"
+
+"Lookye here, sir, I want to help you."
+
+"Oh, I feel as if I could knock your silly old head off!" cried the
+middy, with a stamp upon the floor.
+
+"Well, sir, do.  You just do it if you think it will help you.  I won't
+mind."
+
+"Oh, Tom, Tom!" groaned Murray.  "This is the worst day's work I ever
+did."
+
+"Think it's any good to sarch the place again, sir?"
+
+"But there's nothing to search, Tom."
+
+"Well, there arn't much, sir, sartainly, but it'll be more satisfactory
+to go over it once more."
+
+"Come along, then," said the middy.  "Anything's better than standing
+still here."
+
+"Ay, sir, so it is," said the big sailor; and together the pair went
+from room to room, Tom May insisting upon looking under the couch in the
+study, under the table, and then lifting up the square of Turkey carpet
+that half covered the well-made parqueterie floor, which glistened with
+the polishing given to it by busy slave labour.
+
+But there was no sign of him whom they sought, and a careful examination
+of the garden and plantation was only followed by the discovery which
+they had made before, that the place was thoroughly closed in by a dense
+natural growth of hedge, ablaze with flowers in spite of the fact that
+it had been closely clipped and had grown dense in an impassable way.
+
+"Let's get the boat here," said Murray, at last; and going to the
+platform, Tom May hailed the cutter where it swung from its grapnel.
+
+"Now then, you two," cried the middy angrily, "you have been asleep!"
+
+"Nay, sir," cried the men, in a breath.
+
+"What, you deny it?"
+
+"Yes, sir," said one.  "It was so hot that I did get precious drowsy
+once."
+
+"There, I knew I was right!"
+
+"Beg pardon, sir; just as I was going off my mate here shoves a pin into
+me and rouses me up with a yell.  I was never asleep."
+
+"And you are ready to say the same?" cried the middy.
+
+"Jes' the same sir," said the other man, "only not quite.  It was the
+same pin, sir, but he jobbed it into me further.  We was both awake all
+the time, sir."
+
+"Then you must have seen that Mr Allen come out of the cottage and be
+rowed away."
+
+"What, to-day, sir?" said the first boat-keeper.
+
+"Do you think I meant to-morrow, sir?" cried Murray, who was boiling
+over with rage and despair.
+
+"No, sir, of course not," replied the man, in an injured tone; "but you
+might ha' meant yesterday, sir."
+
+"Of course," cried Murray--"when you were not on duty here?"
+
+"We done our best, sir, both on us."
+
+"Yes, yes, of course, my lads.  Here, paddle May and me along the edge
+of the lagoon."
+
+The man paddled the boat slowly along, and it was not until several
+blind lead places, where the boat could be thrust in amongst the
+bamboos, had been explored, that a more satisfactory portion of the
+surrounding watery maze was found, in the shape of a narrow way opening
+into another lagoon which looked wonderfully attractive and proved to be
+more interesting from the fact that no less than six ways out were
+discovered.
+
+"Try that one," said Murray, and the boat's nose was thrust in, when Tom
+May held up his hand.
+
+"Well, what have you to say against it?" cried the middy.
+
+"I only thought, sir, as we might be trying this here one twice if we
+didn't mark it somehow."
+
+"To be sure," cried Murray.  "Don't you pretend to be stupid again, Tom.
+Now, then, how are you going to mark it?"
+
+"Only so how, sir," said the man, with a grin; and as he stood up in the
+boat he bent down some of the over-arching graceful grasses and tied
+them together in a knot.  "These here places are so all alike, sir, and
+it may save time."
+
+This waterway wound in and out and doubled upon itself for what must
+have been several hundred yards, but the middy felt encouraged, for more
+and more it struck him as being a way that was used.  Every now and then
+too it excited the lad's interest, for there was a rush or splash, and
+the water in front was stirred up and discoloured, evidently by a
+reptile or large fish; but whether those who used it had any connection
+with the missing man it was impossible to say.
+
+"Shouldn't be a bit surprised, sir, if we come upon that Mr Planter's
+boat, sir, and his niggers.  Looks the sort o' spot where they might
+have built a boathouse to hide their craft in when they didn't want it."
+
+"At all events, my lad, it is one of their places, and--"
+
+"Well, I'm blest, sir!"
+
+"Eh?  What do you mean?  Why don't you go on?"
+
+"Why, can't you see, sir?" said the big sailor sharply.
+
+"No, Tom.  Why, you don't mean to say that--"
+
+"Yes, I do, sir," grunted the man; and he took off his straw hat to have
+a good puzzling scratch at his closely-cropped hair, while the middy
+stood up to examine two lissome tufts of leafy cane which had been bent
+over and tied together.
+
+"Oh," cried Murray, "anybody might have done that who wanted to mark the
+place, my lad."
+
+"Yes, sir," said the sailor, grunting, "but anybody wouldn't ha' thought
+to make a clove hitch, same as I did a bit ago.  That's my mark, sir--
+T.M.'s own.  I'm T.M., sir."
+
+"Don't laugh, man," said the lad passionately.  "I suppose you're right;
+but it's horrible, for we've been wasting so much time, and come out
+again in the same spot that we went in."
+
+"Can't see as it's wasted time, sir," growled the man.  "I say it's time
+saved, for if it hadn't been for my knot we might have gone on round
+again."
+
+"Don't talk so much, sir.  Give way, my lads.  Get back into the lagoon,
+and we'll try another of these wretched cuts."
+
+Another was soon found and duly marked by breaking down a few of the
+bamboos level with the water, and plaiting them this time in an
+unmistakable way, the result at the end of close upon an hour proving to
+be just the same.
+
+"Never mind," said the middy, speaking through his set teeth.  "It's
+horribly disappointing, Tom, but these blind water alleys haven't been
+made for nothing.  They prove to me that there must be a special one
+which we have to hit, and when we do we shall find that it leads to some
+hiding-place--perhaps to where the planter has gone, and we must trace
+him."
+
+"I don't see what good it will do, sir, if we do," said the big sailor,
+puckering up his brows.
+
+"We must find him, Tom, and take him aboard as a regular prisoner this
+time, for he has been deceiving the captain, and all that he has said
+can't be true.  Give way, my lads."
+
+After further search which led to their passing another opening twice
+over, a spot was found where the growth seemed to be very thick; but it
+proved to be yielding enough at last, for the boat's prow glided through
+with a rush, and they passed into another tiny lagoon, where as the
+large reeds closed in behind them, Tom May slapped his knee loudly.
+
+"I do call it artful, sir," he cried.  "Why, who's going to show me
+which is the way out again?  I've got my eye fixed on it, but if I shut
+it up I shouldn't be able to find it again.  It's just this," he
+continued.  "You holds the bamboos down or on one side, and as soon as
+you're gone by up they springs again; and that's why they're called
+bamboos, I s'pose--because they bamboozle you.  Now for another way of
+marking this here one."
+
+"Yes, let's have no more mistakes, Tom."
+
+"No, sir," said the man, tightening up his lips as he pulled out his
+jack knife, before picking out of the biggest giant reeds, one of a tuft
+which towered up some five-and-twenty feet.  Through this he drove his
+blade, the thick, rich, succulent grass yielding easily, and after
+keeping the wound open by the help of a messmate's knife he cut a slip,
+and thrusting it through the reed, he drew out the two knives so that
+the wound closed up tightly upon the green wedge.
+
+"You are taking a great deal of trouble, Tom," said Murray impatiently.
+
+"It's wuth it, sir--trust me if it arn't," said the man.  "Saves time in
+the end; and I'm beginning to think as we're in the right cut at last."
+
+"Give way, then, my men, and let's prove it," cried the middy
+impatiently, for the time was passing swiftly, and the horrible feeling
+grew upon him that before long some one would appear from the _Seafowl_
+to demand where the prisoner was.
+
+The men thrust the boat swiftly across the pondlike place, for on the
+other side the reeds seemed to have been lately disturbed; but here
+there was another disappointment, for though the bamboos which rose up
+had certainly been broken away recently, they grew together so densely
+that all efforts to pass through were vain, and Tom May declared at last
+that it was only another blind meant to deceive.
+
+"Let's try t'other side, sir," he said, screwing up his face.
+
+"No, no; that looks so easy," said Murray.
+
+"That's some one's artfulness, sir.  Let's try; it won't take long."
+
+Murray was ready enough to try any advice now so long as it seemed good,
+and the word being given, the two boat-keepers placed their oars in the
+rowlocks and rowed straight at the indicated place, with the result that
+they had to unship their oars, for the boat glided right through the
+light reeds, which gave way readily here, and almost directly after the
+rowing was resumed again, and they found themselves in comparatively
+open water for a couple of hundred yards.
+
+"This won't want no marking, sir," whispered Tom.
+
+"Mark it all the same, my lad, when we pass out."
+
+"I will, sir, but we've hit the right way at last.  Look how it rounds
+to starboard at the end, sir.  I believe we're going into big water
+directly.--There you are, sir," added the man in a whisper, as, after
+rowing swiftly onward for nearly a quarter of a mile, the boat glided
+round a bend, where, to the midshipman's great delight, they came in
+sight of what was pretty evidently the long narrow barge in which the
+planter had paid his visit to the _Seafowl_.
+
+The well-made, nattily painted craft was lying well away from the reeds
+which shut in the open water, moored by a rope whose grapnel was sunk
+not far distant, and Murray held up his hand to impress the need for
+silence.
+
+"See the crew ashore anywhere, sir?" asked Tom May.
+
+"No; I believe they're all on board asleep.  Run her up quietly."
+
+The men obeyed, and so cautiously that the next minute the cutter was
+close alongside, and there lay the black crew, sleeping profoundly in
+the hot sunshine, eyes tightly closed, mouths widely open, and quite a
+crowd of busy flies flitting and buzzing overhead, settling upon the
+sleepers in a way that would have proved maddening to ordinary people,
+but which seemed to have not the slightest effect upon the negroes.
+
+"Hook on, Tom," whispered Murray excitedly.  "Take care they don't slip
+away."
+
+The big sailor picked up the boat-hook, and was in the act of reaching
+out to take hold of the boat's bow, when one of the sleepers closed his
+mouth, slowly opened it again in a wide yawn, and at the same time
+unclosed his eyes, saw the big sailor reaching towards him, and then,
+showing the whites of his eyes in a stare of horror and dismay, he
+uttered a yell which awoke the rest of the crew, who sprang up as one
+man, to follow their companion's example, for the first awakened as he
+uttered his yell bounded out of the boat and disappeared.
+
+"No, you don't, my black friend," cried Tom, making a thrust with the
+boat-hook, and getting hold of the startled man by his waist-cloth, he
+brought him up again, kicking, splashing and plunging to the surface,
+and drew him hand over hand along the pole of the boat-hook till he had
+him alongside the now rocking cutter, when a tremendous lurch freed him.
+He would have got away but for the help rendered by the boat-keepers,
+one of whom took hold of a leg, the other of a wrist, when he was hauled
+in over the side, praying for mercy in very fair English, for the fact
+that the big sailor planted a bare foot upon his chest and pressed him
+down into the bottom of the cutter quite convinced him that his time had
+come.
+
+"Hold your row, you black pig!" growled Tom.  "Think it's killing time
+and you're going to be scalded and scraped?"
+
+"Oh, massa!  Oh, massa!  Poor black niggah, sah!" wailed the shivering
+captive.
+
+"Be quiet, or--"
+
+Tom May turned the boat-hook pole downwards as if he were going to
+plunge it at the poor fellow, and his shouting came to an end.
+
+"No use to go ashore after the rest, sir, eh?" said Tom enquiringly.
+
+"Not the slightest," replied Murray, as the last of the crew reached the
+fringing bamboos and plunged in, to disappear.  "But don't let that one
+go."
+
+"No, sir; he's right enough.  Better let him know that we're not going
+to kill him, though."
+
+"Be quiet, sir!" cried Murray, stepping alongside to where May had his
+foot upon the shivering slave's chest.  "No one is going to hurt you."
+
+"Oh, massa!  Oh, massa!  Poor niggah, sah!" sobbed the poor fellow, and
+he placed his hands together as if in prayer.
+
+"Hold your tongue!  Be quiet!" cried Murray.  "Now then, speak out.
+Where's your master?"
+
+"Oh, massa!  You massa now!" sobbed the poor wretch, shivering
+violently.
+
+"Be quiet, sir!" cried Murray.  "Don't be afraid to speak.  Now then,
+tell me.  Where is your master?"  It was some minutes before the poor
+fellow could grasp the fact that he was not going to be killed outright,
+and in the meantime his companions had begun to show themselves, a face
+here and a face there, around the edge of the long winding lake,
+horribly frightened to a man, but fascinated and held to the spot by
+their strong desire to see what became of their companion.
+
+"See 'em, sir?" whispered Tom May.
+
+"Oh yes, I see them; but I want to try and get some information out of
+this poor shivering wretch."
+
+"We might ketch the rest on 'em, sir," said the big sailor, "by using
+this one as a bait.  Shall we try, sir?"
+
+"No, no; this one will know all they could tell, if we can make him
+speak."
+
+"Shall I try, sir?"
+
+"No, no, Tom; you're too big and--"
+
+"Ugly, sir?" said the man, with a grim smile, for Murray had stopped
+speaking.
+
+"Too ugly to him," said the middy, laughing.
+
+"Here, you sir," he added gently, as he bent down and tapped his
+prisoner upon the shoulder.
+
+"Oh, massa!  Poor niggah, sah!"
+
+"Yes, yes; you said that before," cried Murray.
+
+"Poor beggars, sir, they've been so ill-used that they think every white
+man is going to murder 'em."
+
+"Well, let's show the poor fellow that we are not all savages; but we've
+begun pretty roughly, Tom, to win this one's confidence.  You did give
+it him pretty hard."
+
+"Well, yes, sir, I was a bit rough to him; but if I hadn't been he'd
+have got away."
+
+"Now then, let me try.  Here, my lad, I want your master."
+
+"Massa, sah?" cried the shivering prisoner.  "Yes, sah.  Massa, sah!"
+And as he spoke eagerly he made a snatch at the midshipman's ankle,
+caught it between both hands, and raising the lad's foot placed it
+quickly upon his forehead.
+
+"Hullo!  What do you mean by that?"
+
+"Massa!  Massa now, sah.  Poor niggah massa."
+
+"Oh, bother!  Nonsense!" cried Murray.  "No, no.  Where's your master,
+Mr Allen?"
+
+"Massa Allen, sah.  Good massa, sah.  Sick man; go die soon."
+
+"Good master?"
+
+"Yes, sah!  Good massa, sick bad, sah.  Die, sah."
+
+"Well, where is he--Massa Allen?"
+
+"House, sah.  Go sleep, sah," said the man, growing eager and excited,
+and making an effort to replace Murray's foot upon his head.
+
+"No, no; don't do that," cried the lad impatiently.  "Now tell me, where
+is your master?"
+
+"Massa Allen, sah.  House, sah.  Go sleep, sah."
+
+"It's very evident he does not know, Tom," said Murray.  "What's to be
+done?  Do you think we could get anything out of the others?"
+
+"No, sir.  If he don't know they don't."
+
+"Well, what is best to be done?"
+
+"Try t'others, sir.  I don't think it's any good, but we might try."
+
+"But we must catch them first."
+
+"Oh, that's soon done, sir."
+
+"But how?"
+
+The big sailor laughed.
+
+"When I was a youngster, sir, we boys used to get out in one of the
+Newlyn boats, sir--in Mount's Bay, sir, and trail a line behind to get a
+few mack'rel, sir, for our mothers.  Well, sir, it was easy enough to
+trail the line and hook, but it warn't so easy always to get the bait;
+for we used to think the best bait was a lask."
+
+"A what, Tom?"
+
+"Lask, sir, and that's a strip out of the narrowest part of a mackerel,
+cut with a sharp knife down to the bone, so that when the hook was put
+through one end one side was raw fish and the other was bright and
+silvery."
+
+"I see, Tom," said Murray.
+
+"Nay, sir, you only fancy you can see it.  If you could see it twirling
+and wiggling in the water when it was dragged after the boat and we
+pulled fast, you'd see it looked _just_ like a little live fish, and the
+mack'rel shoot theirselves after it through the water and hook
+theirselves.  That's the best bait for a mack'rel, and after the same
+fashion one nigger's the best bait to catch more niggers."
+
+"Then you think we can get hold of more of the boat's crew by--"
+
+"Yes, sir," said Tom, interrupting and grinning the while, "but without
+cutting a piece out of him with either a knife or a whip.  Poor chaps,
+they get that often enough, I'll be bound.  You only want to let this
+one see that he won't be hurt, and he'll soon bring the others up."
+
+"But we've been so rough with him already.  I'm afraid it will be a hard
+task."
+
+"Not it, sir.  They get so knocked about that a good word or two soon
+puts matters right again.  You try, sir."
+
+"Why not you, Tom?  You seem to know their ways better than I do."
+
+"Nay, sir, you try.  See how he's watching of us, sir; he's trying to
+make out what we want him for, and he knows a lot of plain English.  You
+try him, sir."
+
+"What shall I say, Tom?"
+
+"Oh, anything you like, sir.  You're cleverer than I am, sir.  Here, I
+know--tell him you want the other chaps to man the boat.  They'll come
+fast enough if he calls 'em."
+
+"Here goes, then, Tom; but I don't believe I shall do any good.--Here,
+Sambo!" he cried.
+
+The man showed his glistening white teeth in a very broad grin and shook
+his head.
+
+"Not Sambo?" said Murray.  "Well, then, what is your name?"
+
+"Caesar, sah--July Caesar."
+
+"Well, Caesar, then.  I want your master, Mr Allen."
+
+"In de house, sah.  De lilly house;" and the black pointed in the
+direction of the cottage.  "Sick, bad, sah."
+
+"Not there now, Caesar," said Murray.
+
+"Big house, Plantashum," said the black sharply, and he pointed in quite
+another direction.
+
+"Oh, at the plantation house?" said Murray.
+
+"Yes, sah."
+
+"Call your fellows, then, to row the boat to where he is," said the
+middy.
+
+The black looked at him doubtfully.
+
+"Boys run away, sah.  'Fraid massa take 'em sell to bad massa."
+
+"Oh no," said Murray, reaching forward to pat the man upon the shoulder;
+but the poor fellow's action told its own tale.  He started violently,
+shrinking right away with a look of dread in his eyes.  "There, don't do
+that," Murray continued, "I'm not going to hurt you;" and following the
+man he patted his shoulder softly, when the look of horror faded away,
+to give place to a faint smile, one which broadened into a grin.
+
+"Massa no take and sell boys away?"
+
+"No; tell them we come to set them free," said Murray.
+
+"Set niggah free?" cried the black excitedly.
+
+"Yes; that's why my ship has come."
+
+"Massa Huggin say come catch all de boy an' flog 'em heart out."
+
+"Did your overseer tell you that, boy?" growled Tom May; and the man
+winced at the deep fierce voice of the sailor.
+
+"Yes, sah; flog 'em all, sah."
+
+"Then you tell your Massa Huggin he's a liar," growled the big sailor.
+
+The black showed his teeth in a wider grin than ever as he shook his
+head.
+
+"No tell um," he said.  "Massa Huggin kill um dead."
+
+"Where is he now?" said Murray sharply.
+
+"Massa Allen sick, sah."
+
+"No, no; Mr Huggins!"
+
+"Massa sailor captain tell Massa Huggin--"
+
+"No, no; I'm not going to tell your overseer anything."
+
+The black looked at the speaker searchingly for a few moments, glanced
+round as if to see whether they were likely to be overheard; and then,
+as if gaining confidence, he leaned towards the midshipman and
+whispered--
+
+"Massa overseer go to get men from schooner--fighting men come and kill
+sailor and burn up ship.  Big fire.  Burn ship.  Burn, kill sailor.
+Massa no tell what Caesar say?"
+
+"Oh no; I shall not tell Master Huggins, Caesar," said Murray, smiling.
+"Now tell your men to come back and row your boat.  I want to find Mr
+Allen."
+
+The black looked searchingly in the midshipman's face once more, and
+then apparently gaining confidence, he turned sharply upon the big
+sailor, when that which he had gained seemed to be dying out again and
+he glanced at the shore of the lagoon, and Tom read so plainly that the
+black was thinking again of flight that he gave him a sharp slap on the
+shoulder, making him wince violently and utter a low sob.
+
+"Why, you are a pretty sort of fellow," cried the sailor, his face
+opening out into a jovial smile.  "You seem to have a nice idee of a
+British sailor!"
+
+"Bri'sh sailor?" said the black, slowly repeating the tar's words.  "You
+Bri'sh sailor, hey?"
+
+"To be sure I am, my lad--leastwise I hope so."
+
+"Bri'sh sailor no hurt poor niggah?"
+
+"Not a bit of it, darkie.  Can't you understand we've come to set the
+slaves free?"
+
+"No," said the black sadly.  "Massa Huggin say--"
+
+"Massa Huggin say!" growled the big sailor, frowning fiercely.  "You
+tell your Massa Huggins that the British sailor is going to--See here,
+you benighted heathen.  I want to make you understand some'at.  There,
+hold still; I'm not going to hurt you.  Now see."
+
+As the sailor spoke he untied the knot of his neckerchief and threw it
+round the black's neck, made a fresh slip-knot and drew it tight, and
+with horrible realism held up one end of the silken rope, while with a
+low wail the poor shivering wretch sank unresistingly upon his knees in
+the bottom of the boat.
+
+"Don't, don't, Tom!  You're frightening the poor fellow to death."
+
+"Nay, sir; he'll understand it directly.  It's all right, darkie," he
+continued, with a broad grin at the black's fear.  "I want to show you
+what a British sailor means to do with your Massa Huggins."
+
+"Massa Huggin?  No kill Caesar?"
+
+"Kill Caesar, darkie?" cried the sailor.  "No, no.  Hang--yard-arm--
+Massa Huggins.  We'll teach him to talk about burning his Majesty's Ship
+_Seafowl_.  There, now do you understand?" cried Tom, slipping off the
+black silk handkerchief and knotting it properly about his own brawny
+neck, while as he gave the black another hearty clap on the shoulder the
+poor fellow's shiny black face seemed to have become the mirror which
+reflected a good deal of the tar's jovial smile.  "There, sir,"
+continued the big sailor; "that's our Mr Dempsey's way o' teaching a
+man anything he don't understand.  `Show him how it's done,' he says,
+`with your fisties, and then he can see, and he never forgets it
+again.'"
+
+"That's all very well, Tom," said Murray, smiling, "but it's rather a
+rough style of teaching, and you nearly made the poor fellow jump
+overboard."
+
+"That was afore he began to grasp it, sir.  He's got it now.  You can
+see now; eh, darkie?"
+
+"Bri'sh sailor kill Massa Huggin, no kill poor niggah," cried the black.
+
+"There, sir, what did I say?" cried Tom.  "British tar's the niggers'
+friend, eh, what's your name?"
+
+The black sprang up and executed two or three steps of what he meant
+most probably for a triumphal dance.
+
+"Steady, my lad, or you'll have one of them stick-in-a-brick pretty
+little foots of yours through the bottom planks of the boat."
+
+_Plop_! went the black, letting himself down, not upon his feet, but
+upon his knees, and laying his head between the sailor's feet he caught
+one by the ankle, raised it and began to plant it upon his woolly head.
+
+"What game does he call that, sir?" cried Tom, in astonishment.
+
+"He's following up your style of teaching by an object-lesson, Tom,"
+cried the middy merrily.  "It's to show you he's your slave and friend
+for ever."
+
+"Ho!" ejaculated the big sailor.  "That's it, is it?  Well, that'll do,
+darkie; we understand one another; but recklect this, you arn't
+civilised enough yet for object-lessons.  Here, what are you up to now?"
+
+For the black had shuffled upon his knees to the side of the boat, to
+hold his hands to the sides of his capacious mouth, while he sent forth
+a cry wonderfully like the blast given trumpet-like through a conch
+shell to call slaves to plantation work in the fields.
+
+No sooner did the deep tone float across the water than there was a
+movement amongst the giant reeds, and first in one place and then in
+another and from both sides, black faces and woolly heads began to
+appear, while the black who had uttered the cry made for one of the
+oars, passed it through the rowlock astern and began to paddle the boat
+along cleverly enough towards his fellows, who one by one began to take
+to the water like so many large black dogs, springing in with heavy
+splash after splash and beginning to swim.
+
+This went on, to the amusement of the sailors, till every member of the
+boat's black crew had been dragged into, or by his own effort had
+climbed into, the planter's boat.
+
+"Better be on the lookout, my lads," said the middy.  "They may play us
+false and row off."
+
+"Not they, sir," said Tom confidently.  "You may depend upon it they've
+been squinting at us through them bamboozling reeds, and took all my
+lesson in right up to the heft.  I begin to think, sir, that when Mr
+Huggins shows his ugly yellow phiz to us again he'll find that we've
+been making a few friends among the niggers."
+
+"I hope so, Tom; but all this time we've not been thinking about our
+prisoner that we were set to watch."
+
+"Yes, sir, and that's bad; but just you cheer up, sir, and all will come
+right yet."
+
+"But the prisoner, Tom--the prisoner," cried Murray sadly.
+
+"Wait a bit, sir.  Anyhow we've got his boat and his crew; and they
+knows his ways, and perhaps 'll find out his whereabouts a good deal
+better than we could."
+
+"Yes, Tom, but--"
+
+"Nothing like patience, sir," said the man.  "You mark my words."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR.
+
+THE LOST PRISONER.
+
+Murray looked angrily at the big sailor for a few minutes, and then,
+mastering his annoyance at the easy way in which the man took his
+trouble, he said--
+
+"Oh, I'll have patience enough, Tom; but what is to be done next?"
+
+Tom May scratched his head and his eyes wandered round till they lit
+upon the shiny black face of the negro, who was watching him eagerly.
+
+"I'd make that chap lead the way back to the cottage place, sir.  He
+knows all the ins and outs, and he'll show us in half the time we could
+do it."
+
+"That's good advice, Tom, but what for?  I'm in no hurry to meet Mr
+Anderson."
+
+"But you've got to do it, sir, and the sooner you get it over the
+better."
+
+"That's true, Tom," said the middy sadly.
+
+"'Sides, sir, how do we know but what Mr Allen may have come back while
+we've been gone?"
+
+"Tom!" cried Murray excitedly, and after the fashion of the proverbial
+drowning man, he snatched at the straw the sailor held out to him.
+Turning to the black, who was squatting at his feet, he cried, "Take us
+to Mr Allen."
+
+The slave nodded and grinned as he settled himself down, chattering the
+while to his crew, who raised their oars ready to dip them in the placid
+water, when a thought seemed to strike him and he tucked the oar he had
+seized under one knee and turned to the middy, saying sharply--
+
+"You go kill Massa Allen?"
+
+"Kill him?  No!" cried Murray, in surprise.
+
+The man nodded and gave the black crew an order, and their oars dipped
+at once, while the little English party in the cutter followed the lead,
+and to Murray's surprise he found himself taken through an entirely
+fresh canal-like lead of water of whose existence he had not the
+slightest idea.
+
+"I thought so, sir," said Tom May, in a low tone of voice.  "This chap
+knows his way about, and it's worth a Jew's eye to have found him and
+made friends.  You'll see that he'll show us where to go.  Shouldn't
+wonder if he takes us straight to that Mr Allen."
+
+"If he only would, Tom!" replied the midshipman, speaking as if a great
+load was being taken off his mind.
+
+"Oh, you wait a bit, sir."
+
+"Bother your wait a bit, Tom!  I'm sick of hearing it," cried the lad
+angrily.  "Why, look here, they're making straight for the cottage after
+all."
+
+"Well, didn't you expect they would, sir?" cried the big sailor.
+
+"No; what's the good of that?"
+
+"What I said, sir.  Maybe the gentleman has come back again."
+
+"No such good fortune, Tom.  Well, we shall soon know;" and the lad sat
+back in the cutter's stern sheets steering and watching the planter's
+boat, to which he kept close up, while the black crew threaded their way
+in and out amongst the canes, till they pulled up by the bamboo
+landing-stage.
+
+"Massa Allen in dere, sah," whispered the black, pointing at the doorway
+of the cottage, and smiling with satisfaction as if delighted at the
+skill with which he had played the part of pilot.
+
+Murray sprang on to the creaking bamboo stage, and, ready to believe
+that the sick man might have returned, he signed to May to follow him,
+hurried into the place, thrust open the study door and had only to
+glance in to satisfy himself that the little room was still vacant.
+
+"Let's look in the other room, Tom," said the middy sadly, "but it's of
+no use; our prisoner has not come back."
+
+A hurried glance was given to each portion of the cottage, and then
+Murray led the way back to the landing-stage, where the black coxswain
+sat grinning a welcome.
+
+"He's not there, my lad," cried Murray, shaking his head.  "Master Allen
+has gone."
+
+"Massa Allen gone!" repeated the black, and then, as if placing no faith
+whatever in the young officer's assertion, he shuffled out of the boat
+on to the stage, and then ran up to the cottage doorway, where he
+hesitated for a few moments before entering cautiously on tiptoe.
+
+"See that, sir?" whispered Tom May.  "He knows all about them pisonous
+sarpents."
+
+At the end of a few minutes, during which the midshipman and his
+follower caught a glimpse or two of the black as he hurried from room to
+room and evidently made a thorough examination of the place, the man
+reappeared, with the broad eager grin his countenance had worn entirely
+gone, to give place to a look of concern and scare.  It seemed to Murray
+that the black's face no longer shone but looked dull and ashy, as if he
+had been startled, and his voice sank to a whisper as he crept up close
+to the young midshipman and whispered--
+
+"Massa Allen gone!"
+
+"Well, I told you so," said Murray sharply.  "Where has he gone?"
+
+The black raised one hand to his lips, upon which he pressed all his
+fingers together, while he looked behind him and then all about as if to
+see if any one could hear his words--words which he seemed afraid to
+utter.
+
+"Well, did you hear what I said?  Where has he gone?"
+
+The black shook his head violently.
+
+"There, Tom, your idea is worth nothing," said Murray sadly.
+
+"I warn't sure, sir, of course," said the man, "but still I couldn't
+help thinking he might have come back, 'specially as the darkie here was
+so cock-sure.  Hallo!  What's he up to now?" continued the sailor.  "Hi!
+Stop him, my lads!"
+
+For the black had suddenly made a dash for his boat, and sprung from the
+stage into his place.
+
+Murray's first thought was that the black was about to escape with his
+companions, but directly after he saw the cause of the man's scare, for
+there was the quick, steady chop, chop of oars, and the youth's heart
+sank with a feeling of despair, for the bows of the _Seafowl's_ second
+cutter suddenly came into sight, with her crew pulling hard, and there
+in the stern sat the man, after the captain, whom he least desired to
+see, and close by him, sitting up smart and consequential to a degree,
+and seeming to fix his eyes at once keenly upon those of his brother
+midshipman, was Roberts, looking as if he divined that something was
+wrong.
+
+"And ready to jump upon me," said Murray to himself.  "Oh, how am I to
+begin?" he thought.  "I wish I was anywhere out of this!"
+
+But the first lieutenant did not wait for the lad to begin; he opened
+the ball himself.
+
+"Well, Mr Murray," he cried, "what does this mean?  Why have you got
+the planter's boat and crew out here?"
+
+"We found them, sir, by accident," faltered the lad.
+
+"Well, I suppose they did not want much finding.  Where is your
+prisoner?"
+
+Murray gazed at his officer vacantly, trying hard to reply, but, as he
+afterwards said to Roberts, if it had been to save his life he could not
+have uttered a word.
+
+"What's the matter, my lad?" said the chief officer kindly.  "Not ill,
+are you?"
+
+"No, sir," replied Murray, finding his voice at last, and watching the
+lieutenant hard, followed by Dick Roberts, who was grinning as if he
+enjoyed hearing what he looked upon as the beginning of "a wigging."
+
+"Then why don't you speak?  I said where is your prisoner?"
+
+"I--I don't know, sir," was the extremely feeble reply.
+
+"Wha-a-a-t!" shouted the lieutenant.  "I don't know, sir," cried Murray,
+desperately now.  "He's gone."
+
+"Gone?  My good sir," cried the lieutenant, "you were sent here in
+charge of him for some cryptic idea of the captain, and you tell me he's
+gone?  You don't mean to tell me that you've let him escape!"
+
+"I didn't let him escape, sir," faltered the lad, glancing at his
+brother middy and reading in his countenance, rightly or wrongly, that
+Roberts was triumphing over the trouble he was in--"I didn't let him
+escape, sir," cried Murray desperately, "for I was being as watchful as
+possible; but he was very ill and weak and said that he wanted to lie
+down in one of the rooms there.  Tom May will tell you the same, sir."
+
+"I dare say he will, sir, when I ask him," said the lieutenant sternly.
+"Now I am asking you the meaning of this lapse of duty."
+
+"I did keep watch over him, sir, and posted my men all round the
+cottage; but when I came to see how he was getting on--"
+
+"Getting on, sir!  Getting off, you mean."
+
+"No, sir; I did not see him go off, sir," faltered Murray.
+
+"Don't you try to bandy words with me, sir," cried the lieutenant,
+beginning to fulminate with rage.  "There, speak out plainly.  You mean
+to tell me that when you came to look for your prisoner--for that is
+what he is--he was gone?"
+
+"Yes, sir; that is right," said the lad sadly.
+
+"That is wrong, Mr Murray.  Gone!  And you stand here doing nothing!
+Confound it all, man, why are you not searching for him?"
+
+"I have been searching for him, sir."
+
+"But you are here, my good sir, and have not found him."
+
+"No, sir, but I have done everything possible."
+
+"Except find him, sir.  This comes of setting a boy like you to take
+charge of the prisoner.  Well, it was the captain's choice, not mine.
+I'll be bound to say that if Mr Roberts had been sent upon this duty he
+would have had a very different tale to tell."
+
+Murray shivered in his misery, and tried to master the desire to glance
+at his brother middy, but failed, and saw that Roberts was beginning to
+swell with importance.
+
+"Well, Mr Murray," continued the lieutenant, after pausing for a few
+moments, after giving his subordinate this unkindly stab and, so to
+speak, beginning to wriggle his verbal weapon in the wound, "it is you
+who have to meet the captain when you go back after being relieved, not
+I.  That I am thankful to say.  But I fail to see, Mr Roberts, what is
+the good of setting you on duty with a fresh set of men to guard the
+prisoner, when there is no prisoner to guard.  Here, show me where you
+bestowed the scoundrel."
+
+Murray led the way into the cottage, with his heart beating heavily with
+misery; the lieutenant followed him in silence; and Roberts came last,
+glancing at Murray the while and with his lips moving in silence as if
+he were saying, "I say, you've done it now!"
+
+"Absurd!" cried the lieutenant, a few minutes later, and after looking
+through the room where the planter had lain down.  "You might have been
+sure that the prisoner would escape.  Then you did nothing to guard
+him?"
+
+"Yes, I did, sir," cried the lad desperately.  "I posted men all round
+the cottage."
+
+"And a deal of good that was!  Anything else?"
+
+"I have been examining the place all about, sir, with Tom May and the
+two boat-keepers."
+
+"Well, and what was the result?"
+
+"Only that I found one of the hiding-places of this maze of a place,
+sir."
+
+"With the prisoner safe within it?"
+
+"No, sir; I only found the planter's boat and crew, sir."
+
+"Of course--just come back after helping their master to escape.  And of
+course they denied it?"
+
+"The black coxswain was as much surprised as I was, sir," said Murray.
+
+"Of course he was, Mr Murray; perfectly astounded.  Bah, man!  How can
+you be so innocent!  Well, I suppose I must try and get you out of this
+horrible scrape, for all our sakes.  Which is the coxswain?  That black
+fellow who has been staring at us all the time I have been listening to
+your lame excuses?"
+
+"Yes, sir; and I have been thinking that he would be a valuable help to
+us in guiding us through the mazes of this strange place."
+
+"Let's see first, Mr Murray, whether he will be any help to us in
+finding where the prisoner is.  Call him here."
+
+"I have been trying to use him in that way, sir."
+
+"Humph!" ejaculated the lieutenant angrily.  "Then now let Mr Roberts
+try.  Here, Roberts!"
+
+The midshipman stepped up to the officer quickly, after hearing every
+word that had been said.
+
+"You called me, sir?"
+
+"Of course I did, sir," said the lieutenant sharply, and speaking as if
+annoyed with himself for what he had been about to do.  "Go back to the
+boat.  Sharp!"  The lad's eyes flashed with annoyance as he went back,
+and the chief officer turned his back and jerked his head to Murray.
+"Here," he said, "you had better go on with this, my lad; it is your
+affair."
+
+"Thank you, sir," said the lad, heaving a sigh of relief.
+
+"Not much to thank me for, Murray," said the chief officer kindly, "but
+you've made a horrible mess of this business.  Now then, the black
+fellow."
+
+Murray made a sign to the black, who had been listening all through with
+his eyes seeming to start out of his head, and he sprang out of the boat
+and hurried to his side.
+
+"Look here, Caesar," he said quickly, "do you know where Mr Allen is?"
+
+The black looked him sharply in the eyes, then gazed at the first
+lieutenant, and then all around as if on the lookout for danger, before
+he crept closer and whispered--
+
+"Yes, massa.  Caesar know."
+
+"Hah!  This sounds business-like," cried the lieutenant.  "But why in
+the name of all that's sensible didn't you examine this fellow before,
+Murray?"
+
+"I did, sir," cried the lad, trembling with excitement, as he laid his
+hand upon the black's arm.  Then quickly, "Tell me where he is, my lad."
+
+"Massa, Bri'sh sailor no tell Massa Huggin Caesar open him moufe?"
+
+"No, my lad.  No one shall know that you told me.  Speak out."
+
+"Massa Huggin cut Caesar all lilly pieces when he find out."
+
+"We will take care no one shall hurt you," cried Murray excitedly.
+"Tell him, Mr Anderson, that we will set him free."
+
+"To be sure," cried the lieutenant.  "You shall be free."
+
+"Bri'sh sailor officer set Caesar free,--Caesar open um moufe?"
+
+"That's right, then open it wide, my sable friend," said the lieutenant.
+"Tell me."
+
+"No, massa.  Caesar tell young buccra officer;" and he turned with
+sparkling eyes upon Murray.
+
+"Speak, then," cried Murray, trembling with excitement; and the black
+glanced round him again as if for danger, and then reached forward so as
+to place his lips close to the midshipman's ear.
+
+"Massa Huggin come while Massa Allen fas' 'sleep and take um right
+away."
+
+"Hah!" cried Murray.  "But how, my lad, how?"
+
+The black looked from one officer to the other, a smile of cunning
+overspreading his features, and he whispered--
+
+"Caesar show Bri'sh officer.  Caesar know."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE.
+
+BLACK CAESAR.
+
+Murray made a dash at the black and caught him by the arm, while Tom May
+sprang to the other side, for, startled by the sudden movement of the
+midshipman, the poor fellow winced and looked as if about to run.
+
+"No, no," cried Murray; "it's all right, Caesar.  Show us directly where
+Mr Allen is."
+
+"Yes," whispered the man; "but no tell Massa Huggin.  Him kill Caesar
+for sure.  Caesar very frighten."
+
+"You shan't be hurt, boy," cried the middy.  "Now then; lead us to where
+Mr Allen is.  Quick!"
+
+The black nodded his head, gave a sharp glance round, and then with
+trembling hand caught hold of Murray's wrist and led him into the hall
+again, closely followed by the lieutenant and Tom May, who was as
+watchful as if he felt sure that their guide was bent upon making his
+escape.
+
+"Shall I follow with some of the men, sir?" said Roberts, who was in a
+state of fret from the fear of missing anything that was about to take
+place.
+
+"No, it is not necessary," said Mr Anderson.
+
+"I beg pardon, sir," cried Murray; "from what this black fellow has
+said, I think you ought to have some of the men with us."
+
+"Oh, very well, then," cried the lieutenant, "bring half-a-dozen of the
+lads with you, Mr Roberts;" and the hall had a very business-like
+aspect as, to Murray's great disgust, Caesar led him into the study.
+
+"Why, what are you doing, man?" he cried.  "Mr Allen is not in here.
+I've searched the place three times."
+
+The black looked up at him quickly and showed his teeth; but it was in
+no grin of cunning, for the poor fellow's face looked muddy and strange.
+
+"Caesar know," he whispered hoarsely, and the midshipman felt the
+fingers which gripped his wrist twitch and jerk as he was pulled towards
+the corner of the room just beyond the window.
+
+Here the black stopped short, trembling violently, and pointed downward,
+before darting back, loosening Murray's wrist and making for the door.
+
+"Stop him, Roberts," cried Murray; but his words were needless, for the
+way of exit was completely blocked by the midshipman and his men.
+
+"What does he mean by all this?" said Mr Anderson angrily.
+
+"I don't quite know, sir," cried Murray; but he followed and caught the
+black by the arm.  "Come," he continued; "show us where Mr Allen is."
+
+"Caesar berry frighten', massa," whispered the poor fellow, whose teeth
+were chattering; but he yielded to Murray's hand and followed him back
+towards the corner of the little room, where his eyes assumed a fixed
+and staring look as he leaned forward and pointed downward at the thick
+rug of fur which covered that part of the floor.
+
+"What does he mean?" cried the lieutenant.  "Is the planter buried
+there?"
+
+"Show us what you mean," cried Murray, and he tried to draw the black
+forward; but the poor fellow dropped upon his knees, resisting with all
+his might, and, with eyes starting and rolling and teeth chattering, he
+kept on pointing downward, darting his index finger at the floor.
+
+"I beg pardon, sir," said Tom May gruffly.  "I think I know what he
+means."
+
+"What is it, then?" cried Murray.
+
+"It's snakes, sir, same as I heered up-stairs."
+
+"Perhaps so," said the lieutenant, "so take care; some of these serpents
+creep into the houses here, and they are very poisonous.  Mind what you
+are about, Mr Murray.  Let the black pull the rug away.  Mr Roberts, a
+couple of your men here with cutlasses.  Be smart, my lads, and strike
+the moment the brute is uncovered."
+
+"Ay, ay, sir!" came in a chorus from the guard; but every Jack stood
+fast, waiting for his fellows to volunteer.
+
+"Pull the rug away, Caesar," said Murray, as soon as the men had been
+ordered to advance, which they did after making a great show of spitting
+in their hands to get a good grip of the cutlasses they drew.
+
+"No, no, no, massa.  Caesar 'fraid, sah.  Massa Huggin kill poor Caesar
+dead, for show."
+
+"Is there a snake there, darkie?" said the lieutenant impatiently.
+
+"No, massa.  No, massa," panted the poor fellow.  "Caesar brave boy; no
+frighten snake.  Massa Huggin kill um for show."
+
+"What does he mean?  Master Huggin will make a show of him?"
+
+"No, sir," cried Murray.  "He's afraid of being murdered for showing the
+way.  I have it, sir," he said now excitedly.  "That explains
+everything.  There's a way out here;" and stooping down the middy seized
+one corner of the rug, gave it a sharp jerk, and laid bare what seemed
+to be a trap-door neatly made in the polished floor.
+
+A murmur of excitement ran through the room, and Murray exclaimed--
+
+"Then the poor fellow has been killed, Tom."
+
+"And buried, sir, seemingly," growled the sailor; and without waiting
+for orders, he went down on one knee to raise the broad square flap,
+while the black shrank a little more away where he knelt, and began
+rubbing his hands together excitedly.
+
+"Well, my lad," cried Mr Anderson, "be smart!  You're not afraid, are
+you?"
+
+"Not a bit, sir," growled the big sailor; "but there seems to be some
+sort o' dodgery over this here hatchway.  You see, there arn't no
+ring-bolt."
+
+"Take your cutlass to it, Tom," said Murray; and as he spoke he drew his
+dirk.
+
+"Ay, ay, sir; that'll do it," replied the sailor, and directly after the
+middy and he began to force in the edges of their blades so as to try
+and prise open the trap.
+
+"Come, come, come," cried the lieutenant, "don't bungle like that;" and
+he drew his sword.  "Let me try."
+
+Murray made way, and the officer began to try and force in the edge of
+his service blade.
+
+"Humph!  Dear me!" he muttered.  "The floor is made of mahogany.  Very
+hard wood.  Not so easy as I thought, May, my lad."
+
+A broad smile covered the big sailor's countenance as he watched his
+officer's failure.
+
+"Ay, ay, sir!" he growled.  "Beg pardon, sir; you'll be breaking your
+sword."
+
+"Yes, my lad, and I don't want to do that," said the lieutenant.  "Here,
+hallo!  What do you mean by that?  Look here, Mr Murray; your nigger is
+trying to tell you how to do it.  He knows all about it.  Let him try."
+
+For, as if recovering somewhat from his abject dread, the black knelt
+and shuffled about as if longing to perform the task himself.
+
+"Yes, sir, that's it," said the midshipman eagerly.  "Now then, Caesar,
+show us how it's done."
+
+But this only made the black shrink away more and more, and begin
+shaking his head violently and resuming the pointing as before.
+
+"Here, he must be made to show how it is done," cried the lieutenant
+impatiently.  "We cannot waste time like this."
+
+"I think I can manage now, sir," said Murray, for just then the black
+caught hold of his hand, slipped his own up the lad's wrist, and pressed
+him to one side of the square trap that refused to open.
+
+The rest was plain, for it soon became clear that, though the black was
+afraid to do anything towards opening the trap himself, he was quite
+ready to use the hands of another party for the purpose.
+
+"Oh, that's it, is it, Caesar?" cried Murray, who now submitted himself
+entirely to the slave's direction and let him press his hands down with
+a thrusting movement upon one of the floor-boards, with the result that
+the square trap glided away smoothly as if running upon rollers, while a
+dark opening appeared, showing a flight of ladder stairs running down
+into what seemed to be total darkness.
+
+"A subterranean passage leading somewhere or another."
+
+"It is the way out by which Mr Allen went," said Murray excitedly.
+
+"Escaped, you mean," cried the lieutenant.
+
+"Perhaps so, sir; but mayn't it be that he has been taken away by his
+enemies?" suggested Murray.
+
+"Well, that we have to see," replied the lieutenant.
+
+"Look here, Caesar," said Murray, addressing the black, "has Mr Allen
+gone this way?"
+
+The black took a step or two towards the opening, listened, looked round
+cautiously, and then took hold of the lad's arm and drew him away, to
+whisper in his ear--
+
+"Massa Huggin come and fesh him away."
+
+"Then you think this Master Huggins is down there?"
+
+The black nodded his head quickly and then pointed to the sailors, ran
+first to one and then to another and touched their swords and the
+muskets they carried, before pointing downward to the concealed flight
+of steps.
+
+"I can understand that, Mr Murray," said the lieutenant.  "He wants us
+to go down armed and follow the steps to where they lead; but we must
+have lights.  Humph!" he added.  "The fellow understands English well
+enough."
+
+For the black darted to a corner closet, opened the door, and took out a
+bottle, a box and a silver candlestick which stood all ready, a wax
+taper which the black placed upon the side-table, and then, as cleverly
+as if he had seen it done scores of times, he took the stopper out of
+the little bottle, from which a strong odour of phosphorus arose, took a
+match from the box, and thrust it into the bottle, with the result that
+he brought it out burning, after the fashion of our fathers' time before
+the invention of lucifer matches and congreve lights--a fashion adopted
+when a letter had been written and the writer, who knew not adhesive
+envelopes and desired to seal his missive, made use of the phosphorus
+bottle instead of producing a light with a flint and steel.
+
+"Well done," said the lieutenant.  "Now then, are you going to light the
+way?"
+
+The black shook his head and shrank away once more.
+
+"We're to do it ourselves, it seems, Mr Murray;" and the lieutenant
+drew his sword.  "I'll trouble you to light me, sir, for I must lead the
+way.  Come, Mr Roberts, you can lead the men, and you will keep close
+up.  Draw--no, no, leave that dress ornament in its scabbard.  You too,
+Mr Murray.  Take two of the men's cutlasses, and they can use their
+muskets.  Here, darkie, are you coming too?"
+
+"Yes, Massa buccra officer.  Caesar come show the way.  You no let Massa
+Huggin kill poor niggah?"
+
+"That I promise you, my good fellow," said the lieutenant.  "Now, Mr
+Murray, forward, please."
+
+To the surprise of all present the black stepped quickly to the top of
+the stairs, and kneeling down thrust his head over and seemed to listen
+attentively before placing a hand upon the floor upon either side of the
+opening and lowering himself down.
+
+"Massa come along quick.  Nobody here."
+
+"How's that?" cried Murray.  "Isn't Mr Allen there?"
+
+"No, massa.  Him gone along Massa Huggin--take him right away, so him no
+tell Bri'sh officer where all de slabes hid ashore, and whar to fine de
+slaber ship."
+
+"Light is beginning to dawn into my benighted intellect now, Mr
+Murray," said the lieutenant, following the midshipman, as, carefully
+sheltering the little taper from the damp wind which seemed to blow up
+from the hole in the floor, the lad stepped down quickly after the
+black.  "And it seems to me, for your comfort, my lad, that you need not
+be in the slightest degree alarmed at the prospect of facing the captain
+and being called to account for the loss of your prisoner, for your loss
+is going to turn out a great gain.  Here, follow close up with the men,
+Mr Roberts.  No, not next; I'll have May behind me; he's big and
+strong, and he's something to depend upon if we have a sudden attack."
+
+Roberts winced and frowned, for he felt as if his dignity had been a
+little touched at being put aside to make way for the big sailor, and in
+addition the chief officer had spoken in a way which made matters take a
+different turn from what he had expected.
+
+If any one had asserted that he was a bit jealous and envious of his
+brother middy he would have denied it with indignation, but all the same
+there was a something near akin to envy somewhere in his breast, and he
+would have liked it a great deal better if he had been called upon to
+play several of the parts which somehow would fall to Murray's share.
+
+So Dick Roberts frowned as he grasped the clumsy cutlass that had been
+handed to him by one of the men, and then after four of the party had
+received orders to mount guard at the entrance to the subterranean way,
+he followed closely upon Tom May's bulky form, ready to help protect
+those who had gone before; and grasping his weapon very tightly he stood
+at last at the foot of the stairs in a well-paved arched way just lit
+faintly by the wax taper, and was able to see that the passage was
+composed of the lava which had been quarried from one of the volcanic
+masses thrown from a burning mountain ages before.
+
+"Keep together, my lads, close up," said the lieutenant; and his voice
+sounded whispering and strange as it seemed to reverberate down a
+passage, and finally died away.
+
+"Where does this lead to, I wonder?" said the midshipman softly, and the
+walls repeated "I wonder" in a tone that sounded loud.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THIRTY SIX.
+
+"BERRY MUCH 'FRAID."
+
+Julius Caesar, after getting over his first fear of the white strangers
+and a natural dread of the fierce American slaver, whose threats seemed
+to dominate his life, threw himself bravely into the enterprise upon
+which he was engaged and proved himself to be an admirable guide, one
+too with a full knowledge of the risks he ran.  He grew more and more
+confident now of the strength to protect him of the man-o'-war's men,
+and every now and then, as the party continued its way along what proved
+to be a carefully constructed tunnel, he stopped short and whispered to
+Murray to shade the light while he hurried on into the pitchy darkness.
+
+The first time he did this, after laying his black arm across both
+Murray's and the lieutenant's breasts, he seemed to be so long gone that
+the latter expressed it as his belief that he had tricked them and
+escaped; but this opinion had hardly been whispered in the middy's ear
+before there was a faint rustling as of bare feet heard, and then,
+breathing hard, the black was close upon them.
+
+"Come 'long now, massa," he said.  "Show light now."
+
+Thrice more this was repeated, and then all at once upon their guide's
+return he exclaimed--
+
+"Massa put out light now."
+
+"What for?" said Murray sharply.
+
+"Candle burn all away sure.  Wantum go back.  All dark."
+
+"But how are you going to light it?" said Mr Anderson.
+
+"July Caesar got lilly bottle o' fire; massa Allen lilly bottle, sah."
+
+"But we can't see in the darkness," said Murray.
+
+"Take hol' hand.  Caesar show way.  See with one hand run along top
+wall."
+
+Setting aside the seeing, the black soon proved to those who followed
+him that he could feel his way along the rest of the distance, during
+which it was quite dark; and he hurried his followers along till the
+black gloom gradually became twilight, and that increased in power till
+it became possible to follow the dimly seen figure which went on in
+front.  Then the twilight became a pale green, which grew brighter and
+brighter till all at once the black stopped short and whispered--
+
+"No make noise.  Caesar go first and see Massa Huggin gone take Massa
+Allen 'way."
+
+The party stopped and saw the black hurry on for a few dozen yards, and
+then disappear through what seemed to be a clump of bushes, which pretty
+well blocked up the end of the passage.
+
+"I should like to know what's going to be the end of this," said the
+lieutenant; "but I suppose we must go on with it now and trust the
+black, for he seems to be proving himself honest.  What do you say, Mr
+Murray?"
+
+"I feel sure he is," replied the midshipman.
+
+"But his motive?  We are almost complete strangers."
+
+"I think he is a faithful servant of the planter, sir, and wants us to
+save him from danger."
+
+"Yes, that's how it suggests itself to me, Mr Murray, though I can
+hardly understand such conduct on the part of one of these wretched
+ill-used slaves towards the oppressor.  But there, we shall see."
+
+He ceased speaking, for just then the black seemed to spring through the
+bushes, and joined them where they were waiting in the tunnel.
+
+"Find Massa Allen," said the black, in a quick excited whisper.
+
+"Ah!" cried Murray joyfully, for somehow--he could not have said why--he
+had begun to feel the greatest interest in the sick man.  "Ah!  Where
+did you find him?"
+
+"Massa Huggin got um."
+
+"But where is he?"
+
+The black pointed in the direction from whence he had returned,
+evidently indicating the forest which closed in the end of the tunnel.
+
+"What is he going to do with him?" asked Mr Anderson--"Keep him a
+prisoner?"
+
+"Kill um," said the black abruptly.  "Come!  Caesar show um;" and he
+caught hold of the middy's arm, gave it a tug, and then signed to the
+others to follow.
+
+"Yes," said the lieutenant sharply; "it seems to me quite time we had a
+word to say about that.  Let him lead on, Mr Murray.  I want to have a
+few more words with our friend Mr Huggins.  We must show him that there
+is a difference of opinion upon this question.  Here, you darkie, does
+Mr Huggins indulge himself much in this kind of sport?"
+
+The black, who was moving off sharply, stopped short, dropped his lower
+jaw to his breast, and stared vacantly at the speaker.
+
+"What buccra sailor officer say?" he whispered.
+
+"Don't speak in that way," said the lieutenant sharply.  "Why don't you
+speak aloud?"
+
+"Caesar berry much 'fraid massa Huggins hear um.  Den kill poor niggah."
+
+"That means, then, that Master Huggins does kill people sometimes?"
+
+"Yes, massa often kill pore niggah when cross."
+
+"Well, look here, my lad; don't you be very much afraid.  I want you to
+show us all you can, for he is not going to kill our friend Master
+Allen."
+
+"Massa Allen friend," said the black, nodding his head sharply.  "Massa
+Allen kill pore niggah?  No, nebber.  Come 'long."
+
+The man led the way, holding tightly by the middy's arm, and as soon as
+he had passed out of the tunnel, plunged into the dense forest, and
+threading his way among the trees, followed by the party, whose
+countenances were glowing with excitement, he carefully avoided every
+patch of earth which threatened to yield to the pressure of footsteps.
+This he kept on for over half-an-hour, when he stopped short and,
+bending down nearly double, pointed to where, instead of being firm, the
+way he had selected had suddenly become boggy, mossy, and of a rich
+green.
+
+"Young officer, look dah," he whispered.  "No speak loud.  Massa Huggin
+men hear um."
+
+"Well," said Murray, "I am looking _dah_, sir, but there is nothing to
+see."
+
+"No see?  Caesar see.  Massa Huggin men come 'long.  Carry Massa Allen,
+make men foot go down soft.  Make mark."
+
+"Perhaps so," said Murray, "but I can see nothing."
+
+"Let him lead on, Mr Murray," said the lieutenant.  "I want to get to
+business."
+
+"Caesar show," whispered the man, and now, walking half doubled and with
+his hands hanging down, he broke into a trot, closely followed by the
+party, for another few hundred yards, before stopping short so suddenly
+that those who followed were on the point of over-running him.
+
+"Massa officer look now," whispered the black.  "Massa no say can't see
+now."
+
+"No: I can see now," said Murray.  "Look here, sir," he whispered,
+imitating the cautious utterance of the black, as the lieutenant closed
+up to him.
+
+"Yes," said the officer eagerly; "this is real trail.  So many seals
+impressed in the soft boggy soil; all leading off yonder in a fresh
+direction after evidently making a halt here.  You can make it out, Mr
+Murray, eh?"
+
+"I can make out the footsteps, sir," replied the lad, "but I can't say I
+understand them."
+
+"Oh no, of course not," said the lieutenant, "but I suppose our black
+friend here can.  Tell us all about it, what's your name--Caesar?"
+
+"Yes, massa," said the black promptly; and he began eagerly to point out
+the various impressions in the earth, carefully keeping on one side and
+nearly touching the ground as he bent down.
+
+"Dose niggah foots," he whispered, picking out carefully the trails of
+four pairs of footsteps which had passed to where they stood, evidently
+coming to an end.  "Yes, sah; dose niggah foots.  Carry Massa Allen.
+All 'tick down deep in de mud."
+
+"Ah, to be sure!" cried Murray.  "I see."
+
+"Dey get tire' carry Massa Allen long way.  No, Caesar t'ink Massa Allen
+say he walk bit now, and jump down.  Dose Massa Allen foots.  Got shoe
+on.  Massa officer see?"
+
+"To be sure he does, darkie.  Well done!  You see, Mr Murray?"
+
+"Oh yes, sir; I can see now he shows me."
+
+"Yes; young buccra officer see Massa Allen shoe 'tick down in de mud.
+Dose black niggah foots," continued the black, pointing.
+
+"How do you know they are black footsteps?" asked Murray.
+
+"All a toes 'tick out wide," replied the man promptly; and he raised one
+of his own feet with the toes spreading widely, stepped to a soft patch
+of green-covered mud, and pressed his foot down and raised it again.
+"Dah," he continued; "Massa buccra see?  Dat black niggah foots, and dat
+are white man foot.  Look toopid all queezum up in hard boot.  Dat Massa
+Huggin foots."
+
+"Ah!" cried the lieutenant eagerly.  "How do you know, darkie?"
+
+"Massa Huggin put foots in big hard boot.  Caesar know um--kick Caesar.
+`Get outah way, black dog!' he say."
+
+As he spoke the black went through something of a pantomime so perfectly
+that the lieutenant and Roberts burst out laughing.  Murray's
+countenance remained unchanged, and he met the black's eyes gravely, and
+noted their fierce aspect as his brow wrinkled up and his thick, fleshy,
+protuberant lips were drawn away from the beautifully perfect white
+teeth.
+
+"Hurt pore black niggah, massa," he said, rather piteously.  "Kill some
+niggah.  Massa Huggin sabage.  Pore niggah die dead.  Hurt Caesar
+sometime.  Wouldn't die."
+
+"Well, go on, my lad," said the lieutenant; and the black continued his
+object-lesson.
+
+"Massa Allen say walk now.  Look at um foots.  Lilly shoe dah, big boot,
+hard boot, dah.  One boot, 'noder boot.  Massa Huggin say Come along,
+sah.  Look dah.  Walk 'long dah, and niggah foots walk over um.  Lot o'
+niggah foots walk all over cover um up."
+
+"Well," said the lieutenant, "now you have found out the trail so well,
+lead on and let's overtake them."
+
+"Ah!" cried the black excitedly, for he had suddenly caught sight of
+something at which he bounded and caught it up to hold it before him and
+gaze at it with starting eyes.
+
+"What does that mean, Mr Murray?" said the lieutenant, in a low tone,
+his attention having been thoroughly taken up by the intelligent black's
+behaviour.
+
+"I don't quite know, sir.  It's a soft piece of plantain stalk notched
+at the edge in a peculiar way.  Look, sir."
+
+For, paying no more heed to his companions for the moment, the black
+began to search about to the right of the trail, till he suddenly
+bounded on for a few paces and caught up a piece of green cane about six
+inches long and evidently scratched in a special manner.
+
+"What's that, Caesar?" asked the middy.
+
+The black, who was gazing at the piece of cane with fixed and staring
+eyes which seemed to glow, started at the lad's address, and pressed
+forward to look him questioningly in the eyes, hesitating.
+
+Then he smiled and nodded.
+
+"Massa buccra.  Good Bri'sh sailor.  Come set pore niggah free.  Him no
+tell Massa Huggin.  Him no kill pore black darkie.  Iss, Caesar tell
+um," he whispered now, with his lips so close that the lad felt the hot
+breath hiss into his ear.  "Dat Obeah, massa.  Dat black man's Obeah.
+Come along now Caesar know.  Find fetish.  Plenty many black boy speak
+soon."
+
+"But you are going the wrong way," said Murray, clapping the black upon
+the shoulder to draw him back.
+
+"No, sah.  Caesar go right way.  Way Obeah tell um."
+
+"But Mr Allen: we want to follow Mr Allen."
+
+"No can, sah.  Not now.  Come back.  Not time yet."
+
+"But you said that this Huggins would kill Mr Allen now that he has got
+him away."
+
+"No," said the black, shaking his head.  "No kill um now.  Plenty black
+boy 'top um; no let um kill Massa Allen.  Come back now.  Massa wait."
+
+"Oh, nonsense!" cried the lieutenant.  "I am not going to be treated
+like this.  Look here, you sir; you must go on and follow up the trail
+till we overtake this slaving scoundrel and make him prisoner.  Do you
+hear?"
+
+The black listened, and looked at the speaker gravely, but made no
+reply.
+
+"Do you hear, sir?" cried the lieutenant again.  "Speak to him, Mr
+Murray; he seems to listen to you better than he does to me."
+
+"I'll try, sir," said Murray, "but I'm afraid he will not stir now."
+
+"You tell him that he must, sir."
+
+Murray repeated the lieutenant's words, with the result that the black
+listened to him with a face that for a few moments looked dull and
+obstinate, but which changed to a softer aspect as his bright eyes
+looked full in those of the frank young midshipman, before they closed
+slowly and their owner shook his head.
+
+"Come, Mr Murray," said the chief officer; "you are not making the
+fellow understand."
+
+"No, sir," said Murray gravely, "and I am afraid he is not to be
+forced."  Then the lad's eyes flashed with annoyance, for Roberts
+glanced at him and said to his leader--
+
+"Shall I try, sir?"
+
+"Yes, do.  These people want to be made to understand that when they
+receive orders they must obey them."
+
+"Yes, sir," cried Roberts, making the most of himself, as he frowned at
+their black guide.  "Murray is too easy with them.  Here, you sir--"
+
+Here Roberts's speech was cut short by the lieutenant, who had been
+watching the change in Murray's countenance, and he exclaimed--
+
+"That will do, Mr Roberts, thank you.  I think I can manage the matter
+better myself.  Here, what's your name--Caesar?"
+
+"Yes, sah; Caesar," said the black; and Murray looked at him sharply,
+for the man's manner seemed completely changed.
+
+"Then listen to me.  You ought to have learned with the power to speak
+English that a servant must obey his master."
+
+The black drew himself up with his face growing hard from his setting
+his teeth firmly.
+
+"Massa Huggin make me servant and call me slabe; beat me--flog me--but I
+was prince once, sah, in Obeah land."
+
+The lieutenant's face flushed and he was about to speak angrily, but
+there was something in the slave's manner that checked him, and the two
+middies looked at him wonderingly, as instead of giving some stern order
+he said in a quiet, matter-of-fact, enquiring way--
+
+"Indeed?  So you were a prince or chief in your own country?"
+
+"Yes, sah," was the reply; and it was given with such calm dignity that
+colour, the half-nude figure, and the blur of slavery were forgotten by
+the lookers-on, and the feeling of wonder at the lieutenant's treatment
+of their guide died out.
+
+"How came you here?" said the lieutenant quietly.
+
+"There was war, sah, and my people were beaten.  There were many
+prisoners, and we were sold to the man--sold."
+
+"Hah!  Hard--very hard for you," said the lieutenant, looking at their
+guide thoughtfully.  "How long is that ago?"
+
+"Twenty year, sah."
+
+"And you have been this Mr Huggins's slave ever since?"
+
+"No, sah; not long time.  Caesar sold free time before Mr Allen bought
+me; and he was good massa.  He call me Caesar, and make me lub him."
+
+"Not for christening you Caesar, of course.  Then he treated you well?"
+
+"Yes, sah.  Then Massa Huggin come and make Massa Allen like slave."
+
+"Indeed!  Well, I have heard something of this from Mr Allen himself,
+and you will most likely see that this slave-driving scoundrel's reign
+is over.  Do you understand my English?"
+
+"Yes, massa," said the black quietly.
+
+"Then you quite understand that you have been helping me as guide so
+that we can save Mr Allen from this man, and punish him for all the
+evil he has done--I mean for this buying and selling of the poor blacks
+who are brought from Africa here?"
+
+"Yes, massa."
+
+"Then why do you refuse to go on guiding us to find Mr Allen?"
+
+"Massa no understand," said the black quietly.  "Caesar want to save
+Massa Allen.  Caesar want to kill Massa Huggin."
+
+"Do you?" said the lieutenant, smiling.  "Well, we do not ask you to do
+that.  We will manage the punishing; but I want you to go on guiding me
+and my men to where this slave-dealer is."
+
+"Yes, massa.  Caesar want too, but massa mus' wait."
+
+"What for?  Why should we wait?"
+
+"Massa no understand."
+
+"I understand from your behaviour that you are afraid," said the
+lieutenant sternly.
+
+"No, massa; not now.  Caesar drefful 'fraid lil bit ago.  Not now.
+Caesar want to save Massa Allen, but not time yet, massa.  Bri'sh
+officer wait lil while."
+
+"Why?" said the lieutenant sharply.
+
+"Massa no understand.  Massa go now and find Massa Huggin.  Take one,
+two--five, ten man Bri'sh sailor; Massa Huggin got ten, twenty, forty,
+fifty men sword gun plenty powder shot.  Plenty 'nough to kill officer
+and Bri'sh sailor.  Plenty strong; two ship.  Kill everybody; Massa
+Allen too.  Massa no good."
+
+"But how do I know that my men would not be too many for this
+scoundrel?"
+
+"No, not many.  Not 'nuff, sah," said the black, shaking his head.
+
+"Then you think we had better go back to the ship and fetch more men?"
+
+The black shook his head and smiled sadly.
+
+"Caesar 'fraid massa get killed, sailor get killed, Caesar too get
+killed.  Massa officer must wait."
+
+The lieutenant gazed at the speaker searchingly, while the black
+returned his keen examination without flinching.
+
+"Why must I wait?" he said.
+
+"Too soon, massa.  Time not come."
+
+"Time for what?  To give Mr Huggins time to collect his men?  He has
+plenty of black sailors, has he not?"
+
+"Yes, massa.  Hundred, two hundred, tree hundred."
+
+"So I supposed.  Well, I do not feel disposed to wait longer than it
+will take me to get up some more of my men--as many as the captain can
+spare--and then I shall attack at once."
+
+"No massa can," said the black quietly.
+
+"Oh yes, I can, because you who have served us as guide so well, and who
+want to save your master, will show us the way."
+
+"No, massa.  Caesar no show the way."
+
+"Why not?" said the lieutenant angrily.
+
+"Massa Bri'sh officer and all men be killed.  Massa must wait."
+
+"And if I say I will not wait?" cried Mr Anderson.
+
+"Caesar show Massa Bri'sh officer why must wait."
+
+"When will you show me?" asked the lieutenant sharply.
+
+The black stood silent for a few moments as if debating within himself
+sadly and doubtfully.  Then turning his eyes upon Murray, his own
+brightened, and he thrust his hand within the cotton shirt which loosely
+covered his breast and shoulders.  Then quickly drawing out the piece of
+young notched cane and the marked plantain leaf, he looked at them
+eagerly, turning them over in his hands and seeming to read the marks
+that were cut through rind and skin.
+
+As he did this the black's face brightened and he seemed to have found
+the way out of a difficulty as he held out the tokens of something or
+another to Murray.
+
+"What have you there, my man?" cried the lieutenant.
+
+"Obeah, massa.  Fetish.  Massa officer come with Caesar to-night, Caesar
+show him why wait."
+
+"Come with you alone?" said the lieutenant.
+
+The black shook his head.
+
+"No, massa come bring massa officer, Bri'sh sailor.  Come and see.
+Caesar not 'fraid now.  Massa come to-night."
+
+"Come where?" cried Mr Anderson.
+
+"Caesar show."
+
+"You will show me a good reason why I should wait?"
+
+"Yes, massa.  Come 'long now."
+
+"Come now?  Where to?"
+
+"Massa Allen sleep house.  Come 'long.  Caesar show."
+
+And without waiting for further question or order, the black thrust the
+tokens he had found into his breast as he made his way back into the
+tunnelled passage, where he drew out the phosphorus bottle and taper,
+lit the latter and then led the way as swiftly as his companions could
+follow, the taper just lasting long enough to light the party back to
+within hearing of a call from the guards awaiting them anxiously at the
+entrance.
+
+"Now for our rations, my lad, and a rest," said the lieutenant, as all
+stood once more in the cottage room and watched the black deftly replace
+the trap, drawing over it the rug and making all that had passed seem to
+the two midshipmen and the chief officer as if they had been taking part
+in a dream.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN.
+
+OBEAH.
+
+"This man is a puzzle," said the lieutenant.  "One hour he is a
+shivering cowardly slave, the next he plays the part of a hero; and now
+he is like a clever household servant who does the best he can for
+visitors in his master's absence.  Why, Murray--Roberts--we never
+expected such treatment as this."
+
+"No, sir," said the two midshipmen together.
+
+For Caesar had been bustling about, and one way and another had spread
+quite a supper in the planter's little dining-room for the officers, and
+afterwards supplied the men in one of the back rooms with delicious
+coffee and bread, to the great refreshment of the tired adventurers.
+
+"What are you thinking about, Mr Murray?" said the lieutenant.  "Come,
+out with it, my lad;" for the middy had hesitated and turned red.
+
+"I was only thinking, sir, that we ought to send a messenger to the
+_Seafowl_."
+
+"Humph!  Strange, my lad.  I have been thinking just the same, but I can
+spare neither man nor boat, and I have come to the conclusion that if
+Captain Kingsberry wants news he must send to us for it.  What's that
+you are muttering, Mr Roberts?--He will be angry?"
+
+"I didn't say so aloud, sir," replied the lad.
+
+"No, but you thought it, sir.  Well, if he is he will soon be in a good
+humour again when he finds how busy we have been and what we have made
+out.  Ah, here is our guide.  Well, Caesar, what now?"
+
+"Berry dark now, massa.  Come see."
+
+"Come and see in the dark?" said the lieutenant, who appeared to be in
+the best of humours.  "Well, what have you to show us?"
+
+The three officers rose from the table and followed their guide out on
+the platform, where he pointed to a ruddy glow which rose from beyond
+the trees.
+
+"Fire!" said Murray excitedly.  "Can that be where the plantation house
+lies, sir?"
+
+"No, Mr Murray, I think not.  But if it is I should not be surprised
+if, taking advantage of their master's absence, the blacks have fired
+his house to burn it down.  Here, Caesar, are they burning the place?"
+
+"No, massa," replied the black.  "Massa bring all sailor.  Come see."
+
+The lieutenant nodded, and said in a low tone to Murray--
+
+"Look here, my lad, I believe this fellow is to be trusted, but one's
+caution and discipline will whisper that we ought to be careful, and it
+will not do for us to come back and find that our boats are burned."
+
+"No, sir," replied the lad quickly.  "Whom will you leave in charge of
+them?"
+
+"I should like to leave May, but I want him with us.  What do you say,
+Mr Roberts?  It is an important charge."
+
+"Yes, sir," faltered the midshipman, "but--"
+
+"You want to go with us, eh?  Well, it is only natural.  Murray too, I
+suppose, feels the same.  But you must take into consideration that this
+may be a very dangerous expedition we are going upon."
+
+"Do you think so, sir?"
+
+"I do, Murray, and I cannot help hesitating now and then--from
+ignorance, of course, for though our guide seems to be trustworthy, we
+know absolutely nothing of what his feelings may be towards us.  Well, I
+shall leave six men in charge of the two boats, with Titely at their
+head and instructions to keep well off shore."
+
+These arrangements were quickly made while the black stood looking on
+impatiently; and then Murray heard him utter a sigh of relief, for Mr
+Anderson told him to lead on.
+
+The man sprang to the front at once, and was closely followed by the
+blacks who formed the crew of the planter's boat.
+
+"Massa keep close to Caesar," said their guide, "and tell men not to
+talk and make noise.  Soon get not dark."
+
+For the time being the darkness seemed to be impenetrable, but somehow
+the black leader was quite able to thread his way along an invisible
+track, which however soon grew easier, for the glow in the distance
+increased till the tops of the forest trees began to stand out clearly
+against the ruddy light.
+
+Murray had received whispered instructions from his officer, whose
+caution seemed to increase as they went on, and those instructions
+turned the midshipman into the head of a rear-guard made up of himself,
+Tom May and two men, with instructions to report upon anything that
+seemed to be suspicious.
+
+It was not long before the lad began to follow out his instructions by
+leaving the big sailor for a few minutes and hurrying forward to join
+the lieutenant.
+
+"That you, Mr Murray?" he said.  "You've come to say that the fire is
+increasing, and that there is another one away to the left?"
+
+"No, sir; I saw that," replied the middy.
+
+"Then why have you left your men?"
+
+"To tell you, sir, that we are being followed very closely by a body of
+blacks who are hemming us in."
+
+"Hang it!  You don't mean that!"
+
+"I do, sir.  Twice over we have seemed to pass through men who are
+hanging back on either side to let us pass, and who then close in behind
+us and follow up silently."
+
+"Humph!  Unarmed, I suppose?"
+
+"No, sir; I have not had much opportunity, but I am pretty well sure
+that, some of them have muskets, while all have those clumsy hangers
+with which they clear away the canes and growth from the forest paths."
+
+"Well, we are in for it now, Mr Murray.  But look here, they are not
+many, I suppose?"
+
+"They are, sir, and keep on increasing in numbers."
+
+"But they seem peaceable?"
+
+"Yes, sir, quite; but I can't help feeling suspicious."
+
+"Yes, it is suspicious, but they may not mean harm.  I believe in that
+black Caesar all the same.  If I did not I should give the order to
+retreat at once.  There, go back to your men, and keep close up.  Take
+special care not to let the blacks get between you and us."
+
+"There is no need, sir.  They hang back to let us all pass."
+
+"That may be part of their plan to shut us in.  But I will go on
+believing in the fellow till I have good cause to turn upon him, and
+then it will be very hard if our lads can't keep any number at bay.
+There, stand fast till your men overtake you."
+
+Murray halted and let the men march by till Tom May and his messmates
+joined him; and then as he resumed his place he became aware that the
+blacks in their rear had increased greatly in number.  Short as had been
+his absence, it was now much lighter, so that it was plain to see that
+they were being followed by a dense mass of white-cotton-clothed
+plantation slaves, all bearing arms of some kind or another, and moving
+in comparative silence, their bare feet making hardly a sound upon the
+soft earth.
+
+"They seem to be increasing fast, Tom," whispered Murray, as the sailors
+tramped steadily on.
+
+"Yes, sir; tidy--tidy," replied the big fellow.
+
+"But they don't seem to mean mischief, Tom."
+
+"No, sir, not yet; but if that was their game they could eat our little
+lot without salt."
+
+"You don't seem to be a bit alarmed, Tom."
+
+"No, sir; no, sir, only a bit bothered."
+
+"What about--the darkness?"
+
+"Nay, sir; that's getting easier.  It's twice as light as it was.  I
+meant about what game's up.  We seem to be going on some expedition or
+another, and I've been trying to settle it down in my mind.  Don't think
+it's a coon hunt, do you, sir?"
+
+"No, Tom; they are all too grave and serious for that."
+
+"Yes, sir, but that might be 'cause they don't want to scare the game."
+
+"No; this is no hunt, Tom."
+
+"P'raps not, sir, and I only fancied that's what it might be.  No, sir,
+I don't feel much worried about it--oneasy, you may say.  Do you, sir?"
+
+"Well, to be honest, Tom, I don't like to be shut up like this among
+these blacks.  Why, they're growing thicker and thicker!"
+
+"That's so, sir.  They're hundreds upon hundreds strong.  What does the
+chief officer think of it?"
+
+"He doesn't say, Tom, but I could see that he felt the need of caution
+by the order he gave me about keeping close together."
+
+"Oh, he did that, sir, did he?  But I say, I wonder what the skipper
+would say about our being in such a hole."
+
+Murray looked sharply round at the speaker, who to his surprise began to
+chuckle softly.
+
+"I don't see anything to laugh at, Tom May," said the middy sharply.
+
+"No sir," replied the man; "I s'pose not.  There aren't really nothing."
+
+"Then why do you laugh?"
+
+"Couldn't help it, sir.  Only you see it does seem such cheek on our
+part, just a boat and a half's crew and our orficer marching right in
+here no one knows where, only as it's forest and just as cool as you
+please, and all these here niggers--reg'lar black thunderstorm of 'em--
+shutting us in, and all as quiet as mice.  We're not a bit frightened of
+'em, but I'll be bound to say as they're scared of us.  It do make me
+laugh, it do; but I s'pose it's because we've got what they arn't, sir--
+discipline, you see."
+
+"I think it takes something more than discipline, Tom," said the
+midshipman.  "Our men's pluck has something to do with it."
+
+"Well, sir, I s'pose it has," replied the man.  "But look here, how
+they're standing on each side for us to pass through.  Talk about
+hundreds, why if it goes on like this there'll be thousands soon."
+
+For the rich red glowing light became stronger and stronger, until at
+the end of half-an-hour the trees grew more open and the party could
+make out flame and smoke arising, while the silence of the marching men
+was at times broken by the crackle of burning wood.
+
+"Well, sir," exclaimed the big sailor, "I can't say as I can make it out
+yet what game this is going to be, but anyhow we're in for it whatever
+it is.  I say, Mr Murray, sir, these here black African niggers arn't
+cannibals, are they?"
+
+"Some of them, Tom, I believe."
+
+"Then that's it, sir; they're all gathering up together for a great
+feed.  Over yonder's a big opening like with the fire in the middle of
+it, and we're in for it now, and no mistake!"
+
+"Oh, nonsense, Tom!"
+
+"Is it, sir?  Well, I never see such a turn out o' nonsense before.
+It's going to be a feast they're set upon, and it don't seem to me as
+we're going to have a bit o' room if the first luff makes up his mind to
+fight.  All I can say is that cook me how they please, I'm sorry for the
+poor beggar of a black who's got to stick his teeth into me.  Talk about
+a tough un, Mr Murray, sir, I'm one," chuckled the big fellow.
+"They're gathered together for a big feast, as I said afore, and it's no
+use to show fight, for there arn't room.  They'll squeeze us all up
+pretty tight before the cooking begins, and that may make a bit o'
+difference in the way of being tender, but I shall give some of them the
+toothache for certain, and I don't think after the feed's over many of
+'em'll want to try British tar again.  British tar!" repeated the man
+jocosely.  "Wonder whether I shall taste o' best Stockholm tar.  I've
+got pretty well soaked in it in my time."
+
+"Hush, Tom!  Here's Mr Anderson waiting for us to join him."
+
+For it had proved to be as the sailor had said.  They had been marched
+into a wide amphitheatre of trees, in the midst of which a tremendous
+fire was burning brightly, and by its light the English party could make
+out the long serpentine line of men who were marching into the
+amphitheatre, which was lined with hundreds upon hundreds of blacks,
+whose eyes glowed in the firelight, while whenever lips were parted
+there was the glistening of the brilliantly white teeth.
+
+It was a strangely impressive sight, as the lieutenant said when Murray
+joined him.
+
+"I don't know even now," he added, "what it signifies.  They don't mean
+harm to us, my lad; but if they did we should have small chance of
+resistance.  It seems to me that they have gathered for some special
+reason.  It is a sort of feast, I suppose."
+
+Murray caught sight of Tom May's eyes fixed upon him, and he closed one
+eye very slowly and solemnly as he frowned at the midshipman, as much as
+to say, "There, sir, I told you so!"
+
+"What is your opinion of it, Mr Murray?"
+
+"It looks to me, sir, like a rising of the blacks, for they are all
+armed."
+
+"Well," said the lieutenant, "they are not rising against us.  If they
+were they would not be so civil.  Besides, they have nothing against us
+to rise about.  They can't rebel against those who have come to give
+them their freedom.  Let's go and see what is going on there."
+
+Just then their black guide came forward and stood before them,
+evidently for the purpose of stopping their progress, for the lieutenant
+had begun to cross the middle of the wide opening in the woods to where
+something important was apparently taking place.
+
+"Well, Caesar," said the lieutenant, "what is going on there?"
+
+The black shook his head and looked anxiously from one officer to the
+other.
+
+"Massa not go dah," whispered the man.  "Massa just look, see, and
+listen to what Obeah man say."
+
+"Obeah man?"
+
+"Yes, massa.  Obeah man.  Snake fetish.  Big snake in great box dah.
+Priest Obeah man take snake out o' box soon.  Not good for massa."
+
+"Oh, that's it, is it?" said the lieutenant.  "Do you know anything
+about all this, Murray?"
+
+"No," replied the lad, "only that I have heard something of serpent
+worship which the blacks have carried with them to Barbadoes and
+Jamaica, sir."
+
+"Say Hayti too, my lad."
+
+"No, sir," said Murray, smiling, his face looking bright in the warm
+glow spread by the tremendous fire now burning.  "I can't say any more,
+for I have heard so little about these people and their religion."
+
+"I expect you know as much as I do, Murray, my lad.  This is Obeah,
+isn't it?  Serpent worship, Caesar?"
+
+"Yes, massa.  Not good for Bri'sh officer and brave sailor.  Snake in
+big box.  Priest show um to people.  Obeah.  Berry dreadful, sah."
+
+"Very dreadful nonsense, Murray," said the lieutenant to his companion,
+in a low tone.  Then speaking aloud: "And what is it all for?"
+
+The black shook his head.
+
+"Caesar can't tell, massa.  Priest show big snake Caesar people.  Make
+all see fire and fight."
+
+"Aha!  Fight, eh?" said the lieutenant, after a glance at Murray.
+
+"Yes, massa; make people fight--kill."
+
+"Fight and kill us?" said Mr Anderson.
+
+The man showed his white teeth and shook his head.
+
+"No, massa; Caesar people no fight Bri'sh captain, Bri'sh officer.  All
+come do poor black fellow good.  Massa want know why not go fesh Massa
+Allen.  Not good time.  Caesar people all come to snake fetish.  Obeah
+priest call people to come not know who Massa Huggin friend, who Massa
+Allen friend.  Caesar bring Bri'sh officer, Bri'sh sailor, see Obeah
+night.  See Obeah priest show big snake.  Snake fetish.  Caesar go now."
+
+The black turned away and walked quickly to where several
+strange-looking negroes--probably Obeah men--had now begun to walk in
+procession around the blazing fire, in front of which a long
+coffin-shaped box had been placed, and behind which a black, who must
+have attained to some consequence among his superstitious brethren on
+account of his gigantic height, stood now in the ruddy glow tossing his
+arms on high, gesticulating and uttering a weird strange chant, until
+the English party saw that their guide had approached quite close to the
+huge giant, and was evidently talking to him eagerly and with a great
+show of respect.
+
+"Well, we know where we are now, Murray," said the lieutenant.  "Our
+guide has brought us here to see the mummery of their barbarous
+religion, and there is no doubt that the people have met to be stirred
+up to some rising against the planters who own them as slaves."
+
+"You think so, sir?" asked Murray.
+
+"Yes, I feel sure of it, my lad.  But look here, Murray; the people are
+quite friendly towards us, so help me in making our lads behave
+themselves.  I mean, there must be no ribald laughing at the poor
+wretches.  That is not the way to appeal to their better feelings.  Look
+at that!  Poor benighted creatures.  These slave-owners must keep them
+in a darkness as black as their skins."
+
+For as the party from the _Seafowl_ stood looking on, the strange chant
+rose and fell, while the huge black, who seemed to be the priest and
+leader, marshalled the people into a procession which he led round the
+fire, the blacks gesticulating, raising their arms in the air, and then
+bowing themselves down as they marched in a slow and solemn tramp about
+the blazing embers.  Stamp, stamp, stamp; the vibration of the earth and
+the movement of the concourse of the excited people raised a current of
+air which fanned the flames and sent the sparks flying upwards eddying
+into the black night, while flakes of fire that were now and then
+dazzling in the brilliancy of their colour flashed and fluttered as they
+rose on high.
+
+There was no need for the lieutenant's words to his young officer, for,
+far from giving vent to mocking laughter, the sailors stood together
+looking on with wonder and something like awe at the intensity of
+feeling displayed by the people, who as they marched slowly onward in
+the weird procession, kept on pausing with wonderful unanimity to stamp
+and utter a wild and stirring moan as if of despair.  Then they tossed
+their hands on high in obedience to the movements of their leader, who
+seemed to tower up above them, and whose black skin, which had most
+probably been heavily anointed with palm oil, glistened in the firelight
+until when every now and then he stopped short and stood motionless, he
+looked like some great image cast in ruddy bronze.
+
+Onward and onward tramped and stamped the great procession; the strange
+thrilling chant rose and fell, now uttered as a wild shrieking yell, and
+then descending gradually until the sailors were listening to a wail of
+despair, as if the wretched people were appealing for pity in their
+terrible position and asking for help to relieve them from their piteous
+bondage.
+
+"And I was afraid my lads would laugh, Murray," whispered the lieutenant
+huskily.  "Why, my lad, there's something so terrible, so horrible,
+about it all that one seems to want no explanation.  It tells its own
+tale of the poor wretches' sufferings."
+
+"Yes, sir," whispered back the middy, "and I'm glad to hear you say
+that."
+
+"Glad, boy!" cried the lieutenant, in an angry whisper.  "What do you
+mean by that?"
+
+"Only that it makes me feel choky, sir," whispered Murray, "and I was a
+bit ashamed."
+
+"There's nothing to be ashamed of, my lad.  I feel as if I should be
+glad of a chance to set our lads at some of the torturing, murderous
+wretches who drag the people from their own country and treat them as
+they do."
+
+"I feel the same, sir," replied Murray, as he stared straight before him
+at something that had caught his eye; "but we shall have our chance, I
+feel sure, sir, and have the blacks to help us, for they are not working
+themselves up like this for nothing."
+
+"Working themselves up," whispered the lieutenant, as the weird chant
+went on and the heavy beat of the people's bare feet grew more and more
+impressive, while the rate at which they now tore on increased.  "Why,
+they are working my men up too.  The great baby!  I shouldn't have
+believed it possible that a big strong fellow like that could have been
+so impressed."
+
+"What, Tom May, sir?" said Murray.
+
+"Yes, my lad.  There were two great tears rolling down his cheeks, and I
+suppose he didn't know how they were shining in this dazzling light, for
+he rubbed them away with his great ugly fists.  Don't let him see that
+we noticed it, for I suppose it is genuine emotion, and no one can say
+that he is not as big and brave a fellow as ever stepped.  Here, look,
+boy--look!" whispered the lieutenant excitedly.
+
+"I am looking, sir," replied the middy, "and so is every one else.  Oh,
+Mr Anderson, I am glad I didn't miss seeing this."
+
+"I don't know, my lad, whether I am glad or whether I am sorry," replied
+his leader, "but I should not have thought it possible.  It sets one
+thinking about what we read regarding the worships of the old idolaters,
+and I never imagined that such things could be going on now.  Look,
+look; they seem to be growing frantic.  It can't last long like this;
+the poor wretches are growing mad."
+
+For the chant had grown louder and wilder, the wails in chorus more
+piercing and thrilling, and the heavy stamping of the bare feet more
+heavy and deep-toned, so that all round the great circle in which the
+slaves were stamping, the earth vibrated more thunderously than ever.
+
+Then, as if by one impulse, every actor in the weird scene stopped short
+in response to a signal given by the huge leader, who threw up his arms
+just when the fire, fanned so strangely by the hundreds of figures
+sweeping round it, tore upward in a vast whirl of fluttering flame and
+eddying sparks, and all with a low, deep musical hum which strangely
+dominated the silence.
+
+It was as if the multitude had ceased to breathe, and all present were
+reflecting from their staring protuberant eyes the ruddy light of the
+roaring cone of flame.  The great bronze figure formed the centre upon
+which all eyes were fixed, and he stood now with his hands raised on
+high as if to hold his followers' attention and make them as statue-like
+as himself.
+
+Murray felt impressed and held as it were by the gesture of the great
+leader, and for one brief moment turned his eyes upon his brother middy,
+to see that his face was thrust forward, his lips were apart, and his
+eyes and teeth were glistening in the light.
+
+It was but a momentary glance, and then his own eyes were watching the
+great glistening black, who, perfectly nude, now lowered his arms till
+they were horizontal, and, with levelled and pointing fingers stalked
+towards where the great coffin-shaped box lay in the full light of the
+glowing and roaring fire.
+
+He stood with his hands outstretched above the chest for what seemed to
+be long-drawn endless minutes; but no one stirred, and then, with one
+quick movement, he seemed to sweep off the long lid before him, stooped,
+and plunged his hands into the chest, just too as the fire burned the
+brightest; and as he rose erect again he tore from out of where it
+rested, a great writhing serpent, whose myriad scales flashed in the
+brilliant light as if it were of gold.
+
+And then, and then only, a deep, low, moaning murmur rose from the many
+throats and died away as if in the distance in one deep sigh.
+
+Silence again, and Murray's eyes were fixed, his breast thrilling, and a
+sensation ran through him as if some strange force were plucking at his
+nerves and making them vibrate throughout his frame.
+
+For as the great bronze figure stood erect those who watched could see
+that the serpent was all in motion, gliding, twining and crawling all
+over the priest's stalwart frame, while he too seemed to be working hard
+with his hands, trying to control the reptile's movements, but only for
+it to go on gliding rapidly through his fingers; and as the midshipman
+watched, he kept on getting glimpses of an oval flattened head gliding
+over the negro's breast, passing beneath his arms, reappearing again
+over his shoulders to pass round his neck, and always eluding the busy
+hands which tried to restrain it.
+
+The scene was wonderful.  Murray had watched the black snatch the
+reptile from the box which held it, and then it was as if he had
+snatched forth a dozen serpents which were ever after twining and
+intertwining in continuous motion and flashing the while in a wonderful
+quivering, endlessly moving flame of glistening scales which seemed to
+throw off a phosphorescent mist of light that enveloped both reptile and
+man.
+
+As Murray gazed, fascinated by the weirdly strange scene before him, it
+seemed to him a dozen times over that a deadly struggle was going on
+between the two writhing creatures, and that every now and then, as the
+golden oval head darted out of the confusion of movement, it was only to
+gather force for a dart at the man and fix its fangs in the quivering
+flesh.  But there was no cessation; the reptile was ever strong, and the
+man as vigorous as ever.  Darting at the struggling figure about which
+it was twined, and then--perhaps it was the boy's imagination--gaping
+wide to fix upon some part of the quivering flesh, breast, back,
+shoulder, or side, perhaps most often at the hands which kept on moving
+about as sharply as the flat head which played around with such
+wonderful rapidity.  And the motion was ceaseless, always glistening and
+flashing with light, and watched by the hundreds upon hundreds of
+glowing opal eyes which reflected the cone of flame still going on
+spiralling upwards and burning more fiercely than ever.
+
+What is going to be the end?  Murray asked himself.  Will the serpent
+conquer and the great black priest fall faint and powerless, strangled
+to death by the folds of the reptile, which were ever tightening round
+breast and neck?  But they were ever loosening as well, and at one time
+the boy's chest expanded with a glow of satisfaction, for it seemed to
+him that the man was gaining the mastery over his enemy, having
+succeeded in grasping the serpent's neck with both hands, and begun to
+swing and whirl it round and round, whizzing through the air level with
+his neck.  Murray could almost believe that it was whirled round so fast
+that he could even hear it hum and then snap and crack as if it were
+some mighty whip-lash with which the great black was flogging the golden
+darkness of the night.
+
+The middy panted again, and there was a feeling of constriction about
+his chest, just as if the serpent or one of the many serpents that at
+times, it seemed, had thrown a fold about him--yes, and another had been
+cast about his neck, for in the struggle going on before his eyes the
+reptile seemed to be gaining the best of it once more, and the man was
+weakening rapidly.
+
+He wondered too that the crowd eddying around remained so silent.  It
+seemed to him only natural that they should give vent to their feelings
+with shouts of joy when the priest looked successful, and groanings when
+the serpent had him circled tightly in its toils.
+
+But all the same the midshipman in his excitement realised that he was
+as silent as the rest, and stood there, with the perspiration trickling
+down from brow to cheek, watching and watching for the end which seemed
+as if it would never come.
+
+It must be, he was sure, a struggle that could only end in one way--
+death for one of the combatants.  And yet the lad felt doubt creep in,
+and he asked himself whether it might not end in death for both.
+
+There were moments when, as he saw the great negro struggle and free
+himself partially from the serpent's folds, he foresaw the reptile's end
+in the glowing fire, which would become man's colleague as well as
+servant, and he could almost see the monster writhing and curling up in
+the roaring flames to which it was apparently adding fresh fury.
+
+But the next moment there was another phase of horror, for one fold of
+the many convolutions seemed to be tightened about the man's arm, and he
+was evidently about to be dragged into the fire too, and, as he had
+before imagined, it was to be death for both.
+
+But no; the serpent snatched itself away from the impending danger and
+tightened itself about the man, who was the next instant bound by the
+great living thong about and about his heaving body, and the struggle
+was resumed upon equal terms.
+
+Was it never going to finish?
+
+The end was at hand in a way that the watcher had never for a moment
+anticipated, for all at once, when the silence, save for the humming
+noise of the fire, was at its greatest depth, there arose the sudden
+hollow trumpet-like blast of a great conch shell, followed by a savage
+fiendish yell, and for one brief moment Murray saw the huge black,
+golden red in the fire's glow, standing wiping, as it were so to speak,
+the folds of the great serpent from off his arms, then from his neck,
+and again from his breast, about which it heaved and twined, before it
+was gone, as it were, twisted up by the great knotted arms of the huge
+negro, and thrown into the long coffin-shaped chest, whose lid was
+slammed down with a noise like the report of a gun; and this was
+followed by a noise as of a great wind passing over the amphitheatre,
+and Murray looked to see the fire swept away and growing extinct before
+the force of what sounded like a storm.
+
+But the fire blazed still, and dominating the rushing wind a voice arose
+from close at hand with the familiar cry of--
+
+"_Seafowls_ ahoy!"
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT.
+
+A NIGHT IN THE WOODS.
+
+The summons given in hearty English was responded to by a ragged volley
+of so many muskets, whose flashes came faintly from the edge of the
+amphitheatre, and wondering what it meant, Murray, as he looked round,
+was just in time to see the big black giant of a negro spring high in
+the air, come down with a crash upon the coffin-shaped chest, roll over,
+and writhe for a few moments before lying perfectly still.
+
+As the big negro was seen to fall, the crowd of blacks who were hurrying
+here and there as if in dismay, uttered a series of shrieks and yells,
+and began to run in confusion towards the end of the woody amphitheatre
+farthest from the fire, but only to encounter another ragged volley of
+musketry which checked them and drove them back, leaving several of
+their number to fall struggling upon the ground, while Murray saw two
+more totter and go down as they ran shrieking, half mad with fear,
+towards another portion of the lit-up ring of light, for they avoided
+the little party of armed seamen as if they took them for one of the
+causes of the sudden attack.
+
+"Stand fast, my lads," cried the lieutenant.  "Now then, forward!"
+
+He placed himself at the head of his men, who followed him with their
+muskets shouldered, but at the end of a few yards their commander
+called--
+
+"Halt--I'm not at all sure of our way, gentlemen," he said, addressing
+the two midshipmen, "but I think we ought to take that end--yonder where
+the blacks are collecting."
+
+"No, sir, I don't think that's right," cried Murray.  "You see, every
+part of the circus-like place looks like the rest."
+
+"Yes, I see that, Murray, but surely there is the path yonder by which
+we came."
+
+But as he spoke, half-a-dozen more musket flashes came from the very
+spot to which he had pointed, and what might be called a wave of black
+figures came, dotting the earth with as many white cotton-clad wounded
+or dead unfortunates as shots had been fired.
+
+"Bah!  I'm wrong," cried the lieutenant angrily.  "This looks like a
+planned massacre of the poor creatures gathered at this meeting.  If we
+could only find our guide we might have a chance to get out of the
+horrible confusion.  Here, let's try this way."
+
+"Yes, sir; that is the way, I am sure, for it is just opposite to that
+chest out of which that poor fellow took the snake."
+
+"You are right, sir," cried the lieutenant; "and we must retreat in that
+direction, for it is of no use to try and make a stand against a hidden
+enemy."
+
+"Why don't those poor wretches show fight, sir?" cried Murray excitedly,
+as the little party began their march.
+
+"Because they have no one to lead them, my lad."
+
+"Can't we, sir?"
+
+"We could if they knew us, Murray; but we are strangers, and it would be
+madness to try and head such a confused mob."
+
+"I suppose so, sir," said Murray sadly, as he marched on beside his
+commander, who now gave an order to the men he led, which was heard
+plainly above the shouting and yelling of the blacks, who in their fear
+and confusion had cast away the heavy machetes with which they had armed
+themselves.
+
+"Make ready, my lads, in case the enemy has taken possession of our line
+of retreat."
+
+But all seemed perfectly still amongst the trees they approached, and
+their lit-up trunks and boughs offered shelter as well as a way of
+retreat, when at one and the same moment, just as Mr Anderson called
+out, "Forward, my lads!  That is the right path," Tom May shouted from
+the rear--
+
+"Here's that there Caesar, sir, coming after us full pelt."
+
+"Yes," cried Roberts, "and he's bringing all the blacks with him to this
+end."
+
+Then it was that a fresh burst of flashes came from the now plainly seen
+opening for which the _Seafowls_ made, checking their advance and laying
+two of them low.
+
+"Retreat!" shouted a voice which sounded father strange, and it was
+followed by a fierce roar from the lieutenant bidding the men reply.
+
+In an instant a good steady volley was fired at the spots from which the
+last shots had come, and then obeying the order that followed, the whole
+party, cutlass in hand, with Tom May roaring "Go on, my lads--forrard!"
+charged into the heavily-beaten forest path, trampling over three fallen
+blacks who lay struggling, faintly seen, upon the earth.
+
+"Why, we're firing upon the wrong men," cried Mr Anderson.
+
+"No, massa," said a familiar voice, hoarse with shouting.  "All Massa
+Huggin men.  Our boys no got gun."
+
+"Then we're all right?"
+
+"Yes, massa."
+
+"And who are these coming on here?"
+
+"All pore boy run away.  Massa Huggin men come out of trees long behind,
+massa listen."
+
+There was occasion to hearken, for above the murmurs, wails and shouts
+of the blacks who were flying from pursuit came the scattered firing of
+those who had been busy in the massacre that had been taking place.
+
+"Guide us back along the path to Mr Allen's house," cried the
+lieutenant.
+
+"No, massa; boy here do that.  Caesar must stop fight."
+
+"Good!  Brave fellow!" cried the lieutenant.  "Here, I'll give those who
+fired upon us a few shots first to clear the way."
+
+"No, massa; all gone," cried the black; "all run away.  Massa let poor
+black boy come 'long here.  Make sailor man shoot Massa Huggin
+slave-catch-man.  Hark!  Um come 'long fast.  Shoot, shoot!"
+
+"Do you understand what he means, Mr Murray?" said the lieutenant,
+rather breathlessly.
+
+"Yes, sir.  He means let the poor wretches go by us and we hold the path
+till the enemy comes up, and give them a volley or two to check the
+advance."
+
+"Very good tactics if you are right," said the lieutenant.  "At any rate
+we'll try it.  But what does this mean?"
+
+The light from the fire barely penetrated to where they stood, but there
+was enough to show that Caesar was in a confused fashion sorting the
+flying blacks into two parties,--those who were unarmed he hurried down
+the path in the way of retreat, while those who had maintained enough
+courage to keep their machetes, he ranged upon either side of the path,
+while, to Murray's wonder and surprise, for they had been forgotten for
+the moment, four of the blacks came forward supporting two of the
+wounded man-o'-war's men.
+
+"Oh, my poor lads!" cried the lieutenant eagerly.
+
+"You, Mr Roberts, and you, Seddon.  Are you badly hurt?"
+
+"No, sir," cried the middy cheerily.  "Only two _Seafowls_ winged, sir!"
+
+"Nay, sir, not me!" growled the seaman belonging to the second cutter.
+"I arn't winged, sir; I'm hind-legged, and I should have had to hop if
+it warn't for these niggers here."
+
+"Mr Murray, I can't spare you.  Tom May, you take Mr Murray's place
+and help me cover the retreat with all the men.  Mr Murray, do the best
+you can with the wounded, and then join us here."
+
+"No, no, sir," cried Roberts.  "I've got a handkerchief round my arm,
+sir; Seddon tied it, and he's done his own leg up himself."
+
+"Bravo!" cried the lieutenant.  "Keep together, my lads.  Here, you
+Caesar, can't you make some of your fellows fight?"
+
+"Caesar try, massa; try berry hard.  Much frighten of Massa Huggin."
+
+"Tell them to fight for their lives if they won't for their liberty."
+
+"Yes, sah.  Caesar try all he can;" and the black made a rush at one of
+his retreating companions whom he saw in the act of throwing away his
+rough cutlass; and catching him by the shoulder he gave him a heavy cuff
+on the ear and then forced him to pick up the weapon he had discarded
+and join a few compatriots who were making something of a stand.
+
+"There's no trusting them, sir," said Murray, who was breathing hard
+with excitement.
+
+"And no wonder, Murray; all the courage has been crushed out of them,
+poor wretches."
+
+As Mr Anderson spoke there was a burst of startled yells and cries,
+following directly upon the reports of several muskets, and what seemed
+to be quite a crowd of the retreating blacks came rushing along the path
+right upon where the _Seafowl's_ men were making a stand.
+
+"Here, where are you coming to?" roared Tom May, in his deep-toned
+voice.  "Keep back, or go round, or crawl, or do something, or we'll
+give _you_ a blessed good dose of butt-ending.--Who's to fire, do you
+think," continued the big sailor, "with you all coming in the way?"
+
+At that moment Caesar made a rush in amongst the shivering retreating
+party, striking to right and left with the flat of his machete.
+
+"Here, what are you up to, darkie?" cried the big sailor.  "Them's
+friends."
+
+"Yes, sah," panted the black.  "Caesar know.  Make 'em fight."
+
+"Oh, that's it, is it?" growled May, "but I don't see as you will do any
+good.  They won't fight, and I don't know as I want 'em to; but they
+might let us."
+
+"Do what you can to clear the way, man."
+
+There was the sound of more trampling feet, a burst of yells, more
+firing, and Tom May shouted in protest--
+
+"Beg pardon, sir; what are we to do?  Some more of our fellows will be
+down directly, and we can't fire a shot for fear of hitting our friends.
+I never see such friends," he growled; "they're worse than enemies."
+
+"Look out, my lads," shouted Murray excitedly.  "Fire!  Here they come!
+No, no--over their heads," he cried.  "These are more friends."
+
+In his excitement the middy struck up a couple of presented muskets with
+the cutlass he handled, his example being followed by the lieutenant,
+doubtless the saving of Caesar's life, for the brave black had dashed in
+amongst his companions, thrusting them to the right and left in amongst
+the trees, just as several of the sailors fired, fully half of them
+firing in the air.
+
+Fortunately the reports were as effective as a volley would have been
+aimed right into the advancing enemy, who pulled up short and then began
+to retire, giving the poor flying wretches an opportunity to recover
+themselves a little, and realise that there was some shelter to be
+obtained behind the sturdy English sailors, who stood firm, while Caesar
+worked hard at forming them up where they stood, and with such good
+effect that about forty of them grasped their rough cutlasses more
+firmly and showed some signs of using them against their foes now that
+these latter had ceased to advance.
+
+"Well done, my lad," cried the lieutenant; "if you can find a couple of
+score like yourself we'll send these black fiends and their white
+leaders to the right-about."
+
+"Steady there!" cried Murray, the next minute, for the effect of the
+volley had died out, and the enemy advanced again, shouting, and fired
+once more.
+
+"Fire!" cried the lieutenant, for there was no sign of the retreating
+blacks in front, and the levelled muskets of the sailors poured out a
+well-levelled volley, which was received by the slavers with a yell of
+surprise and the rush of feet in full retreat; and then once more there
+was silence.
+
+"That has done its work, my lads," cried the lieutenant, as the men
+reloaded rapidly, the sound of the thudding ramrods as they were driven
+down raising a low murmur of excitement through the black fugitives,
+among whom, as far as could be made out in the darkness, Caesar was busy
+at work, talking loudly, and ending after dragging and thrusting his
+compatriots, by getting them well together and then making his way to
+where the lieutenant and Murray stood some little distance in advance,
+listening and trying to make out when the planter's men were coming on
+again.
+
+"Boys say won't run away any more, massa," whispered the black
+breathlessly.
+
+"Glad to hear it, my friend," said the officer bitterly.
+
+"Yes, massa; so Caesar.  Not frighten now.  Ready 'tan' fast.  Ready
+kill Massa Huggin sailor fellow."
+
+"But I can't trust them, Caesar; can _you_?"
+
+The black was silent for a few moments, and then he said sadly--
+
+"Caesar do um bes', massa."
+
+"So you have, my lad.  But the next time the enemy come on your men
+shall try what they can do."
+
+"Here they come again, sir," whispered Murray.
+
+"Keep silence then," said the lieutenant.  "May, all of you wait and let
+them come on till you hear their leaders' orders to fire, and let them
+have it first."
+
+Then turning to the black, the speaker bade him head his men, who now
+began to be pretty steady, and lead them along the path in the direction
+of the planter's cottage.
+
+"No, no, massa.  Caesar make boys fight now."
+
+"You do as I tell you, sir," replied the lieutenant sternly.  "Go on
+back, collecting as many more of your men as you can, and my lads shall
+cover the retreat and check the slaves."
+
+"Massa want Caesar do this?" said the black sadly.
+
+"Yes, and I want you to obey my orders."
+
+"Yes, massa," said the black, with a sigh, "only Caesar feel like fight
+and die for massa now."
+
+_Crash_!
+
+There was the sound of a volley, so many muskets going off together like
+one, while as the sound began to die away, it was mingled with loud
+yells and curses, and emphasised as it were by the rattling of the
+ramrods in the barrels of the muskets.
+
+"I think that's checked them, sir," said Murray; but almost as he spoke
+there came three shots from some of the boldest of the enemy who had
+stopped short to snap off their vengeful retreating replies to the
+sailors' volley.
+
+"Waste of powder," growled Tom May.  "Hear 'em running through the
+trees, Mr Murray, sir?"
+
+"Yes, and I should like to give them another volley."
+
+"So should I, sir," panted the big sailor, as he drove down his ramrod
+till it nearly hopped out of the musket-barrel again; "but we can't
+afford it."
+
+"Any one hurt there, May?" cried the lieutenant.
+
+"Yes, sir; lots," replied the big sailor, with a chuckle of
+satisfaction.
+
+"What's that?" cried the lieutenant, in anxious tones.
+
+"Beg pardon, sir," growled the sailor hastily.  "I didn't mean us."
+
+"Silence, sir!" cried the lieutenant sternly.
+
+The next minute, in the midst of that which the officer had commanded,
+they heard him giving orders to the black.
+
+"You'll hear of this again, Mr Tom May," said Murray.
+
+"Yes, sir, I s'pose so," said the big sailor grumpily.  "That's just
+like me.  It's just as an old mate of mine once said.  `You've got a
+horkerd sort o' mouth, Tommy, you have,' he says.  `You never opens it
+but you puts your foot in it.'"
+
+"Hist!  What does that mean, Tom?" whispered the middy.
+
+"Means it's so plaguey dark that you can't see what's going on."
+
+"Yes, but you can listen, sir."
+
+"Oh, Mr Murray, sir, don't you come down upon me too.  Just then it was
+Mister Tom May; and now it's _sir_.  I didn't mean no harm, sir.  It
+cheers a man up, to try and think a bit cheery, 'specially when you're
+expecting a bullet every minute to come in for'ard and pass out astarn."
+
+"Don't talk, man," whispered Murray.  "Can't you hear the enemy?"
+
+"Yes, sir: that's them, sir, creeping up towards us through the bushes."
+
+The man spoke with his lips close to the middy's ear.
+
+The silence seemed to be terrible, and to Murray the feeling was that he
+could not breathe.
+
+"Won't you give us the order to let 'em have it again, sir, without
+waiting till the first luff comes back?" whispered the sailor.
+
+"Isn't he there, Tom?"
+
+"No, sir, he's gone off with them poor shivering niggers, sir, to try a
+bit o' manoeuvring o' some kind; but he won't do no good, sir.  They
+arn't got a bit o' fight in 'em.  But what can you expect of a poor
+beggar as lives on yam and a chew o' sugar-cane?  It don't give a man
+pluck, sir.  If I had 'em fed up a bit on salt horse and weevly biscuit
+I'd make 'em something like in a few weeks.  There, sir; hear that?"
+
+"Yes," whispered Murray.  "Ah, they're getting ready to fire.  Make
+ready.  Each man aim at where he thinks they're coming on.  Fire!"
+
+A capital volley was the result, followed by the rush of feet of those
+who had been creeping up through the trees; and then above the crackling
+and breaking of leaf and twig, arose a furious yell and the groaning of
+human beings in intense pain.
+
+"How horrible it sounds!" said Murray, as the thudding of ramrods arose.
+
+"Does it, sir?" grunted Tom May.  "Oh, I dunno, sir.  Sounds to me
+black.  Dessay it would ha' seemed to me horrid if it had been white.
+There, sir; Mr Anderson don't seem to think bad on it," growled the
+man.
+
+For at that moment the chief officer hurried up to where they stood,
+uttering a few quick enquiries and listening to the results.
+
+"No one hurt then?" he said, with a sigh of satisfaction.  "That's good,
+Mr Murray.  Oh, by the way, Thomas May, I shall want a word or two with
+you when this business is over.  Mr Murray, you will bring up the rear.
+Keep together, and follow me as silently as you can.  Mr Murray, the
+blacks are well together now, following the planter's man, and we have
+to follow him, for I have to depend upon him to lead us back.  I need
+not say that you must keep your ears well open, for in spite of the
+checks we have given them the enemy may come on again."
+
+"The first luff don't seem to think it's very horrible, Mr Murray,
+sir," whispered the big sailor, as he trudged as silently as he could
+beside his companion of the rear-guard.
+
+"No, Tom," replied the middy; "but this fighting in the dark is very
+horrible all the same."
+
+"Well, I dunno, sir.  'Tarn't nice, of course; but 'tarn't our fault,
+and wherever we've left one o' them black or white slaver chaps a bit
+sore on the nat'ral deck yonder you may say as he desarves all he's
+got."
+
+Murray made no reply, for he had stopped short for a few moments to
+listen; and finding this, the big sailor followed his example.
+
+"Hear 'em coming, sir?"
+
+"No, Tom; I thought I did, but all seems quite still again.  Here, I
+wish you'd listen.  I don't know how it is, but you seem to hear much
+more plainly than I can."
+
+Tom chuckled.
+
+"Well, what is there to laugh at in what I said?"
+
+"Oh, I dunno, sir, on'y it sounded rum to me."
+
+"What did, sir?"
+
+"You saying you couldn't hear so plain as I can."
+
+"Well, what is there rum, as you call it, in that?"
+
+"Nowt, sir, only the reason why.  I can hear sharp as sharp, sir,
+because I was always getting my ears boxed when I was a boy.  I was sent
+to what they call a Dame school, and I s'pose I was a very tiresome boy,
+for she used to box my ears--both on 'em--with the book.  Then when I
+got bigger and I was at the school where there was a master he used to
+give it my ears precious hot, I can tell you, sir; but it made 'em as
+sharp as sharp, and I used to be so quick with 'em that I could hear his
+hands coming when he was going to hit me; and then he used to miss, and
+instead of hitting 'em he used to warm my ears with words."
+
+"Then you can't hear the enemy following us, Tom?" whispered the middy.
+
+The man stopped short and dropped upon one knee to listen.
+
+"N-n-n-Yes, I can, sir," whispered the man quickly.  "Come on, sir; the
+sailors, they're not far behind.  Gently; I don't think they can hear us
+then.  Let's get up to the first luff and see what he says about giving
+them another shot or two."
+
+"Yes, press on.  We've let them get too far ahead," said Murray hastily.
+"We ought to have kept close up."
+
+"Would ha' been better for some things, sir; but you can't keep close up
+when you're in the rear and hear the enemy too.  Wish the first luff
+would let us have that nigger chap with us.  He can feel his way in the
+dark when it's black as black."
+
+"But he can't be spared.  Can you tell how near the enemy are?"
+
+"No, sir.  Can't hear 'em now.  Let's ketch up to our chaps, and then as
+soon as we're within touch with 'em we'll stop again and listen."
+
+"Halt there, or we fire!" said a voice sharply, out of the black
+darkness in front.
+
+"Hush!  The enemy are close at hand," whispered Murray, in a low
+suppressed voice.
+
+"Who's yon?" whispered another voice.  "Look out, sir."
+
+"Here, Tom, what does this mean?" said Murray excitedly.
+
+"Means it ought to be my messmate, Billy Titely sir, only he's got
+winged, sir, and gone right on ahead."
+
+"Nay, he arn't, Tom, lad, 'cause he's here," came in the familiar tones.
+"Say, Mr Roberts, sir, is that there Tom May talking, or has my wound
+made me a bit dillylerous.  I wish you'd just say."
+
+"Is Dick Roberts there?" whispered Murray excitedly.
+
+"I should say he was, sir, only I keep on going off giddy like."
+
+"But you ought to be right on ahead of Mr Anderson and the men," cried
+Murray.
+
+"There, I telled you, sir, Mr Roberts, sir," said Titely.  "I could
+feel like as we was somehow got into the wrong watch, and I did say so,
+sir."
+
+"Oh, bother!" cried Roberts.  "It was so dark, and my head was all of a
+swim.  Well, never mind; let's get into our right place again.  Where is
+it?"
+
+"I dunno, sir.  These here black chaps as is guiding us will show us
+right enough."
+
+"Hist!  Hist!" whispered Murray.  "Can't you understand?  We're the
+rear-guard of the column, Tom May and I, and the enemy is somewhere
+close behind.  Haven't you got your men with you, and some blacks?"
+
+"We had," replied Roberts, "but somehow we've got separated from them,
+or they've got separated from us; I don't know how it is.  It's all
+through my wound, I suppose.  Here, Murray, old chap, you'd better put
+us right again."
+
+"Will you hold your stupid tongue, Dick?" whispered Murray excitedly.
+"Here, both you and Titely follow me.  Get behind them, Tom May, and
+look sharp, or we shall be too late."
+
+"Ay, ay, sir!" replied the big sailor; and Murray heard him throw his
+musket from one shoulder to the other before seeming to loosen his
+cutlass in the scabbard, which the lad could only interpret as putting
+himself in readiness for an immediate encounter.
+
+"Listen again, Tom," whispered Murray.
+
+There was a pause, and for a few minutes nothing broke the strange
+silence which reigned.
+
+"Well?" whispered the middy impatiently.
+
+"Well, sir, I can't make nothing of it," replied the sailor.
+
+"Not so loud, Tom."
+
+"All right, sir, but I don't think that was much of a pig's whisper."
+
+"Oh, nonsense!  What do you make of it now?"
+
+"Nowt, sir, only as we've got ourselves into a great hobble.  I can't
+hear nothing of our chaps."
+
+"No; they've gone on, and we must overtake them and let Mr Anderson
+know that Roberts and Titely have lost their way, and have doubled back
+so that we have met them."
+
+"Ay, ay, sir, that's the way; but how are we going to do it?"
+
+"You take Titely by the arm, and I'll hurry on Mr Roberts.  Let's start
+at once."
+
+"Right, sir.  Which way?"
+
+"Follow Mr Anderson's track at once."
+
+"Yes, sir, of course; but which way's that?"
+
+"Why, you don't mean to say you've lost touch, Tom?" said Murray
+excitedly.
+
+"Nay, sir, I arn't had nothing to touch lately.  I s'pose I've turned
+stoopid through coming upon them two so sudden.  But just you start me,
+sir, and then I shall go on as steady and reg'lar as can be."
+
+"Tom!" groaned Murray.
+
+"Ay, ay, sir!  Which way?"
+
+Murray uttered a gasp as he stood trying to pierce the darkness, turning
+slowly in different directions the while.
+
+"Ready, sir," said the sailor.  "I've got hold of Bill Titely, sir,
+quite tightly too," added the man, with a low chuckle.
+
+Titely groaned aloud.
+
+"Steady, sir!" whispered the man.  "That was a regular pig's whisper,
+and no mistake.--Quiet, you lubber!" he added, giving his messmate a
+shake.  "Don't bully him, sir; his wound's made him a bit silly like,
+and he don't quite know what he's about, or he wouldn't howl aloud like
+that."
+
+"Here, stop that," came from out of the darkness.  "Who is it--you,
+Frank?  Don't play the fool with a fellow.  It makes me so jolly giddy,
+and it hurts."
+
+"I'm not doing anything, Dick," whispered Murray.  "Oh, do be quiet, old
+chap!  Can't you understand that your wound has made you turn weak, and
+that the enemy are somewhere close at hand?"
+
+"No!  It all goes round and round and round.  Stop it, will you?"
+
+"Dick, I'm doing nothing," said Murray despairingly.  "Be quiet, or
+you'll betray us to the enemy."
+
+"Hang the enemy!  Who cares for the enemy?  I'm not going to run away
+from a set of woolly-headed niggers.  Let's fight them and have done
+with it."
+
+"Say, Mr Murray, sir, we've got in a hole this time.  Arn't you 'most
+as bad as me?"
+
+"Worse, Tom--worse!" groaned Murray.
+
+"Oh, you couldn't be worse, sir," said the man hastily; "but you can't
+tell me which way to go, can you?"
+
+"No, Tom; the darkness seems to have quite confused me, and if I tell
+you to make a start we're just as likely to run upon the enemy as to go
+after Mr Anderson."
+
+"That's so, sir; and that arn't the worst of it."
+
+"There can be no worse, Tom," said Murray despondently.
+
+"Oh yes, sir, there can, for you see it arn't you and me alone to look
+after one another; we've each got a messmate on our hands, for I s'pose
+it wouldn't be right for you to leave Mr Roberts to shift for hisself,
+no more than it would for me to leave Billy Titely."
+
+"Of course not, poor fellows; we must stand by them to the last."
+
+"That's your sort, sir.  A sailor allers stands by his messmate; but
+they are a pair of okkard ones just now, just at a time when it's dark
+as the bottom of a pitch kettle full right up to the very top.  But do
+say something, Mr Murray, sir."
+
+"Say, Tom!  I've got nothing to say."
+
+"I know some one who will have, sir, when we come acrorst him, and
+that's Mr Anderson, sir."  Murray groaned.
+
+"I think I shall get behind you, sir," said the big sailor, with a
+chuckle, "so as he can take the sharp edge off his tongue on you first."
+
+"Tom May!" whispered the midshipman bitterly.  "How can you laugh at a
+time like this!"
+
+"I dunno, sir, but I don't mean nothing disrespectful to my officer,
+sir.  I thought a bit of a joke would cheer us up a bit.  But it arn't
+nat'ral like, for I feel as if I could lay my cocoanut up again' a tree
+and howl like a sick dog as has got his fore foot under a wheel.  But it
+is a muddle, sir, arn't it?  What shall we do?"
+
+"I can only think one thing, Tom, and it is horrible.  It seems like
+giving up in despair."
+
+"Never mind, sir: let's have it, for I want to be doing something."
+
+"I can think of nothing but waiting till daylight."
+
+"Can't you, sir?  Well, I thought that, but it seemed to me too stoopid.
+But I don't know as there isn't some good in it, for we might get them
+two to lie still and sleep, and that's about all they're fit for.  It's
+orful dark, but that don't matter for the sick bay, and when they wake
+up again in the morning, perhaps they won't talk silly.  You're right,
+sir; let's put our wounded to bed, and then divide the rest of the night
+into two watches.  I'll take the first, and you take the second watch,
+which will carry us well on till daylight.  What do you say to that,
+sir?"
+
+"That it is the best thing to be done; only we'll watch together, Tom,
+and rest."
+
+"Not you go to sleep, sir?" said Tom dubiously.
+
+"I could not sleep, Tom.  We'll talk in whispers about the blacks'
+meeting and what they were planning to do."
+
+"Very well, sir.--What say, Billy?  No, no!  No answering, my lad.
+You'll be telling the niggers where we are.  You've got to lie down, for
+it arn't your watch.--That's the way.--Now, Mr Murray, sir, you let
+your one down easy.  That's the way, sir--close up together.  It'll keep
+'em right, and p'raps ward off the fever.  Now you and I sit down and
+have our palaver.  I should say let's sit on 'em as soon as they're
+asleep, but I s'pose you wouldn't like to sit on Mr Roberts."
+
+"Oh no, of course not," said the midshipman.
+
+"All right, sir; you think it wouldn't be fair to your messmate, but it
+would, for it would keep him warm.  But I shall do as you do, sir; or
+let's try t'other way."
+
+"What other way, Tom?"
+
+"Sit up close to one another, back to back; then I warms you and you
+warms me, and that keeps away the chill.  You gets a bit tired after a
+time and feels ready to droop for'ard on to your nose, but when that
+comes on you can hook elbers, and that holds you upright.--Now then,
+sir, how's that?  Right?  Wait a minute; let's have a listen.  Three
+cheers for well-boxed ears!"
+
+The big sailor sat upright and listened intently for a few minutes,
+before he whispered--
+
+"I can just hear the beetles crawling about among the dead leaves and
+things, sir, and seeming to talk to one another in their way, but I
+can't hear no niggers coming arter us.  Strange thing, arn't it, sir,
+that one set o' blacks should take to capturing another set o' blacks
+and selling 'em into slavery?  Them's a savage lot as that Huggins has
+got together, and it strikes me as we shall find 'em reg'lar beggars to
+fight if it's all right as Master See-saw says about their manning his
+ships.  So far as I could make out he's got schooners manned with white
+ruffians as well as black blacks, and all as bad as bad can be."
+
+"Yes, Tom," said Murray thoughtfully.
+
+"Nice beauties," continued Tom, "and so far as I can make out, sir,
+there was going to be a reg'lar rising to-night, or last night.  The
+plantation niggers had come to the way of thinking that it was time to
+mutiny and kill off them as had brought 'em here, and so that there
+Huggins--my word, shouldn't I like to have the job of huggin' him!--got
+to know of it and brings his schooners' crews to show 'em they was not
+the sort of chaps to carry out a mutiny of that kind."
+
+"Poor wretches, no," said Murray sadly.
+
+"That's right, Mr Murray, sir.  Poor wretches it is.  You see, sir,
+they're a different sort o' nigger altogether.  I got to know somehow
+from a marchant skipper as traded off the West Coast that there's two
+sorts o' tribes there, fighting tribes as fights by nature, and tribes
+as 'tisn't their nature to fight at all.  Well, sir, these here first
+ones makes war upon them as can't fight, carries off all they can as
+prisoners, and sells 'em to the slave-traders.  Then it comes at last to
+a mutiny like this here we've seen, and the poor wretches, as you calls
+them, is worse fighters than they was afore, and slaving skippers like
+Huggins collects their schooners' crews together and drives the black
+mutineers before 'em like a flock o' Baa, baa, black sheep, kills a lot
+and frightens a lot more to death, and then things goes on just the same
+as before.--Comfortable, sir?"
+
+"No, Tom.  Are you?"
+
+"No, sir.  But that's about how it is, arn't it?"
+
+"Yes, I believe so, Tom."
+
+"Then it goes on as I said till their medicine man--sort o' priest, I
+suppose--stirs 'em to make another try to get the upper hand.  Talks a
+lot o' that nonsense to 'em about fetish and Obeah, as they calls it,
+and shows the poor benighted chaps a bit of hanky panky work with a big
+snake like that we saw to-night.  Makes 'em think the snake's horrid
+poisonous, and that it can't bite him as handles it, because he's took
+some stuff or another.  Rum game that there was with that sarpent, and--
+I say, sir, don't you think we'd better get up now for a bit and just
+mark time?  You see, we can't walk, for if we do we shall lose
+ourselves."
+
+"We might take it in turns, and just keep touch of one another."
+
+"What, sir?  No, thankye.  Ketch me trying that way again!  We've had
+enough of that.  Fust thing, though, let's see how our wounded's getting
+on."
+
+"Yes, Tom," said Murray; and they felt for their unfortunate companions
+in the darkness, with the result that Titely flung out one fist with the
+accompaniment of an angry growl, and at the first touch of Murray's
+fingers, Roberts uttered an angry expostulation, taking all the
+stiffness out of his brother middy's joints as the lad started, broke
+out in a violent perspiration, and caught hold of his wakeful companion,
+for the pair to stand listening for some sign of the enemy having heard
+the cry, and beginning to steal silently towards them.
+
+"Cutlasses, Tom," whispered Murray, with his lips to the big sailor's
+ear, and together they unsheathed their weapons and stood back to back,
+ready to defend themselves.
+
+"Thrust, Tom," whispered Murray again.
+
+"Ay, ay, sir!"  And then the terrible silence of the black darkness was
+only broken by a faint mutter from one or other of the wounded pair,
+while the listeners breathed hard in agony, trying the while to suppress
+the going and coming of the prime necessity of life.  Murray pressed the
+hard hilt of his cutlass against his breast in the faint hope that by so
+doing he could deaden the heavy throbbing that sounded loudly to his
+ear, while if any one was approaching at all near he felt certain that
+he must hear the dull thumps that went on within the breast of the big
+sailor.
+
+There was another dread, too, which troubled the watch-keepers: at any
+moment they felt certain the disturbed sleepers might begin talking
+aloud.  But that peril they were spared.
+
+"Don't hear anything, sir," whispered Tom, at last.  "I made sure we
+should have brought them down upon us.  I say, sir, it seems to me as
+Natur must have made some mistake."
+
+"How?" asked Murray.
+
+"Forgot to wind up the sun last night."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"So as it should rise again."
+
+"Nonsense!" said Murray, in a voice which sounded to be full of
+annoyance.  "That's the morning breeze beginning to blow."
+
+"Well, I don't care, sir," grumbled the big sailor; "it ought to have
+been to-morrow morning before now.  Sun must be late.  I never knowed
+such a long night before."
+
+"It's coming, Tom, and before long.  Isn't that the warm glow?"
+
+"No," said the sailor shortly.  "As you said, there's a breeze coming up
+from somewhere or another, and tidy strong, too."
+
+"Yes," said Murray.
+
+"Well, it's blowing up the embers of the fire that was burning its way
+through the woods."
+
+"Think so, Tom?" said Murray, his companion's words arousing his
+interest.
+
+"Yes, sir; that's it.  Can't you see that it looks reddish?"
+
+"So does the sunrise."
+
+"Yes, sir, that's true; but all the same I'm sartain that's the fire
+brightening up a bit.  We haven't seen no pale dawn yet."
+
+"If it would only come, Tom!"
+
+"Yes, sir; and what then?"
+
+"We shall be able to find our messmates and bring them to our side."
+
+"Maybe we shall bring the black and white niggers instead, sir, and
+it'll mean a fight, for we're not going to give up quietly, are we?"
+
+"No, Tom, and I hope that when those two wake up they may be able to
+fire a shot or two to help us."
+
+"Hope so, sir.  But look yonder: there's the dawn coming."
+
+"Yes!" whispered Murray eagerly.  "Look; I can just make out the
+branches of a tree against the sky."
+
+"That's right, sir.  Now for it; what's it going to be--enemies or
+friends?"
+
+"Friends, Tom," whispered Murray confidently.
+
+There was a pause, during which the pair stood gazing straight before
+them, striving to pierce the dim dawn which seemed to consist for the
+most part of a thick mist which lay low upon the surface of the earth,
+while above the top of the forest all was fairly clear.
+
+Then all at once, very softly, but so clear of utterance that the word
+seemed to vibrate in the middy's ear, the big sailor uttered a whisper,
+as he pressed his firm, strong hand upon the lad's shoulder.
+
+His word was "Enemies!" and in obedience to the warning, Murray sank
+down till he lay prone upon the dew-wet earth.
+
+For about fifty yards away there were figures moving, and evidently in
+the direction of the spot where the two watchers lay.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THIRTY NINE.
+
+ON THE STRAIN.
+
+Roberts and Titely lay close by, breathing heavily, but to Murray's
+horror it seemed as if, faintly spoken as it was, the big sailor's
+warning had reached the sensitive nerves of both the wounded, making
+them stir uneasily and mutter something unintelligible, while the light
+of morning, which had before been so sluggish in its approach, seemed
+now to be coming on by a steady glide, as if the black darkness which
+had pressed so heavily upon the spirits of two of the party was now
+being swept away like a cloud.
+
+A terrible dread came over Murray, for he saw in the moving figures
+death coming upon him in most probably some horribly brutal form, and he
+could feel his nerves thrill with an icy sensation which had its origin
+among the roots of his hair and then began to glide down his spine till
+it reached to and made its exit from his toes; while in spite of what he
+suffered, he could not help recalling some of the words which had passed
+between him and his waking companion as he was conscious of fresh
+movements on the part of Roberts and Titely, and he wished that he could
+carry out what had been proposed, namely, to sit upon the pair and keep
+them quiet.
+
+"They'll let the wretches know where we are," he thought, and quietly
+reaching out one leg till he could reach Tom May's big body, he gave him
+a steady thrust.
+
+"That will keep him on the _qui vive_," he thought to himself; and then
+the lad started violently, for the big sailor responded with a
+well-meant but decidedly forcible kick, which Murray took for a warning
+of impending danger, and raised his head to look, but dropped it again
+on the instant, throbbing with excitement, for there were the moving
+figures, clearly seen now, in the shape of a villainous-looking party of
+about a dozen well-armed men, clothed sailor fashion and graduated in
+colour from the sun-tanned skin of a white through the swarthiness of
+the Malay and Mulatto to the black of the East Indian and the intense
+ebony of the African black.
+
+He gazed in that moment, as he knew for certain, upon a party of the
+cut-throat ruffians belonging to the crew of one of the slave-trade
+vessels, and as he subsided, it was with the feeling upon him that his
+head must have been seen, that in another instant he should be listening
+to the rush of feet, and would have to make a desperate effort to
+preserve his life, while all the while he was lying there suffering from
+a kind of paralysis which held him as if he were passing through the
+worst phases of a nightmare-like dream.
+
+"Poor old Dick!" he thought, as if in a flash.  "We were always
+quarrelling, and he was horribly jealous of me; but I liked him, and I'd
+do anything to save him.  But he'll never know, for the brutes will kill
+him in his sleep.  Poor Billy Titely the same.  But Tom May must be
+ready to fight for his life, and he'll pay out some of the butchers, and
+I shall help him _too_, though I haven't got his strength.  Why don't I
+spring up before they come?"
+
+It seemed curiously misty and dream-like to him, and he fully realised
+that something must be wrong, as he seemed to fight hard to answer that
+question; but so far from replying to the mental query, and springing up
+to help his brave companion, he could not move, till he was roused into
+a state of action by the touch of the big sailor's foot, which did not
+come in a heavy kick this time, but in steady pressure.
+
+Murray drew a slow, deep breath, and instead of starting up he softly
+turned his head sidewise till he could peer with one eye through the
+bushes, and see that the crew of ruffians had turned off to the right
+and were slowly and cautiously passing away.
+
+So far Murray felt the murderous wretches had not seen them, but as he
+knew that the slightest movement on the part of the sleepers, or a
+muttered word, would bring them to their side, he lay quivering and
+trying involuntarily to press himself deeper into the soft earth for
+some minutes, clinging to hope, till once more the intensity of the
+strain was broken by a sharp clear snap which sounded awfully loud, and
+he started up, resting upon his right elbow, and gazed, not upon the
+fiercely savage face of one of the enemies, but upon the big, frank,
+apologetic countenance of Tom May, who was in precisely the same
+attitude.
+
+"Who'd have thought it?" he whispered.  "But they didn't hear."
+
+"Oh, Tom," replied the lad, hardly above his breath, "how you frightened
+me!"
+
+"Frightened you, sir?" chuckled the big fellow, with his face expanding
+into a grin.  "Why, it frightened me."
+
+"What was it?" whispered Murray, pressing his left hand upon his
+throbbing breast.
+
+"This here, sir," replied the man, holding up a round brass tobacco-box.
+"Thought I'd take a quid just to put a bit o' life into me, and as soon
+as I'd got it I shut up the lid, and it went off like a pistol."
+
+"But do you feel sure they didn't hear?"
+
+"Oh, there's no doubt about that, sir.  There they go, and we're all
+right so long as none of 'em looks round, and Billy Titely and Mr
+Roberts don't sing out anything to bring them back."
+
+"Oh, don't speak so loud," whispered the middy.
+
+"Nay, they can't hear that, sir," said the man.  "Lucky beggars!"
+
+"What!"
+
+"Lucky beggars, sir.  Two on 'em's saved their lives, and a couple
+more's gone off without having any mark upon 'em.  For I'm pretty handy
+with my cutlash, Mr Murray, sir; arn't I?"
+
+"Handy, Tom?  Yes, of course; but what an escape!  I felt as if I
+couldn't have helped you."
+
+"Yah!  Nonsense, sir!  I always feel like that, just as if I couldn't do
+anything.  It's nat'ral, I suppose.  I was allers that how when I was a
+boy, when I got fighting.  Used to feel like running away, till I was
+hurt, and then my monkey was up directly and I began to bite.  Whatcher
+talking about, sir?  I just see you standing still and one of them ugly
+beggars sticking his long knife into _you_.  You'd hold still, wouldn't
+you?  Not much!"
+
+"Oh, I don't know, Tom."
+
+"Well, sir, I do," said the sailor, half closing his eyes as he kept
+careful watch in the direction the enemy had taken.
+
+"What's to be done now, Tom?" said Murray, after a pause.
+
+"Eh?  What's to be done, sir?  Why, I was waiting for orders.  You're my
+orficer, sir."
+
+"Yes, Tom, but this is a terrible position."
+
+"Oh, I dunno, sir.  'Tarn't a wreck."
+
+"No, Tom, but I want your help."
+
+"Say what I'm to do, sir, and here I am."
+
+"Yes, I know, but can't you make a good suggestion?"
+
+"No, sir; I arn't clever.  I want some one to set me going.  Seems to
+me, though, as the best thing we could do would be to--"
+
+"Yes," said Murray eagerly, for the man had paused.
+
+"Do nothing, sir," said the man slowly.  "We know that gang is on the
+lookout so as we can't follow their way."
+
+"No, Tom, but we might go in the opposite direction."
+
+"Yes, sir, we might," replied the man, "but there's lots more on 'em
+about, and we may be tumbling out o' the frying-pan into the fire."
+
+"Yes, Tom," said the middy, "and we are pretty well hidden.  I propose
+that we lie here till those two poor fellows wake up.  They may be
+better then and so far able to help us that they may get along with our
+arms."
+
+"Yes, sir," said May quietly, "and I'd stop at that.  Besides, Mr
+Anderson's looking after us, and perhaps he knows the way back to that
+rondyvoo of his, for it must be somewheres not very far-off.  Don't you
+think the first luff may be sending that black See-saw chap to look for
+us?"
+
+"Yes, very likely, Tom.  Capital!"
+
+"Yes, sir; it don't seem so bad now we come to think of it.  See-saw
+knows all about these parts, sir, and it would be a pity for him to come
+to find us, and walk into this patch of trees and find as we'd gone."
+
+"Yes, of course, Tom.  Then you think that our wisest plan would be to
+lie here and wait for a few hours at all events and see what turns up?"
+
+"That's it exactly, sir."
+
+"Then that's what we'll do, Tom."
+
+"Thankye, sir."
+
+"Why do you say that, Tom?"
+
+"Oh, 'cause you said what we'd do."
+
+"Of course."
+
+"Yes, sir, but some young gents--Mr Roberts there, for instance--would
+ha' thought he knowed best and wouldn't have listened to a bit of
+advice.  Pst!  Don't you hear some un coming along, making the trees
+rustle and crackle a bit?"
+
+Murray listened eagerly, before turning to the big sailor again.
+
+"No.  Your ears are better than mine, Tom."
+
+The middy had hardly ceased speaking before there was a heavy burst of
+coarse laughter, and then several voices came from some little distance
+away, while as the listeners crouched together and drew their cutlasses,
+after Tom May had raised the pan of his musket and closed it again,
+satisfied that the priming was correct, the pair gazed in each other's
+eyes, for Roberts started and turned uneasily, waking the wounded
+sailor, who began to talk aloud and incoherently about manning a boat
+and getting ashore.
+
+"What's to be done, Tom?" whispered Murray; and as he spoke he loosened
+the knot of his neckerchief and slipped it off, to hold it to the big
+sailor.
+
+"Right, sir.  Can't do better than that."  And taking the silk kerchief,
+Tom began to crawl close to where the man's voice was sinking to a low
+muttering, the poor fellow being perfectly unconscious of the fact that
+his messmate was leaning over him ready to use the silken tie as a gag
+and thrust it between his teeth if he went on talking and the enemy drew
+near.
+
+Fortunately it seemed as if all the mutterings were about to die out,
+and though coarse mirth was on the increase, and the party of searchers
+were drawing nearer, it appeared to Murray that the rough means of
+quieting the wounded man would not be called into service, when all at
+once, when the peril of being discovered was growing to be more grave,
+Roberts started as if from pain, and threw out his arms sharply,
+striking Titely upon the side of the head.
+
+It was not sufficient to cause pain, but the poor fellow's lips parted
+to cry out, and he gave forth an inarticulate sound caused by the sudden
+descent of the rolled-up pad of black silk vigorously planted in its
+place by the sturdy hand of Tom May.
+
+The next minute there was a violent struggling to add to the gurgling
+noise, and in spite of the big sailor's efforts, the gagged one wrenched
+his head free from the pressure of the hand, and uttered a loud cry of
+annoyance and pain.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FORTY.
+
+DEALING WITH THE WOUNDED.
+
+"It's all over," thought Murray, and he turned sharply from watching for
+the approach of the enemy, for the big sailor whispered--
+
+"Don't get up, sir, till they close in; then make one jump for it and
+stand back to hit, but take distance and give me plenty of room for a
+good swing."
+
+The midshipman did not reply, but crouched down with his time divided
+between waiting for the enemy's approach and listening for the next
+utterance made by Titely or his brother officer.
+
+The attention of the slaver's men had evidently been attracted by the
+sounds, for from where Murray crouched down among the thick growth, he
+saw that two of the party had stopped short to gaze straight away before
+them, but not in the direction where the fugitives waited to be
+discovered; and the young officer, when he afterwards thought over the
+matter, decided that though they must have heard the noise that was
+made, it was when several of their companions were talking aloud, so
+that the listeners had not been able to tell with certainty from whence
+the cry had come.  For after a short colloquy, during which Murray could
+distinctly see that the two men in question were addressing their
+fellows who surrounded them, there was a little gesticulating, a
+pointing towards a different portion of the forest, and the gang went
+off along what proved to be a well-beaten track.
+
+"Hah!" ejaculated Murray, after waiting impatiently for what seemed to
+be a full quarter of an hour.  "I think we'll make a movement soon, Tom
+May."
+
+"Right, sir.  Where to?  One moment first.  You'd better take my musket,
+sir, because I shall have to carry Mr Roberts.  I wish they'd come to
+their senses so as we could make sure that they don't let out again as
+if they wanted to tell the enemy where we are."
+
+"What's the matter?" cried Roberts, in a tone which made his brother
+midshipman start.  "Has some one been hurt?"
+
+He was in pain, but seemed to be quite calm and sensible now, as he
+listened to Murray's explanation of the position in which they were.
+
+"It's bad," he said.  "I can hardly understand it, for I've been in a
+regular feverish dream.  But tell me, what are you going to do?"
+
+Before Murray could answer, Titely sat up suddenly.
+
+"That you, Tom May?" he said huskily.
+
+"Ay, messmate," was the reply.  "Me it is.  What is it?"
+
+"Take the tin, mate, and dip me a drink o' water.--Why, hullo!  Where
+are we now?  Not out in the forest?"
+
+"Out in the forest it is, my lad, and the enemy's close arter us,"
+replied the big sailor.
+
+"Enemy?" said the poor fellow, in a wondering tone of voice.  "Why, that
+means--Yes, I remember now.  I'm hurt, arn't I?"
+
+"Yes, messmate; you got just touched by a bullet."
+
+"To be sure," said Titely.  "Yes, I remember now.  Well, somebody's got
+to be hurt, of course.  Anybody else just touched by a bullet?"
+
+"Mr Roberts."
+
+"Has he now?  Well, orficers leads, and they has the best chance of it.
+Doctor seen him?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Course not; he wasn't with the expedition.  Arn't seen me neither, I
+s'pose?"
+
+"No," growled Tom May; "but look here, messmate, you and Mr Roberts
+atween you nearly give us up to the enemy."
+
+"Me?  I don't know about Mr Roberts, but you're not going to make me
+believe I should try and give you up to the enemy.  Is it likely, Mr
+Murray, sir?"
+
+"No, Titely; it's the last thing you would do."
+
+"There, Tommy!  Hear that?"
+
+"Oh yes, I hear it plain enough," growled the big sailor, "but can't you
+see that you were off that thick head o' yourn, and began shouting just
+when the enemy was close at hand?"
+
+"Was that it, Mr Murray, sir?" cried the man.
+
+"Yes, Titely; but you could not help it.  Now be quiet and help us to
+watch," said the midshipman, "for the enemy can't be very far away, and
+they're evidently searching for us."
+
+"_Phee-ew_!" whistled the man softly.  "I do understand now.  Very
+sorry, Mr Murray and Mr Roberts."
+
+"Pst!" whispered Tom May.  "Down flat, everybody.  Here they come
+again;" and as the order was obeyed the sound of breaking twigs and the
+rustling of tropical leaves was heard; and before long the hiding party
+began to make out that the slaver's men were for some reason or another
+returning in their direction, spread over a pretty wide surface of the
+thick brake, and apparently so arranged that they were bound to cover
+the hiding-place of the unfortunate party.
+
+But somehow the difficulties of the search favoured the concealed
+man-o'-war's men, who from where they lay saw the thick undergrowth so
+beaten that the outer leader of the line came within a few yards only of
+the hiding-place, giving Tom May a clue to the reasons for the enemy's
+return in the shape of one of the _Seafowl's_ muskets, which he held on
+high as he pressed forward through the trees.
+
+"But how could you tell?" whispered Murray, as soon as their foes had
+passed.  "You can't be sure, Tom, that it was one of our muskets."
+
+"Well, no, sir, I can't be sure, but it seems to me it was one of ours;
+elsewise why should he be carrying it like he was?  P'raps I'm wrong,
+but there he was, holding it up in a niminy piminy way, as if he felt it
+was what them half-bred niggers calls a fetish as would help 'em to find
+the chap as let it fall.  Anyhow just harkye there!  I'm blest if they
+arn't coming again!"
+
+"Yes," said Murray, after listening.  "They are coming back."
+
+"Well," said Tom May, "bad luck to 'em!  There's four on us now to give
+'em a shot."
+
+"On'y three, messmate," said Titely, with a sigh.  "I arn't got no gun.
+That there one the whitey brown chap carried must be mine."
+
+There was no time nor chance for further conversation respecting their
+position.  Nothing could be done but lie low crouching beneath the
+densest part of the undergrowth in the hope of escaping the keen eyes of
+the slaver's men; and twice over Murray caught sight of the man who
+seemed to be the leader, who evidently attached a great deal of
+importance to the gun he still carried on high, till at last, sick at
+heart, the middy gave up their position as hopeless, for the
+savage-looking wretch was leading his men straight for them.
+
+Murray passed the cutlass he carried into his left hand, while he bent
+over his wounded comrade and stole his right down beside him to grasp
+that of Roberts.
+
+"In case of the worst," he whispered, and he felt his brother middy's
+fingers close round his own, before he snatched his hand away so as to
+seize the cutlass, ready to strike at the leader of the final rush, when
+as the man turned his head and shouted to his followers to come on, he
+raised the musket to give it a wave in the air, but somehow caught it
+amongst the twining canes, when his progress was checked, and he fell
+headlong amongst the dense growth, the piece exploding with a loud
+concussion, upon which the men uttered a loud yell and dashed away,
+evidently under the impression that they had been attacked.
+
+The leader staggered to his feet growling like some savage beast, and
+roared out to his followers to return.  His words were unintelligible to
+the listeners, but their tones suggested plainly enough that he was
+cursing them fiercely and hurling anathemas and threats at them as to
+what he would do when he overtook them.
+
+Then, as he found himself left alone, he snatched at the musket again,
+but without result, for it was fast in the tangle of twining canes, at
+which he tore and tore again till the tough green growth gave way and he
+stood up, examining lock and trigger now as if to try and make out
+whether the weapon was injured, when he roared again to his men and
+stood listening, but without avail.
+
+If he had only turned upon his heels and taken half-a-dozen steps he
+must have walked over the hidden party of Englishmen, but the falling
+and explosion of the weapon and the flight of his men seemed to have
+completely upset his calculations; and hence it was that Murray, after
+giving up all hopes of escaping, saw the ruffian stand in the midst of
+the silence, snapping the flint and pan of the musket to and fro three
+or four times, begin to try and reload the piece without success, and
+then shoulder it and start off in search of his followers, now muttering
+angrily, now shouting to them again and again, without, however, any
+appearance of success.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FORTY ONE.
+
+HUNTED.
+
+"Think he's gone now, Mr Murray, sir?" said Tom May in a whisper.
+
+"I'm afraid to hope for it," replied Murray.
+
+"So'm I, sir," said the man; "but what a toucher!  Just think of his
+bungling off that old musket and scaring the lot!  He may think himself
+lucky that he didn't shoot some of 'em."
+
+"Or hisself," growled Titely.  "That makes me sure it was the one I was
+handling, for it had been strained a bit so as the hammer was a bit
+loose.  But hadn't we better get on somewhere else for a bit, sir, 'fore
+he comes back?"
+
+"I don't think I would, Frank," whispered Roberts sadly.  "I'm so weak
+and helpless I don't know what to do, and we're just as likely to
+blunder against the enemy as they are to come upon us.  If I could only
+have some water I wouldn't care."
+
+"Just wait for a half-hour or so, sir, and give the beggars a chance to
+get a bit further away, and then we'll have a look round and see if we
+can't find water, and if we don't come upon any at once we'll see what
+we can do in the way of digging some up with the cutlasses."
+
+"Oh, I'll wait," said Roberts, with a piteous sigh, "but don't wait too
+long, or I shall die of thirst."
+
+It was a guess at the time, but all being perfectly still, and as if the
+enemy had gone right away, it was determined to make a venture in search
+of water.
+
+"Shall we go together, Tom?" asked Murray.
+
+"It's like making half the chance, sir," replied the man.  "I think I'd
+take one way and me the other."
+
+"Very well; but let's go very carefully; and we ought to cut or mark the
+trees if we could, so as to find our way back."
+
+"It's like showing the way we've gone, sir," said the man; "but there,
+we must run some risks."
+
+"Whatever you do, Tom," said the midshipman, "be careful about finding
+your way back."
+
+"I'll do my best, sir," replied the man.
+
+"Water!  For goodness' sake, water!" moaned Roberts; and those words
+started the pair off at once, each feeling perfectly despairing of
+success, in opposite directions, and each with the same precautions,
+till sick at heart and hopeless after marking his way step by step
+either by blazing the sides of the trees or cutting the cane in a way
+that he felt pretty sure of following back, Murray sank down faint and
+exhausted, to rest for a few minutes before deciding whether he should
+persevere a little more or return to his unfortunate companion in
+despair.
+
+"It seems so cowardly to give up," he said to himself; "but Tom may have
+succeeded, and even if he has not, it would be better to try in a fresh
+direction."
+
+He sat motionless listening for a few minutes in indecision, feeling
+that if he did not find water or food he would be in as bad a plight as
+his companion, when he suddenly caught at the nearest tree, drew himself
+up, and stood trembling.  The next minute what had seemed to be an utter
+wilderness assumed a different form from that which he had observed
+before.  He realised that some form of cultivation had been carried out,
+and following up the track, he passed on through a narrow, trampled
+patch, to find himself in an opening where, roughly hacked out of the
+forest, a clearing had been made, along one side of which ran a grip of
+water, cleared out for reasons connected with irrigation, and there
+stretching out before him were a few dozen of banana trees, Indian corn,
+and what he directly after made out to be the succulent yam plant.
+
+Murray's despair was a thing of the past, and his spirits rose to a
+pitch of excitement now, for at the end of the clearing was the
+roughly-made hut of some negro, which appeared to have been only quite
+lately forsaken.
+
+He entered the hut cautiously, expecting to find traces of inhabitants,
+and these were simple and plain in the shape of several cocoanut shells
+that had been used for food vessels, and close at hand a large dry
+calabash.
+
+Trembling with excitement, the discoverer seized the latter vessel and
+one of the nut-shells, to bear them to the side of the grip, where he
+dipped with the shell and drank with avidity of the perfectly
+clear-looking water, which proved to be of a deep amber colour, but
+tasted sweet and refreshing.
+
+He refilled the nut-shell and drank again with a feeling of excited hope
+running through him.  Then filling the calabash, he drew the cutlass he
+bore, hacked through the fruit-stalk of the ripest banana plant he could
+find, shouldered it, and with the calabash in his right hand paused for
+a few moments to look excitedly round, fully expecting to find that he
+was watched.
+
+But the place was quite forsaken, and, trembling with eager desire now
+to get back to the two sufferers he had left behind, he muttered to
+himself, "Saved!" and stepped out, but only for his heart to sink again,
+for in his excitement he felt that he had not taken sufficient
+precaution as to his way back.
+
+It was after some minutes and only through forcing himself to step back
+and stand in the very position where he had first felt, that he was
+gazing upon the clearing, that he caught his idea of location of the
+place again, when he started back with the treasures he had found, and
+further encouraged himself with one of the sweet succulent fruit which
+with the water gave him invigoration and enabled him to recover his
+traces and blazings of the trees on his way back.
+
+And now it was that he found how much further he had strayed away than
+he had thought, and twice over he seemed to have missed his marks
+entirely, and turned hot and faint.
+
+A fresh draught of the water he bore, however, restored the failing
+clearness of his intellect, and he found that which he had missed,
+started afresh, and at last to his intense delight he staggered with his
+load to where he found Roberts lying asleep, but quite alone.
+
+"Dick!" he cried excitedly, as he looked round in vain, while laying
+down his burden.
+
+There was no reply.
+
+"Dick!  Here, Dick," he whispered softly, lest he might raise an alarm
+and bring upon them danger from their lurking foes.
+
+There was no reply, but the poor fellow stared up at him in a
+half-delirious way.
+
+As quietly as he could manage, Murray filled the cocoanut he had
+brought, raised his brother middy's head upon his arm, and held the
+hard, dark-brown cup to the lad's lips.
+
+There was no response for a few minutes, during which Murray contrived
+to moisten the parched and cracking membrane as if in vain, and he was
+about to try in despair to bathe the poor lad's temples when the lips
+softened, there was a choking gurgling sound, a gasp or two, and then
+with strange avidity the midshipman drank and drank, spilling much, but
+drinking a fair proportion, and as the cup was drained asking in a
+hoarse, dry voice for more.
+
+Instead of refilling the half nut Murray tore off another banana,
+hastily skinned it, and placed that in his companion's hand, watching
+him eat it, gazing about him the while, and then as he found that the
+lad was recovering himself, he asked him if he could speak.
+
+"Speak!  Yes," cried the lad.  "It is like life."
+
+"That's right.  Cheer up!"
+
+"Water!  More water;" cried Roberts.
+
+"Yes, soon.  Eat that first;" and he gave him another of the bananas.
+"Where's Titely?"
+
+"Titely?  There," said Roberts, pointing.
+
+"No, he is not there," said Murray excitedly.  "Where has he gone?"
+
+"He was there when I fell asleep."
+
+"Has Tom May been back?"
+
+"No; I have not seen him.  But have you found more water and more
+fruit?"
+
+"Yes; I have found a plantation and a stream or long pool.  But where
+can Titely be?"
+
+"I don't know.  Can Tom May have fetched him?"
+
+"No; he would have spoken to you."
+
+"Perhaps he did, but I was half insensible and did not hear.  Oh, Frank,
+old man, you've saved my miserable life!"
+
+"Thank heaven, old fellow!  If we can only avoid the slavers we may hold
+out till Mr Anderson or the captain comes to our help.  But I must find
+Titely.  Perhaps he has crawled away.  There, go on eating while I
+search round.  Go on eating and drinking; only leave enough for Tom May
+when he comes back, and for Titely when I have found him."
+
+"You have some too," said Roberts, who was beginning to recover fast,
+save that his wound gave him increasing pain.
+
+And now began a search which grew more and more hopeless as hours glided
+by.  There was no trace of the injured sailor, and no sign of Tom May's
+return; and at last, when the first signs of the coming brief tropical
+evening began to show themselves, and with them the desire for more
+water and fruit, Murray made up his mind to guide his companion to the
+negro's hut, after leaving by way of refreshment all the fruit and water
+that was left, trusting to the fact that upon finding the refreshments
+Tom May might go further and trace the way they had gone by means of the
+blazings and other signs he had left upon the canes and trees.
+
+It took some making up of the boy's mind before he could decide to leave
+the place where they had hidden themselves for so long; but he felt
+himself bound to try hard to place his wounded comrade in safety, and
+where he could supply him amply with food and water; and at last,
+hesitating no longer, he induced his companion to make an effort to
+rise, and they started off together, after a final look round, for the
+idea had forced itself upon Murray that if they did not go at once they
+would not reach their haven of rest and refreshment before it grew dark.
+
+As it was the task proved to be anxious enough before Murray succeeded
+in getting his companion within the hut, where he sank down in weariness
+and pain, but glad enough to drink heartily from a fresh nut cup of the
+sweet, rather peculiarly coloured water, after which he dropped into a
+complete state of insensibility, with a half-eaten banana grasped in his
+hand, while Murray eagerly seized his opportunity to follow his brother
+middy's example, drinking with avidity, and for his part eating almost
+ravenously to master the weakness and hunger from which he suffered.
+
+Satisfied with this, he set himself to watch and think about the two men
+who were sharing their troubles.
+
+"Tom must have come upon poor Titely somewhere, wandering from our
+hiding-place," he thought, "and taken him back after I had gone with
+Dick, and it is madness to go back to him.  I couldn't do it in the
+darkness, any more than he could track me out; and yet I don't know--I
+ought to try and find him.  Perhaps, poor fellow, he has found no food,
+and may be nearly starved.  I think I could find him, even if it is
+dark.  I ought to know the way to him after going over the ground twice.
+I ought to, and I will--after I've had about an hour's rest.  I must
+have that, and then I'll start."
+
+The midshipman sat and thought of the scene when they crouched together,
+expecting moment by moment to be discovered.
+
+The next minute his mind had wandered away to his search, the fortunate
+discovery of the old hut and the cultivation carried out by some slave;
+and then he came to the determination that he would crawl to where Dick
+Roberts lay sleeping so heavily that his breathing had become a deep
+snore.
+
+"Poor fellow," he sighed; "he has suffered badly enough, but I ought to
+try and put him in an easier position.  It is his wound which makes him
+so uneasy."
+
+Then he thought he would wait a little longer before waking his comrade
+and telling him that he was going back to the old hiding-place to say
+where they were.
+
+Murray had just come to the conclusion that he ought to be content with
+the rest he had snatched, when there was a faint rustling sound just
+beyond the doorway where he had seated himself, and like a flash he
+recalled the scene in the planter's cottage where Tom May had shrunk
+from going up into the chamber behind the screen on account of the
+snakes--poisonous or not.  This was a thatched cottage place, up whose
+angles or sides one of the reptiles that had lurked among the bananas
+and maize of the plantation could easily have made its way to the roof,
+ready to descend upon any one sleeping on the floor.
+
+So suggestive was this thought that the midshipman felt startled and
+drew himself up slightly, feeling that he ought to go to his companion's
+assistance.
+
+"Perhaps poisonous," he thought, "and I may get a bite if I disturb it
+in the darkness.  Perhaps, too, it may be tired out as I am, and drop
+asleep without molesting either me or Roberts.  He's not sleeping so
+heavily now," he thought, "and I ought to be off trying to find poor
+worn-out and hungry Titely.  I wonder how far he has wandered away from
+where he was left.  I ought to have found him, but it wasn't to be
+helped.  Tom will know now.  I wonder how long it will take me to get to
+where we left the poor fellow?  But is that Dick Roberts breathing
+hard--snoring--or is it one of those snakes creeping about in the
+maize-leaf thatch?  I wonder what I had better do!  Of course I can't
+leave poor Dick, but it's a pity that he should make all that noise.  It
+is like trying to betray himself.
+
+"I think I must go and wake the poor fellow.  It isn't fair to leave
+him, of course.  And it isn't fair to leave poor Tom May lying done up
+and faint for want of water.  It's rather hard, though, when I'm so done
+up too;" and then he thought how beautiful it was with the soft yellow
+moonlight of the tropical night shining through the Indian corn leaves
+down through the roof of the flimsy hut, on to the floor close by where
+Dick Roberts was sleeping so heavily.
+
+But no, he was not sleeping so deeply now, for he was not snoring.
+
+And then there was the snake, or snakes, that had been rustling about so
+heavily.  It or they were quite silent now.  They had not bitten the
+midshipman, for of course he would have shrieked out in pain or fear.
+So perhaps the reptiles had crept right away, and it was quite time that
+he, Frank Murray, started upon his quest to find Tom May and Bill
+Titely.  He ought in fact to have gone before, but he was so wearied-out
+that he felt obliged to rest for a few minutes; and now the moon was
+shining so brightly that it would be much better and easier to make a
+start through the forest lit-up by the soft yellow rays of the tropic
+night.
+
+"Yes," he muttered to himself; "it will be much better.  What a
+beautiful night!"
+
+And then he sat up; and again another moment and he had crawled out of
+the hut doorway with his eyes widely open from wonder.
+
+"Why, it isn't the moon, nor night!" he exclaimed, half aloud.  "It's
+morning, with the sun glowing through the shades of the forest, and I
+must have been asleep for hours.--Or else," faltered Murray, after a
+pause, "I'm off my head with fever, and don't know what I'm about."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FORTY TWO.
+
+WITHOUT A DOCTOR.
+
+Fever?  Brain heat?  The poor fellow turned cold with horror, and
+hurried back, careless of any impending danger that there might be, into
+the rough hut within whose shades he could dimly make out the figure of
+his comrade, who appeared to be sleeping heavily, but not well, for he
+was muttering.
+
+"I say, Dick," he whispered, "how's your wound?"
+
+There was no reply.
+
+"Dick," he continued, "your wound doesn't hurt much, does it?"
+
+Still there was no reply, and beginning to realise now that his own
+brain was clear, and that he really had been fast asleep, wearied-out
+beyond the power of watching by the previous night's exertions, he sank
+down upon one knee to lay his hand upon Roberts's forehead, when,
+feeling that it was burning, and that at the slightest touch the poor
+fellow started with pain, he began to master himself.
+
+"What fancies one does get into one's head at a time like this!  Of
+course I've been asleep, and no wonder.  I was done up; but, thank
+heaven, I'm all right and able to think and act, while poor Dick's
+feverish and bad with his wound."
+
+"Asleep, Dick?" he whispered again; and once more he laid his hand upon
+the poor fellow's brow, but with no fresh result.  His comrade was
+insensible, and as Murray bent over the mutterer a fresh chill of horror
+ran through him as he thought of his position.
+
+Suppose he grew worse, and no help came.  What should he do?  The idea
+was horrible.  Suppose he were to--
+
+He determined not to dwell upon the thought, and drawing a deep breath,
+he whispered to himself, now full of excitement--
+
+"That's not the way to do any good," he said.  "It's only playing the
+coward and thinking of one's self.  I'm playing with shadows."
+
+And setting his teeth, the middy sprang to his feet and stole quickly
+and silently to the doorway to peer out and listen as he gazed at the
+scene of beauty that opened out before him.
+
+The rough plantation was mingled with wild growth, both of which, the
+cultivated and the natural, were flourishing luxuriantly.  Wondrous
+creepers tangled themselves in the boughs which sheltered the hut from
+the morning sunshine, and bell-flowers of exquisite beauty hung in the
+pure limpid air; and as his eyes roamed here and there in search of
+danger, a couple of ruby-crested humming birds darted into a patch of
+sunshine, and chased one another round, sparkling, flashing and
+quivering in the light, till one of them darted away and seemed to
+suspend itself in front of one of the most beautiful bells, so as to
+probe the honied depth of the great blossom like a gigantic bee.
+
+The lad snatched himself from this to gaze in a fresh direction, for all
+at once there was a prolonged whistle; but at its repetition he knew
+that it was no human utterance; and when fresh bird-calls came from the
+verdant tangle beyond the plantation, he felt encouraged by the feeling
+that even if there were no friends forcing their way towards the
+wild-looking hut in the forest, no enemy could be near, for the birds
+that played about were too bold.
+
+The next thought which came to the lad's eager, busy brain was of Tom
+May and his intent of the previous night to go in search of him.  "But I
+can't go now," he thought, and, satisfied himself now that there was as
+far as he could make out no immediate danger, he hurried back to the
+side of Roberts, to try and take in his position and promptly decide
+upon his actions.
+
+This was soon done.
+
+There was water at hand; rough vessels in which to fetch it; and after a
+moment's thought as to whether he should carry his companion out into
+the light, a smile crossed his lips as he thought of the old legend
+about carrying the well to the pitcher, and making use of his unsheathed
+cutlass, a few strokes resulted in his hacking away a portion of the
+rough leafy thatching and admitting a broad band of light right across
+his comrade's reclining figure.
+
+A few touches convinced the amateur surgeon that the injury was too
+tightly bound, and after removing the covering he set to work and bathed
+the wound with the soft cool water till the temperature was reduced,
+re-bound it tenderly, and soon after had the satisfaction of noting that
+his patient's irritation and evident pain had grown less, while when he
+raised his head and applied the freshly-drawn nut-full of water to the
+poor lad's lips he drank with avidity, and then sank back with a sigh of
+relief.  The muttering grew less frequent, and he sank into a quiet
+sleep.
+
+It was Murray's turn to sigh now that he had achieved thus much; but it
+was not with relief, for he was dripping with perspiration, the heat was
+dense within the hut, and a sense of faint weariness stole over him of
+so strange a nature that it seemed to him that his senses were passing
+away.
+
+"I am going to be bad now," he thought, feeling that perhaps in spite of
+pluck and effort his time had come.
+
+"What will poor Roberts do?" he felt in a queer, strange way, and
+somehow it never seemed in the midst of the feeble dizzy sensation that
+he was of any consequence himself.
+
+"How hot!" he muttered feebly, and he made an effort to crawl out of the
+hut, and then on and on almost unconsciously until he had dragged
+himself to where a bright ray of light flashed from the glowing surface
+of the clear amber water and played upon the great, green, glossy leaves
+of a banana plant, one from whose greeny-yellow bunch of fruit he had
+plucked the night before.
+
+That all seemed dream-like, but it did not trouble him, for his nature
+had prompted him to thrust forward his lips till they touched the water
+just where the ray shot forth glowing light and life as well, for he
+drank and drank, and as he imbibed the fluid, which looked like fire but
+tasted like water, the feeling of faintness grew less, his senses began
+to return, and he drew back to lie over with a sigh and gaze dreamily at
+the great arum-like leaves of the banana and the huge bunch of green and
+yellow finger-shaped fruit.
+
+"Finger-like--thumb-like," he muttered, "just as if it was so many huge
+hands resting one upon the other."
+
+Murray sighed at his fancy, closed his eyes for a few moments to dream
+about the refreshing water, and soon after opened them again to let them
+gaze up the curve of a tree till it rose higher and higher, perfectly
+straight now, and ended by resting his vision amidst the great fount of
+green leaves which started from the crown and curved outwards.
+
+There was a curious clump of fruit there, flowers too, and small and
+large nuts; huge, semi-triangular and rounded masses of fibre, and he
+looked at the high-up cluster, realising the while that hanging far
+above him, where they would fall in front of the hut, was an abundance
+of good satisfying food in the shape of pulpy nut, milk and cream, as
+well as sweet water that he might drink; so that the occupant of that
+humble hut might partake, but which was out of his reach, for the fruit
+would not fall and he could not climb.
+
+Murray lay thinking, as his senses grew stronger, of how blessed by
+nature the black who lived in that hut must be, with a home that he
+could easily construct, and with such ripe fruits ready to his hand with
+hardly a care in the production; and then somehow the feeling of envy
+seemed to turn to equally profound pity, as it flashed into his mind
+that the poor wretch paid for it at the cost of labour, misery, and
+despair forced upon him by some of the vilest wretches that lived
+beneath the sun.
+
+"Slavery!" muttered the lad, and again slavery mingled with the thoughts
+of the horrible sufferings inflicted aboard the slave-ships--sufferings
+that he and those with him were there to check and sweep away.
+
+As these thoughts flooded the lad's brain, he at the same time grew
+clearer and began to think of Tom May and Titely, of where they were,
+and whether they would come to him and Roberts.  He even pictured to
+himself the former, big, hulking, and strong, coming staggering into
+sight with his wounded comrade upon his back.  Then his thoughts floated
+away to Mr Anderson and his men.  How had they got on? he asked
+himself.  Would the captain soon come with their vessel and by means of
+a few shots sweep the place clear of the slave-hunting miscreants?
+
+The midshipman's brain was fast growing clearer still, and all at once
+he found himself gazing in imagination at the faithful black, shiny of
+face, and clothed in white.  Would he find him and his wounded comrade
+and guide them back to the boats, or only perhaps to where he hoped Mr
+Anderson was holding out at Plantation Cottage?  And as he thought,
+strangely enough it seemed to Murray in his faint, dreamy state, he
+stretched out one hand to separate the great green leaves of the banana
+near at hand so as to open a way for him to look beyond the great plant
+through the plantation and see if the blacks were coming.
+
+Then somehow, half unconsciously, the middy's hand closed upon something
+soft to the touch and smooth--something that he plucked and peeled and
+ate, and then plucked and ate again and again, till he began to grow
+less faint, and refreshed as well as clear of brain, ending by feeling
+strengthened and ready to crawl back into the hut, half wondering at
+what had happened, until he fully realised it all and was able to tell
+himself that he had been thoroughly exhausted and was now refreshed as
+well as rested and ready to take fresh steps to help his less fortunate
+comrade.
+
+"Asleep still, Dick, old chap?" he whispered cheerfully.
+
+But there was no reply, and after bathing the poor fellow's injury again
+and watching him anxiously by the clear light that struck through the
+roof, Murray rose to his feet, feeling more and more refreshed and ready
+to act.  He was encouraged, too, by the growing restfulness that came
+like a soft flood through his senses.
+
+"Well," he said to himself, "there's nothing wrong with me now.  I was
+completely done up.  It's of no use to despair, for it is only cowardly.
+I'm in a bad position, but it might be worse, even as poor old Dick's
+is horribly bad, but as soon as I got to work I found that I could make
+him better.  It was a very simple thing to do, and if I could make him
+better when he was so bad, now he is better I ought to be able to make
+him better still."
+
+But first of all he tried to settle thoroughly within himself what it
+was his prime duty to do.
+
+"Nature says to me, Try and save your own life.  But then that seems to
+be so horribly selfish and unnatural.  I am fairly healthy and strong
+now that I have got over that bit of a fit--bit of a fainting fit, I
+suppose."
+
+Here the lad pulled himself up short to think a little more.
+
+"Fainting fit," he said to himself.  "That sounds like being a girl.  I
+don't know, though: men faint as well as women when they are exhausted
+by pain or by bleeding.  Well, I was exhausted, and now I'm strengthened
+and mustn't let myself get so weak again, and what's more, I mustn't let
+poor Dick grow so weak.  Oh, if old Reston were only here with his
+bottles of stuff!  But I don't know; perhaps I can get on without them,
+for it isn't as if the poor chap was bad of a fever.  Fever there is, of
+course, but it's only the fever that comes from a wound, and wounds heal
+by themselves.  So I'm not going to despair.
+
+"I'm sure of one thing," he continued, after a little more thought, "as
+I'm so much better I don't want any doctoring, and it's my duty to
+attend to poor old Dick, and I'm going to do it.  It's very horrible to
+be in such a hole as this, but I know that the first luff won't rest
+until he has found every one of his party, and the captain won't rest
+till he has found his officer, and--"
+
+Frank Murray's cogitations were at an end, for just as he had come to
+the conclusion that matters were far better than he expected, and that
+all he had to do was to devote himself to his comrade's recovery, which
+was already on the way, he started suddenly, for he was conscious of a
+slight rustling noise somewhere apparently at the back of the hut, a
+sound as of some animal forcing its way through the dense growth which
+shut the building in upon three sides.
+
+Murray's heart began to beat fast as he listened, for the noise was
+repeated, and though there was caution connected with the movement, the
+sound was of such a nature that he was not long in doubt as to its
+cause.
+
+It was, as far as the lad could determine, a man forcing his way through
+the jungle at the back; and then, just as it came close at hand, so
+close that the rough walls of the hut seemed to quiver, the sound ceased
+again, and in the midst of the deep silence which ensued, the lad felt
+convinced that he was being watched by some one who was peeping through
+the wall opposite to where he crouched over his sleeping companion; and
+he waited in agony for some fresh movement, ready to spring up with his
+cutlass gripped in his hand.
+
+His excitement seemed to grow till he could bear it no longer, and he
+rose to his feet, and stepped softly to the side of the door, just as
+there was a louder rustle than ever, and some one bounded out of the
+thicket right to the front of the doorway, stared into the darkness for
+a brief moment, and then turned and ran along the edge of the rough
+plantation, disappearing amongst a clump of maize-stalks.  Murray was
+beginning to breathe freely, in the hope that in the brief glance he had
+not been seen in the darkness within, when his heart sank once more, for
+he recalled the hole he had hacked in the thatch--a hole which must have
+flooded the place with light.
+
+At that moment there was the soft pad of footsteps again, and to his
+horror, in company with the rustle of the tall corn stalks, the figure
+of the black, who now seemed to be herculean in build, dashed into
+sight, armed, as the middy could see, with a heavy machete, and coming
+rapidly straight for the door of the hut.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FORTY THREE.
+
+NOCTURNAL VISITORS.
+
+Desperate, but ready for action in defence of his comrade, Murray
+gripped his cutlass hard, and in those exciting moments found time,
+oddly enough, to congratulate himself upon the fact that he was armed
+with the heavy service weapon in place of the ordinary ornamental dirk
+that formed part of a midshipman's equipment.  As to his chance, slight,
+well-built and youthful, he could not help feeling doubtful, pitted as
+he was about to be against a heavy, work-hardened negro wielding the
+heavy cutting weapon utilised for laying low the canes; but on the other
+hand he felt that skill would count somewhat on his side, for in company
+with the wounded lad he sought to defend he had devoted every
+opportunity that presented itself to small-arms practice, and was no
+mean handler of the service sword.
+
+"I can only do my best," he thought; and in this spirit he stood on
+guard in the darkness, his eyes flashing, and fresh and active, prepared
+for everything that might befall him.
+
+And that for the time being proved to be nought, for in those brief
+moments the black made for the doorway, Murray noting the glistening of
+the great fellow's opal eyes, and standing ready to receive him upon his
+point, when with a sharp swerve to his right, the man sprang at the
+broad-leaved banana plant which had supplied the lads' sustenance, and
+disappeared from his sight, and then there was the sharp hacking sound
+of a couple of blows being delivered at the fruit stem, before the huge
+fellow backed into sight again with a banana bunch thrown over his left
+shoulder.
+
+A minute later the black had plunged in amongst the canes, and Murray,
+whose heart was still beating hard from excitement, was listening to a
+repetition of the sounds he had first heard, as the man worked himself
+round by the back, the imaginary danger passing away and leaving the
+middy wondering how it could have happened that the black had not caught
+sight of him, and coming to the conclusion that the poor fellow was so
+intent upon obtaining the food that he had been driven from by his
+enemies, that he had eyes for nothing else.
+
+"What a coward I must be!" thought Murray, as he calmed down.  "I'm
+precious glad that there was no one by to see what a fine brave-hearted
+fellow I am.  Poor fellow, why, he must be the black who built this
+hovel and planted the fruit.  Well, of course he's a slave, and I only
+hope we may have the opportunity to set him free."
+
+Murray stood thinking for a few moments, and then in obedience to a
+sudden thought he made a dash for the spot where the black had plunged
+in.  But all was silent again, and he felt that it would be impossible
+to follow his trail.
+
+"It's a pity," thought the lad, as he went slowly back to the hut
+doorway.  "Here was a friend, if I had only known--one who would have
+helped me to find the way back to the others--if I could have made him
+understand what I wanted."
+
+Upon reaching the side of Roberts he had the satisfaction of finding him
+sleeping more calmly, and after making up his mind to be on the watch
+for the black's next coming, he crouched down by his wounded companion
+to think again about trying to hunt out Tom May; but he ended by
+wrinkling up his brow and coming to the conclusion that it would be
+cruel to forsake his friend in such distress.
+
+"A hundred things might happen," he mused.  "I should as likely as not
+lose my way and be unable to get back.  Poor Dick--I don't think I care
+much for him, for he always sets himself against me and is as jealous as
+can be; but trouble seems to wipe all that away, and I suppose I am
+pretty fond or I shouldn't have been ready to fight for him.  Yes," he
+mused, "he might recover his senses and find himself alone and so weak
+that he could hardly stir.  Why, it would be enough to drive him nearly
+mad."
+
+Murray employed himself twice over in the course of that day bathing and
+dressing his comrade's wound, and always with good results, for though
+the lad remained insensible, he sank each time into a more restful
+slumber, leaving his nurse and surgeon at liberty to watch and plan as
+to their future.
+
+It was towards evening that he had another scare--one sufficiently real
+to make him feel that they were again in imminent danger, for though he
+could not identify a couple of fresh-comers of whose advent he had
+warning, their fierce aspect, the way in which they were armed, and
+their action, seemed to show for certain that they belonged to one or
+other of the slavers' crews.
+
+Murray heard them approach suddenly, and darting out of the hut, he took
+refuge in the shelter of the cane plantation, from amidst whose thick
+growth he saw them step to the front of the hut, which in no wise
+excited their curiosity; but they stopped short for a few minutes,
+_just_ long enough for one of them to climb one of the cocoanut trees
+and hack off a couple of the great husks, to fall with heavy thuds,
+before the climber slipped to earth again, when both set to work hacking
+off the husk and cutting away one end of the half-hardened shell.
+
+They were moments of intense excitement for Murray, as he crouched a few
+yards away, almost afraid to breathe, fully expecting that one or other
+of the pair might rise from where he had thrown himself down, and
+entering the hut discover its occupant.  But it seemed as if the rough
+little edifice only represented the hut of a slave in the fresh-comers'
+eyes, and having satisfied their thirst with the sweet sub-acid cream,
+they cast away the shells and sat talking together for a few minutes;
+and then the crucial moment seemed to have arrived for the discovery,
+for they suddenly sprang up--so sharply that the lad's hand flew to his
+cutlass, and then he had hard work to suppress a cry of relief, as the
+pair rapidly stalked away.
+
+"It is too risky," muttered the lad.  "I must find some safer
+hiding-place."
+
+"So beautiful and yet so horrible," he thought, as he crouched in
+amongst the abundant growth, the narrow sunlit openings being visited
+from time to time by tiny birds whose scale-shaped feathers were
+dazzling in their hues as precious stones, while they were so fearless
+that he watched them hang suspended in the air or flit with a low hum to
+and fro within a few inches of his face.  At another time he would be
+visited by butterflies that were the very perfection of Nature's
+painting, while wherever the sun's rays struck down hottest the jungle
+was alive with glistening horny-coated beetles whose elytra looked as if
+they had been fashioned out of golden, ruddy and bronze-tinted metal.
+
+Just when the sun was beginning to sink lower and warning him that it
+would not be long before he would have the protection of another night,
+his attention was caught by a fresh rustling noise not far away, and it
+struck him that this might be the sound made by the returning of the
+builder of the hut.
+
+So sure did the lad feel of this that he congratulated himself upon the
+fact that he was well hidden still amongst the foliage around, where he
+could suddenly start out upon the big black if he should enter the
+shelter.
+
+But as the faint rustling continued, he awakened to the recollection of
+the previous night's alarm, for it now dawned upon him that the movement
+was not made by a human being, but by one of the reptiles with which he
+had peopled the thatch.
+
+This was soon plain enough, and whether venomous or not it was enough to
+startle the watcher, as a serpent some seven or eight feet in length
+came into sight, travelling through the undergrowth, with its scales
+ever changing in tint as its folds came more or less into connection
+with the light that penetrated the leaves.
+
+Murray felt the natural disgust for the lithe creature and dread of the
+poison fangs of which it might be the bearer, but at the same time he
+could not help feeling a certain admiration for its wondrous activity,
+the power with which it intertwined itself among the twigs and in loops
+and wreaths and coils, while the light played upon the burnished scales
+in silver greys, chestnuts and ambers, and softly subdued and floating
+over it as if in a haze of light, played bronze green and softened
+peacock blues.
+
+For a time the serpent seemed to be making its way towards him, and
+there were moments when he felt certain that he was its goal, and that
+two brilliant points of light shot from the two hard jewel-like eyes
+were marking him down.
+
+Then all at once there was a sharp movement as if a spring had been let
+loose, and the midshipman felt paralysed for a few moments, before his
+hand glided to the cutlass and he began to draw it slowly from its
+sheath ready to make a cut, for, following upon the sharp spring-like
+movement the serpent had disappeared, the next sound that met his ears
+being that of the reptile trickling, as it were, through the undergrowth
+in his direction.
+
+For a few moments he could not stir, and the recollection of what he had
+read about the fascination displayed by snakes seemed to have a
+paralysing effect upon him, till his reason suggested that it was the
+eye that was said to produce the power described, while now the reptile
+had dropped out of sight amongst the undergrowth.  His dread was
+increased, though, by the fact that the sun was rapidly passing out of
+sight, according to its way in the tropics, and it began to seem to him
+that he would be at the mercy of what might probably be a venomous
+creature approaching slowly amongst the leaves.
+
+All at once there was another quicker and sharper movement, as if
+something passing amongst the undergrowth very slowly and cautiously had
+startled the reptile, which made where it was growing dark three or four
+rapid darts, each more distant, the last being followed by one that
+developed into a glide, which soon died away, the sound being supplanted
+by a steady slow rustle that was gradually approaching; and for a
+certainty the sounds were made by a human being forcing his way through
+the forest.
+
+"Enemy or friend?"  Murray asked himself, and then, freed from the
+horror of the approaching serpent, he roused himself to try and creep
+silently back towards the hut.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FORTY FOUR.
+
+"YOU DAH?"
+
+Murray's movements were cautious in the extreme, and as he crept almost
+inch by inch he grew more confident of his power to do so without being
+heard, for the movements made by whoever it was that was drawing near
+were loud enough to cover his own.
+
+To remain away from his companion during the long night was a thing not
+to be dreamed of, with the possibility of the companionship of reptiles
+such as he had seen; and the opportunity of creeping back unseen as well
+as unheard grew more and more promising as the minutes glided by, and he
+listened now so that he might be in no danger of losing his way.  But at
+the same time there was the risk of this being an enemy.
+
+How he completed his short journey he could hardly tell, for he had to
+battle with nervous excitement as well as with the darkness that now
+began to fall rapidly in the deep shades of the forest, and at the last
+he was attacked by a fresh trouble which was as startling as the first,
+and showed him beyond doubt that some one was making for the hut.  He
+had more than once nearly convinced himself that he who approached was
+the huge black, who had startled him with a false alarm of danger; but
+somehow, when this idea was still hanging in the balance and he felt
+doubtful of the wisdom of making his presence known to one who might
+after all prove an enemy, he grasped suddenly at a fresh development,
+for when at last the movements to which he listened had drawn very near,
+he felt his heart sink with something approaching dread on his fellow
+sufferer's behalf, for certainly now it could not be the huge black he
+had seen, for two people, evidently well accustomed to thread a way
+through the forest, were converging upon his hiding-place, and rapidly
+now.
+
+"If it were only morning!" he said to himself, as, unable to keep down
+his hard breathing, he covered the last few yards which lay between him
+and his brother midshipman, and then, cutlass in hand, turned at bay.
+
+The lad's experience had already been giving him lessons in wood-craft,
+and so it was that in his last movements he had hardly made a sound; but
+he had evidently been heard, for the duplex movement amongst the trees
+ceased at once, and a silence ensued which seemed terrible.  So well was
+it sustained that as the lad crouched there, cutlass in hand, bending
+over his comrade, upon whose breast he had laid one hand, it seemed to
+him that his own breathing and that of Roberts was all that could
+possibly be heard.  In fact, there were moments when the lad felt ready
+to believe that he had been a victim to imagination, and that he had
+been for some time fancying the presence of a snake.  Yes, those were
+the heavy pulsations of his own breast--of that there could be no doubt;
+and those others which sounded like the echoes of his own heart were as
+certainly the result of the beating which kept on heavily in the breast
+of his wounded companion.  It could not be--it was impossible that any
+one else was near.  If there had been pursuers at hand, Murray felt that
+they must have gone by.  And as he leaned forward, staring hard above
+where his comrade lay insensible, and trying to pierce the darkness, he
+at last found himself faintly able to make out a little opening which
+meant feeble light that was almost darkness; and this he now recognised
+as being the opening he had made with the cutlass by removing a portion
+of the leafy roof.
+
+"We are alone," thought Murray, "and this is all half-maddening fancy."
+
+The effort to retain silence had at last become greater than he could
+sustain, and even at the risk of bringing down danger upon their heads,
+Murray felt that he must speak--if only a word or two.  If matters
+should come to the worst he was ready with his cutlass--ready to strike,
+and his blow would send the enemy, if enemy it was, or even enemies,
+scuffling rapidly away through the forest.  At any rate the lad
+determined that he could retain silence no longer, and drawing a long,
+slow, deep breath, he was about to ask who was there in some form or
+another, and fend off at the same time any blow that might be struck at
+them, when the silence was broken from close at hand, and in a low deep
+whisper, with the words--
+
+"Massa--massa!  You dah?"
+
+And now, suffering from the strange whirl of excitement which seemed to
+choke all utterance, Frank Murray felt that it was impossible to reply.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FORTY FIVE.
+
+A FRIEND IN NEED.
+
+"Massa sailor officer, you dah?" came again; and still the midshipman
+could not respond.
+
+"You dah?" came in an angry whisper.  "You no open your mouf, sah?"
+
+"Yes, yes," whispered Murray, recovering himself.  "I could not speak.
+It is you, Caesar, isn't it?"
+
+"Caesar.  Come.  Big black fellow Tullus come along to get plantain; see
+young sailor officer.  Tell Caesar.  Where big sailor?"
+
+"Tom May?  I have lost him."
+
+"Not killed, sah, and other young officer?"
+
+"No; he is here, Caesar.  Where is Mr Anderson?"
+
+"Gone; had big fight with Huggins's men."
+
+"Any one hurt, Caesar?"
+
+"Caesar no don't know.  Nearly get kill.  Where Massa young sailor hand,
+take hold?"
+
+Murray raised his hand, and it was taken directly between those of the
+black speaker; and the midshipman started, for one of these was bandaged
+up as if the poor fellow had been wounded.
+
+"Where other young sailor officer?"
+
+"Hurt, and lying down here asleep."
+
+"Very bad hurt?"
+
+"Yes, my man.  Where is Mr Allen?"
+
+"Caesar don't know yet awhile.  Want to find Massa Allen.  Very much
+great deal of fighting, sah.  Massa Huggins bring many men out of
+schooner ship kill much slabe boy.  Kill very bad, and poor Caesar can't
+find Massa Huggins.  Want kill um and save Massa Allen."
+
+"Who wounded you, Caesar?"
+
+"Massa Huggin, sah.  Poor slabe fellow too much afraid.  Run away.
+Caesar t'ink massa sailor officer killed dead."
+
+"Is your wound very bad?" asked Murray.
+
+"Yes, sah; dreffle bad."
+
+"Let me examine it."
+
+"Examine?"
+
+"Yes; let me see how bad it is and tie it up."
+
+"No time.  Caesar tie corn-leaf all about and stop bleed.  Caesar don't
+mind.  What massa sailor officer call himself?"
+
+"Murray--Frank," was the reply.
+
+"Murray Frank, sah.  Murray Frank, sah, come away dreckerly and bring
+your brudder sailor.  Caesar couldn't find young massa for big long
+time.  Now come?"
+
+"Come where?" asked Murray quickly.
+
+"Caesar don't know.  Want find Massa Anderson lieutenant.  Want find big
+Tom May chap.  Massa know where?"
+
+"No, Caesar.  Can't you show me?"
+
+"No, sah!  Everybody run all away.  Lot people get killed.  Caesar glad
+find Massa young sailor 'gain."
+
+"So am I, my lad.  But now can you find Tom May and Bill Titely?"
+
+"Caesar try, sah.  Come along."
+
+"But I can't leave my wounded friend here."
+
+"No, sah.  Take um 'long."
+
+"That's right; but can you find the way in the darkness?"
+
+"Caesar going try," said the black confidently; but he did not inspire
+the midshipman with the same amount of confidence.  In fact, the little
+he felt was a good deal shaken by a great hand darting as it were out of
+the darkness and seizing him roughly by the shoulder.
+
+"What does that mean?" he cried.
+
+A deep-toned whispering ensued, and it seemed to Murray that the huge
+black who had so much startled him by his appearance before was eagerly
+whispering to his recovered friend.
+
+"Big Tullus," whispered Caesar.  "Say Massa Huggin men come along.
+Murray Frank come along quick."
+
+"Yes, but I tell you I cannot leave my brother midshipman," whispered
+Murray.
+
+"No, sah," said the black.  "Big Tullus take um 'long on back."
+
+"But you must be careful," whispered Murray.  "He is wounded."
+
+"Big Tullus fellow take care," replied the black, and he whispered to
+his invisible companion, with the result that, in spite of the darkness,
+Murray made out that poor Roberts, who moaned slightly, was easily
+lifted up, and the huge black seemed to have no difficulty in throwing
+the slightly-made wounded lad over his shoulder as if he had been a
+child.
+
+"Now massa, come quick," whispered the black.
+
+"But will your black friend keep up with us in the dark?"
+
+"Yes, massa.  Caesar knock um head off if don't.  Him Caesar man.  Come
+and tell young massa um find young sailor.  Now carry other one.  Come
+along quick, 'fore sailor crew find um and catch um.  Now Murray Frank
+hear?"
+
+"Oh yes, I hear plainly enough," replied Murray.  "Now lead on."
+
+It was evidently quite time enough, for from somewhere near at hand the
+voices of some of the overseer's crew of followers could be heard, as if
+making for the middle of the clearing where the big black had set up his
+hut, a spot which was evidently known to Huggins's people, by the way in
+which they had come in search of food.
+
+So close were the men that the midshipman seized the big black by the
+arm and stopped his progress.
+
+"What massa do?" whispered the black.
+
+"Take care!  They will hear you," replied Murray.
+
+"Yes, hear massa if massa talk," whispered the man warningly.  "Massa
+come along."
+
+"But do you know the way to Mr Allen's cottage?"
+
+"Iss--yes, Caesar know the way.  Come along," whispered the man, and
+seizing the lad by the arm, he thrust him before his companion, who the
+next minute was making his way through the woodland, with the enemy so
+close behind that it was plainly evident that they were ignorant of the
+proximity of the fugitives, who pressed on steadily, with the huge black
+bearing his burden as lightly as if he were in no way troubled by the
+weight.
+
+A very real danger, however, now began to show itself, for, becoming
+uneasy at being swayed about by Catullus, Roberts began to mutter
+impatiently, though in an incoherent way, with the result that the great
+black suddenly stopped short and, bending towards Caesar, uttered a few
+words in a tone full of protest.
+
+"What does he say, Caesar?" whispered Murray.
+
+"Say massa young sailor no talk so much.  Bring Massa Huggin men come
+see what's all a bobbery and kill um all."
+
+"I can't stop him, my lad," whispered back Murray.  "He is insensible
+from his wound and does not know what he is saying."
+
+"Caesar tell big slabe boy walk fast and get along a way;" and Murray
+heard a low whispering follow as he was thrust onward, with the canes
+and other growth being brushed aside.  But, in spite of the extra
+pressure brought to bear, it became more and more evident that their
+enemies were keeping up with them and following their movements so
+exactly that it was hard to believe that they were not aware of their
+proximity.
+
+Murray whispered words to this effect, but the black only laughed.
+
+"No, no," he said; "Huggins's men don't know we come along here, or run
+fast and kill Massa Murray Frank, kill Roberts, kill Caesar, and big
+Tullus.  Come along and see if Massa Allen find way back to cottage."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FORTY SIX.
+
+CAESAR'S PROPOSAL.
+
+For the most part of that night all thought of sleep had passed away,
+and a feeling of wonder filled the middy's brain at the ease with which
+the black forced his way through the darkness.
+
+"Black as a bat," thought Murray, "and just like one.  It's wonderful
+how these fellows can see as they do.  It can't be because they are used
+to it, for my eyes would never be of any good, I am sure."
+
+But there it was all the same.
+
+"Come 'long.  Massa Huggins man dat way want to find Caesar;" and the
+black led the way and seemed to put pressure upon his white companion
+just at the right moment, "steering" him, Murray mentally called it, in
+and out among tree and cane so that he never came in contact with any
+obstacle, while the lad's anxiety about his wounded comrade was always
+alleviated when a halt was made by the comforting whispered assurance
+from Caesar after an examination.
+
+"Massa sailor Roberts fas' 'sleep.  No know nothing at all."
+
+There were times, though, when at one of their many halts Murray's heart
+sank very low, for generally when all was silent save for some strange
+cry of night bird, croak of reptile, or weird whirr of insect that
+seemed to be magnified in power by the heated misty air, the black's
+fingers would tighten upon the lad's arm with spasmodic suddenness, in
+company with what seemed to be the piercing humming trumpet of a
+mosquito.  Twice over Murray as he toiled on in the black darkness took
+it for granted that the black had stopped short to avoid being bitten or
+stung, but only to find afterwards that the sound came with perfect
+realism from the black's lips, being his warning to his big companion to
+halt while he reconnoitred as to the position of the enemy.
+
+And now a fresh direction would be taken, or more than once it seemed to
+Murray that they completely retraced their steps; but after a time a
+feeling of dullness akin to despair came over the lad, and he resigned
+himself to his fate, satisfying himself that Roberts was being carefully
+carried, and then plodding on and on, plunging as it seemed to him in a
+state of torpidity or stupid sleep in which he kept on dreaming about
+the ship and the boats and going through various adventures at sea.
+
+Then he would start awake with a strange suddenness, feeling as if his
+conscience had pricked him for his drowsiness and neglect, and he would
+begin to tremble with anxiety, for he felt that he must have spoken
+aloud just at a time when they were near their pursuers, and so have
+betrayed their whereabouts.
+
+Thoroughly wakened then, Murray found that they were motionless with his
+black companions listening, while Caesar's fingers were pressing his arm
+very tightly.
+
+"No speak," he whispered; and the man's breath came hot into his ear.
+"Huggins fellow chap everywhere.  No catchee."
+
+Murray's brain was closing up again, so it seemed to him, back into a
+deep sleep, and he remembered afterwards that during the latter part of
+that night he woke up from time to time when Caesar pinched his arm for
+him to stop, but directly the journey was continued he dropped asleep
+again.
+
+Then it seemed to the middy that he must have been asleep an immensely
+long time, and he started up awake, staring hard at his guide, who had
+laid one hand over his lips while the other was offering him a
+ready-opened cocoanut.
+
+"No speak, massa."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Huggins man over dah.  See sailor officer--see slabe boy--see Caesar--
+shoot, kill."
+
+The man pointed over where Roberts lay half hidden by the undergrowth,
+while beyond him the big black was seated munching away at some
+half-ripe bananas, and ready to meet his eyes with a pleasant smile.
+
+"It's morning, then!" whispered Murray, in surprise.
+
+"Yes: to-morrow morning, sah," said the man, smiling; and it appeared to
+Murray that he had made a very absurd remark, for it must have been
+daylight for many hours, the sun being high.
+
+"Whereabout do you think Mr Allen's cottage is?" he whispered now, as
+his head seemed to clear.
+
+"Over dah," was the confident declaration.  "Huggins man all round about
+come to fight."
+
+"Fight?  Who with?"
+
+"Massa officer sailor men."
+
+"Do you think they have got back to the cottage?"
+
+The black nodded.
+
+"Big very much fight.  Sailor kill big lot Huggins man."
+
+"How do you know that?" said Murray sharply, for it seemed to him now
+that the last dreamy feeling of exhaustion had passed away.
+
+"Caesar find free dead men.  Him tread on two," was his ready reply,
+"him" being the big black.
+
+"But not white men!" said the midshipman, with his voice sinking to a
+whisper that was almost inaudible.
+
+"Huggins man, massa.  Bad fellow.  Caesar berry glad."
+
+"Hah!" sighed Murray, and he crept to where Roberts lay apparently
+sleeping comfortably now.
+
+"Is it far to Mr Allen's cottage?" asked the lad, after a pause.
+
+"Over dah, sah," replied the black, pointing.
+
+"Then why not go on at once?"
+
+The black showed his teeth as his face lit-up in a smile.
+
+"Lots Huggins man all about.  Wait shoot white man.  Wait shoot massa
+sailor officer.  Shoot big slabe boy and Caesar.  'Top here get dark
+again and Massa Murray Frank crawl up close to cottage 'long o' Caesar
+show de way.  Massa Murray Frank put hand to mouf so how, like Caesar
+and say, Ahoy!  No shoot, my boy!  Friend!"
+
+"Yes, I understand," said Murray eagerly.
+
+"Dat's de way," said the black, laughing with satisfaction; and he
+placed his hollowed hand to the side of his mouth and cried very softly
+again: "Ahoy!  No shoot, my boy!  Friend!  British sailor boy shoot more
+than Huggins man.  Shoot drefful bad.  Kill friend in a dark.  Kill
+Murray Frank.  Kill Roberts officer.  Kill big slabe boy, and kill poor
+ole Caesar; and dat drefful bad job, eh, sah?"
+
+"Yes," said Murray, responding to the black's smile most heartily; "that
+would be a dreadfully bad job, and no mistake."
+
+"And no mistake, sah," cried the black, bringing to bear his natural
+imitative faculty apparently with a feeling of intense enjoyment, and
+repeating the expression, "And no mistake, sah.  Ha, ha, ha, ha!  Hallo!
+'Top, 'top!" he added, in an excited whisper.  "Caesar make too much
+noise enough and tell Huggins man where we hide umself.  Massa Murray
+Frank eatum Caesar nut.  Do um good and makum fight like sailor man."
+
+"Yes, I'll eat it soon," replied Murray.  "But you're right, Caesar; we
+must wait till it is dark, for fear that my people should shoot us by
+mistake."
+
+"Yes, sah; dat be bad job and no mistake," whispered the black, bringing
+in the fresh expression again.  "What Massa Allen do widout Caesar?
+Hey?"
+
+"Mr Allen trusts you, then?" said Murray.
+
+"Yes, sah.  Massa Allen berry much trust Caesar.  Massa Allen tell
+Caesar he berry sorry he ebber trust Massa Huggin.  Wish um nebber come
+plantation.  Caesar see big tear in Massa Allen eye, and make Caesar
+berry sorry.  Make um fink a deal.  Massa Huggins kill poor black
+niggah, sah, lots o' times.  Massa Huggins got bad brudder come sometime
+with ship schooner full o' slabes.  Flog um and sell um.  Make um die
+sometime.  Massa Huggins' brudder tell um bad sailor man.  Talk like dis
+way;" and the man as he knelt by Murray's side gave an exact imitation
+of the keen Yankee skipper.  "Say `Chuck um overboard,' sah."  As the
+black uttered the command he acted it, and added grimly: "`Chuck um
+overboard to de shark?'" and added now a horrible bit of pantomime,
+dashing and waving his arms about to represent the terrible fish gliding
+over one another in a wild struggle to seize their prey.
+
+"Don't!  Don't!" whispered Murray, with a look of horror which proved
+the realism of the black's word-painting and gesticulation.
+
+"No, massa," whispered Caesar solemnly.  "Um nebber chuck black niggah
+overboard.  But," he added, with a fierce look that was even ferocious,
+"Caesar like chuck Massa Huggins overboard.  Like see shark fish bite
+all a pieces and eat um.  So--so--so!"
+
+As he uttered the last words with hideous emphasis he brought his
+imitative faculty once more into action by laying bare his fine white
+teeth, throwing his head from side to side, and snapping like a savage
+animal.
+
+"Horrible!" ejaculated Murray.
+
+"Yes, sah; dreffle horrible see shark bite poor half-dead niggah a
+pieces."
+
+"But you have never seen this?"
+
+"Yes, massa--long time ago.  Caesar brought in schooner ship from Caesar
+own country.  Bring lot of poor niggah all shut up down below.  Ship
+quite full, and ebery night some shut um eyes, and to-morrow morning
+some won't open eyes again.  Gone dead.  Sailor chap come along rope,
+haul niggah up on deck--haul on deck, and Massa Huggins brudder say:
+`Chuck um o'erboard,' and chap come and take rope off Caesar and make um
+open um eye like say: `What's de matter?'  Den Massa Huggins' brudder
+say, `What's dat, you lubber?  Dat one not dead!'"
+
+"Did you hear that?" said Murray, with his lips apart as he listened in
+horror to the black's narrative.
+
+"Yes, sah.  Caesar no understand den what um mean, but um say--`What's
+dat, you lubber?  Dat one not dead!'  Nebber forget um--nebber!  Caesar
+shut um eye now and see it all again--those niggah chap chuck overboard
+and shark fish coming up out of water and roll over and over and snap,
+snap, snap--so.  Make Caesar keep eyes open so dat couldn't go to sleep
+again for long time.  Massa Huggins man come take hold of um by arm and
+leg and chuck down below.  Caesar not dead a bit.  Caesar quite 'live
+now.  Go and talk lot o' time to pore black niggah when Massa Huggins'
+brudder bring schooner ship full of niggah.  Caesar talk to um, not like
+um talk to Massa Murray Frank.  Talk to um in own way sometime.
+Sometime poor niggah can't understand, but berry glad find Caesar sorry
+for um.  Make um happy; laugh again."
+
+"Poor creatures!" said Murray.
+
+"Yes, massa.  Poor creature!  Come and talk togedder in de night
+sometime.  Massa Huggins flog um when him find um out, but poor niggah
+don't mind dat.  Like to talk about de ole country where um come from.
+Massa Allen find um out too, but um only laugh and say, `Poor fellow!'
+But Massa Huggin flog um, and some shut eye and nebber open um again.
+Poor Massa Allen good massa, but won't do what Caesar say.  He berry ill
+now, and get frighten of Massa Huggins.  Tell Caesar one day he wish
+Massa Huggins die."
+
+"He told you that!" said Murray, for the black had ceased speaking, and
+his narrative had so great a fascination for the lad that he wanted to
+hear more.
+
+"Yes, massa; um say he wish Massa Huggin die so that poor niggah boy be
+happy again and do um work.  Massa Allen say so free time to Caesar, and
+den Caesar wait till Massa Huggins go out and Caesar go in to Massa
+Allen in de cottage, where um sit down by de table like dat."  And the
+black rested his head sidewise upon his elbow and hand.  "`What you
+want, Caesar, lad?' he say, and um put um white hand on Caesar black
+arm.  `Poor niggah ill and can't work?  Bad time, Caesar, to be sick
+man.'  `Yes, massa,' I say to um.  `Berry bad to be sick man.'  `Who is
+it, my lad?' he say.  `Caesar, massa,' I say to um.  `Caesar berry
+sick.'  `You bad, Caesar!' him say.  `Your massa berry sorry, for you de
+only frien' I got in de worl' now, Caesar.'  `Yes, massa,' I say.
+`Caesar know dat.'  `What de matter, boy?' he say.  `Caesar bad to see
+massa so berry sick.  Caesar 'fraid massa die.'  `Ah, dat's berry good
+of you, Caesar,' he say--`berry good.  Then you no want me to give you
+doctor 'tuff?'  `No, massa,' I said.  `Nigger know what to do when
+niggah ill.  Shut um mouf up tight free day, and niggah quite well
+again.'  `Ah, Caesar,' he say, `dat do me no good, dat not do for your
+massa.'  Then I say to um, `No, massa, but you let Caesar do massa good
+and um quite well again and make all de poor niggah happy over again.'
+`No, no, my boy,' um say; `nebber again.'  `Yes, massa,' I say; `you let
+Caesar try.'  `What wiv?' um say, laughing; and den I say in um whisper
+like: `Fetish, massa.'"
+
+"What!" cried Murray, half indignantly.  "You don't believe in that
+nonsense, Caesar?"
+
+"Not nonsense, massa."
+
+"Well, my good fellow," said Murray, rather coldly, "I'm not going to
+argue with you now, but some other time, I hope.  Now tell me, what did
+Mr Allen say?"
+
+"Um say, `No, my lad, no; I'll hab none of dat.'"
+
+"Of course; but surely he does not believe in it?"
+
+"Yes, massa; um believe for sure.  Massa Allen know what niggah know and
+bring from own country.  But Massa Allen say, `Nebber, nebber, Caesar.
+Your massa done too much bad in dis worl', and he nebber do no more
+now.'"
+
+"Well, that's very good of him, Caesar, but I don't quite understand
+what you mean."
+
+"No, massa?  Dat Huggins bad man do bad things to everybody.  Make Massa
+Allen ill and go die.  Massa Allen say not fit to live."
+
+"And quite right too, Caesar."
+
+"Yes, sah.  Massa Allen quite right, and Caesar come one night and bring
+niggah Obeah and put in bad Massa Huggin rum.  Den Massa Huggin drinkum,
+drinkum, and go drefful bad and nebber flog no more poor niggah.
+Nebber.  Poor niggah dance and sing, and Massa Allen get well."
+
+"But--what--here--I say, Caesar!" cried Murray, staring hard at the
+black--"You don't mean to say that you mean you would poison the
+wretch!"
+
+"Yes, massa," said the black, in the most innocent way.  "Gib um Obeah
+snake poison.  Gib um manchineel in um rum.  Make um curl up and go
+dead."
+
+"Oh, that wouldn't do at all, Caesar," cried Murray earnestly.  "He's a
+horribly bad wretch, of course."
+
+"Yes, massa; ollible bad wretch, and ought to be killed dead; but Massa
+Allen say no, he won't do any more wicked thing."
+
+"And he is quite right, Caesar."
+
+"No, sah," said the black, shaking his head.  "Not do no wicked thing.
+Caesar do it, and it not wicked thing.  All good."
+
+"No, no; it would be murder, Caesar," cried the middy.
+
+"What murder, massa?"
+
+"Eh?  What is murder?  Why, to kill innocent people."
+
+"What innocent people, massa?"
+
+"What are innocent people, my man?  Why, those who have done no harm."
+
+"Massa Huggin not no innocent people, Murray Frank.  Massa Huggin bad
+man; kill poor niggah.  Try kill poor Massa Allen, take um plantation."
+
+"Yes, that's all very bad," said Murray thoughtfully.
+
+"Yes, sah; berry bad.  What British captain do Massa Huggin?"
+
+"Well, I hardly know, Caesar," said Murray thoughtfully.  "I should say
+that if he catches him fighting against the king and setting those
+blackguards of his to murder the poor creatures he has been dealing in--
+throwing them overboard so as to escape--the captain will have him hung
+at the yard-arm."
+
+"Yes, sah," cried the man, with his eyes flashing.  "Dat what Massa
+Allen tell um.  Massa Allen say he desarve be hung at um yard-arm for
+kill an' murder poor black niggah, and Massa Huggin laugh and say Massa
+Allen hang too.  Dat right, sah?"
+
+"No, no; that wouldn't be right, Caesar."
+
+"Bri'sh captain not kill Massa Allen?"
+
+"Certainly not, my man," said Murray earnestly.  "No, sah.  Much a bes'
+way for Caesar gib Massa Huggin Obeah."
+
+"No, no, and that would not do either.  Hallo! what do you mean by
+that?"
+
+The black had suddenly thrown himself down upon his face and dragged the
+midshipman beside him, a movement instantly imitated by the big slave
+who was seated among the bushes beside Roberts, who lay motionless as if
+asleep.
+
+"Massa see?" whispered Caesar.
+
+"See what?" asked Murray excitedly.
+
+The black slowly and cautiously extended his right hand while he placed
+the fingers of his left to his lips.
+
+Murray gazed with wonder in the direction indicated, but for some
+minutes he could make out nothing more than the closely-packed canes
+that commenced before the patch of jungle in which they were concealed.
+Everything seemed to be dim, and in the distance it was as though the
+thick growth was formed into a soft twilight, but as the lad strained
+his eyesight, he fancied that in one part the canes were swaying
+slightly here and there, as if the wind was pressing them on one side.
+Then as he turned his head a little he started and his heart began to
+beat with excitement, for what had been for a time indistinct now grew
+plainer and plainer and shaped itself into what looked to be quite a
+strong body of men, evidently rough sailors, creeping slowly through a
+plantation of sugar-cane and making for some definite place.  One minute
+they would be quite indistinct and faint; the next they would stand out
+quite clearly; and it soon became plain that they were well-armed, for
+from time to time there was a faint gleam that Murray made out to be
+shed from the barrel of some musket.
+
+"Massa Murray Frank see um?" whispered the black.
+
+"Yes, quite plainly," replied the lad.
+
+"Dat Massa Huggin man go creep round plantation."
+
+"What plantation is that?" asked Murray excitedly.
+
+"Massa Allen plantation, sah.  Massa Allen plantation cottage over dah,
+sah."
+
+"And is he back there now?"
+
+"No say dat where Caesar tink de lieutenant massa wait long o' Bri'sh
+sailor.  Fink um wait till Massa Huggin bring all a men from two, free
+schooner.  Wait kill all a Bri'sh sailor, sah."
+
+"And if he doesn't look out, my man, he'll be killed instead."
+
+"Caesar hope so, sah."
+
+"When do you mean to go on and join Mr Anderson, then?" asked the
+midshipman.
+
+"Caesar wait till come dark, sah.  No go yet.  Massa Huggins men watch
+all round and take--kill--Murray Frank if um go now."
+
+"But can't you go and warn our people that they are in danger?"
+
+"Massa Anderson know," said the black coolly.  "Bri'sh sailor officer
+keep eye wide open.  Dah!"
+
+He uttered the last word in a low, excited fashion, for just then there
+was the distant smothered report of a musket, and Murray pressed the
+growth before him a little on one side.
+
+"Was that one of the slavers' crew?" he whispered.
+
+"No, sah.  Dat sailor shoot.  Look now."
+
+The lad pressed forward again, but nothing was visible, for the densely
+packed party of sailors who the minute before had been seen to be in
+motion had quite disappeared, though Murray could grasp the fact that
+they must still be there.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN.
+
+"WAIT TILL DARK."
+
+Long hours of weary waiting and expectation of being discovered, for at
+intervals movements could be detected amongst the tall swaying canes and
+patches of maize that could be made out beyond the wilderness of
+undergrowth that lay between the little party of fugitives and the
+cottage whose presence the black insisted upon as being in the direction
+he pointed out.
+
+But Murray had the satisfaction of noting that his brother midshipman
+was slowly recovering his senses.  Twice over he had opened his eyes to
+gaze wonderingly in the face that looked down at him, and once when
+Murray whispered a few encouraging words he shook his head and seemed to
+sink back into a deep sleep again.
+
+"What's to be done, Caesar?" said Murray softly.
+
+"Do nothing, sah.  Wait till come dark.  Then creep, creep, creep froo
+trees and tell massa officer not to shoot.  Then run fas', get in
+cottage."
+
+Night at last, and with every nerve throbbing from excitement Murray
+started up in readiness, for the black had bent over to whisper to him
+that he was going to try and find a way past the several parties of the
+enemy who were beleaguering the holders of the little cottage, whom it
+was their aim now to rejoin.
+
+"Massa stop now," said the man.  "Wait till Caesar see."
+
+The next minute there was a faint rustling sound, and Murray was alone
+with the big black and his companion, both silent, the former watchful
+and alert, and the latter as motionless as if plunged in the deepest
+sleep.
+
+This silence was to the midshipman the most painful part of the task
+which he had been called upon to bear.  His imagination began to set to
+work at once and surrounded him with perils that were ever on the
+increase.  He knew from what he had seen that a strong body of the enemy
+must be lying between him and his friends, but directly Caesar had
+passed out of hearing it appeared to him that the crews of the slaver's
+schooners had started into motion and were creeping round behind him to
+cut him off, and twice over this was enforced by the great black
+beginning to creep away and leaving him alone with Roberts.
+
+Then when he was beside himself with anxiety as to what he had better
+do, and more and more certain that he was completely left, he started to
+find that the great fellow had returned, to seat himself beside his
+burden, evidently ready to make a fresh start at any moment.
+
+At last, when Murray felt that he could bear no more, there was a faint
+rustle and a whisper to prove that the black had returned, to lay a hand
+upon his shoulder.
+
+"Well," whispered the lad excitedly, "have you found a way to get by
+them?"
+
+"Caesar get by," said the man sadly, "but big slabe, Murray Frank,
+Roberts, not get by."
+
+"Then what do you mean to do?"
+
+"Try," said the man.  "Murray Frank ready?"
+
+"Yes, ready for anything," said the lad, springing up eagerly.
+
+Caesar whispered a few words to his big fellow and as Murray strained
+his eyes he tried to make out the movements of the black when he caught
+hold of the midshipman, swung him round over his shoulder, and followed
+closely behind his leader and Murray, who now began to advance
+cautiously, hand in hand, pausing to listen from time to time, Caesar
+progressing more by thought than touch and evidently conscious that at
+any moment he might stumble upon those who were waiting ready to pounce
+upon him.
+
+There were moments when hope began to illumine the lad's path, for so
+silent did everything remain that it seemed as if the enemy must have
+changed his position; and in this hopeful mood he was about to whisper
+his belief to his companion when the path was brightened by a totally
+different illumination.  For there was utter silence one moment, and the
+next, flash, flash, from musket after musket, and the enemy's position
+was marked out by points of light as he concentrated his fire upon the
+cottage hidden amongst the trees.
+
+This went on for a time without reply, and it now seemed to the
+midshipman that it must be the little party of his friends who had gone
+off.  Then crack, crack, the reply began, and plainly mingled with the
+reports came the strange whistling whirr of bullets about their ears, in
+company with the crackling of cut-down leaves and twigs which now began
+to patter upon the earth.
+
+"Come," whispered the black.
+
+"Come where?" asked Murray excitedly.
+
+"Back again," was the reply.  "Massa no want sailor shoot massa?"
+
+"No," whispered the lad; "but we were to shout to them that we are
+friends."
+
+"Yes, massa," said the man drily, "but sailor man shout so loud um no
+hear massa speak, and massa get shoot dead long o' Caesar and big slabe.
+No talk; other fellow hear um, and sailor man shoot one side, Massa
+Huggin man shoot other side, and no get to cottage at all.  Come back."
+
+The lad submitted without a word, though it seemed to him maddening to
+give up when they were so near that every flash was quite plain, and he
+fully expected to hear himself hailed.
+
+They seemed to him then to have crept exactly into the centre of the
+firing, and every whizzing whistle sounded as if it must be coming
+straight for its billet that would end one of their careers; but the
+moments passed on with the marvel growing more strange that they escaped
+being laid low; and then the excitement came suddenly to an end, when
+Caesar literally snatched the lad to earth and the big slave subsided
+with a low sigh of relief which indicated that he had sunk down too with
+his silent burden, to lie listening to the cross fire which still went
+on above their heads, till all at once a familiar voice shouted--
+
+"Now, my lads, all together, forward!  Let them have it!"
+
+The order thrilled through Murray's breast, and seemed to rouse Roberts,
+helpless as he was, to action.
+
+"Hurrah!" cried the midshipman, as he sprang to his feet, followed by
+his wounded comrade, who staggered for a moment or two, and then fell,
+clutching at Murray, dragging him down upon his less active comrade,
+just as there was a rush of feet, the crackling of wood, and the minute
+later a fierce yell of raging voices, and the sailors who had responded
+to the first lieutenant's call were borne back again by four times their
+number and driven as far as the entrance to the cottage, where they
+stood fast and delivered a little volley, which sent their enemies to
+the right-about, giving them time to barricade themselves again and hold
+the entrance fast.
+
+"Answer to your names there," panted the lieutenant, who was breathless
+with his exertions.  "What's that?" he cried directly after.
+"Prisoners!  Two of them?"
+
+"Four, sir," growled a deep voice.  "Two black fellows, sir, and here's
+two youngsters, sir, as far as I can make out.  One of 'em's wounded,
+sir."
+
+"Well, we don't want prisoners," cried the lieutenant, "but we must take
+them.  See that you bind them fast."
+
+"We don't want binding, sir," gasped Murray.  "We've got away from the
+enemy and reached you at last."
+
+"Mr Murray!  This is grand!" cried the chief officer.  "But have you
+seen anything of poor Roberts?"
+
+"I've got him here, sir, but he's badly wounded."
+
+"And we've no doctor with us."
+
+"I don't think it's dangerous, sir; but have you had any news of May and
+Titely?"
+
+"Tom May is with us, my lad."
+
+"Hurt, sir?"
+
+"Here, answer for yourself, my lad," cried the lieutenant.
+
+"Hurt, sir?  Yes, sir; pretty tidy, sir," growled the big sailor.  "One
+of them slavers fetched me a crack on the head as knocked all the sense
+out on it; but I shall get a chance at 'em again one o' these times.
+But is it really you, Mr Murray, here and all right, sir?"
+
+"It's your turn to answer, Mr Murray," replied the chief officer.
+
+"Yes, sir; and yes, Tom May; I've got back safely.  Where's Titely?"
+
+"In the plantation house, sir--in hospital--sick bay, sir; doing pretty
+tidy.  But they're coming on again, I think, sir, and we've them two
+blacks with us, sir.  Where shall we put them?"
+
+"They're not prisoners, sir," cried Murray.  "They're friends, and have
+helped us to escape."
+
+"Do you think we can trust them?" asked the lieutenant.
+
+"Trust them, sir?  Yes, and they'll fight for us to the end."
+
+"You answer for them, my lad?"
+
+"Yes, sir," cried Murray.  "They're staunch enough."
+
+"Here they come, sir!" cried Tom May.
+
+For with a fierce yelling mingled with an imitation of the hearty
+cheering of a body of seamen, a strong party dashed up to the hastily
+barricaded entrance, and sent a volley crashing through the panels of
+the door and the window.
+
+"You were ready for that, my lads?" cried the lieutenant.  "No one
+hurt?"
+
+"Nay, sir; we're used to that bit o' business," growled the big sailor.
+
+"Then give it them back, my lads."
+
+The words had hardly passed the officer's lips before a dozen muskets
+bellowed out their reply, lighting up so many roughly-made portholes,
+and as the volley was responded to by a fiercer yelling than before,
+mingled with the hurried footsteps of the repulsed attacking party,
+Murray turned in the darkness to his leader.
+
+"I can't understand it, sir," he said.  "I thought Caesar, the black,
+was retreating with us to the cottage by the lagoon."
+
+"No, no, my lad; this is the plantation house where we came first.  I
+only wish we could have reached the cottage by the water-side.  We
+should have had help from the captain before now if we could have got
+there."
+
+"Then we are right in the middle of the cane fields, sir?"
+
+"Yes, Murray, and very glad I was to come upon it, for it has been
+strong enough to hold.  Here: your black fellow who guided the
+expedition--where is he?"
+
+"Here somewhere, sir."
+
+"Ask him then if he can lead us by some path to the water-side."
+
+"Do you hear this, Caesar?" asked Murray.  "Is there any path down to
+the water-side without using a boat along the river?"
+
+"Yes, sah, but Massa Huggin men all dah, and um think they come 'long
+again to burn Massa Allen house up.  Murray Frank look!  All de window
+burn fire."
+
+"Yes, they're trying another way of attack," said the chief
+officer--"one that I have been wondering that they did not try before.
+Up-stairs with you, my lad.  You go too, Mr Murray.  You must pick off
+those who come up with their firebrands.  You'll be able to see the
+scoundrels now.  This is better than that horrible darkness.  Ah, the
+business is warming up.  Give them a cheer, my lads, as soon as you are
+up at the windows.  The captain will hear our response, and it will let
+him know where we are."
+
+"But is that the _Seafowl_, sir?" cried Murray excitedly.
+
+"Without doubt, my lad; but she sounds a long way off."
+
+For the steady fire of big guns had begun, but as the chief officer had
+said, sounding some distance away.
+
+"Dat Massa Huggin big schooner, sah," said Caesar sharply; and he had
+hardly spoken when the heavy but sharp brassy sound of a big gun came
+from quite another direction.  "And dat Massa Huggin oder schooner, sah.
+Dat um Long Tom."
+
+"Confound the scoundrel!" cried the lieutenant excitedly.  "Up with you,
+Mr Murray.  Here they come to the attack again.  Take May with you, or
+we shall be burnt out before help can come.  Well, what's that then?" he
+shouted excitedly, as Murray rushed up the stairs towards the rooms he
+had helped before to put in a state of defence.  "Surely that is one of
+our brig's carronades.  It was time she began to speak."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT.
+
+"LET 'EM HAVE IT."
+
+"That's your sort, my lads!  Let 'em have it!" came in the boatswain's
+gruff voice, as Murray reached the wide corridor-like landing of the
+planter's house; and directly after one of the sailors shouted--
+
+"I'm after you, Tommy, old man.  Show the ugly foreign varmint what a
+British bulldog is."
+
+The words came from where a struggle was going on in one of the chambers
+which the midshipman had helped to barricade before he left upon his
+unfortunate mission to fetch help; and as the lad now crossed the
+corridor and ran into the room, followed by Caesar, it was to see that
+several of the enemy had gained a footing by rearing bamboos against the
+windows, and evidently in their first charge had beaten the English
+defenders back.
+
+Murray rushed in just at the recoil, when Tom May had been roused to
+action and with a couple of companions was obeying the admonition of his
+messmate to show the varmint what British bulldogs might be.
+
+Murray paused just inside the door of the lit-up room, excited and yet
+amused by the man's action, for he saw the big sailor in the act of
+rushing at a couple of the enemy, sticking the cutlass he bore between
+his teeth, as trusting to his great strength and weight he charged with
+doubled fists at the first, and in the contact drove him backwards with
+a heavy thud against the man who followed, with the result that both
+went down upon the floor and rolled over beneath the open window.  Then
+as if in one movement the great fellow ducked down, avoiding a blow
+struck at him with a knife, seized the uppermost of the two enemies by
+the waistbelt, flung him up to the full extent of his reach, and then
+turning himself as it were into a human catapult, he hurled the fellow
+at another of his companions and caught him just as he was climbing over
+the window-sill.
+
+The next instant the window-opening was clear, and the sound of a heavy
+thud came up from below, along with savage oaths and yells, while Tom
+May made at once for the man who had first attacked, and who was now
+struggling to his feet looking as if he had had his neck twisted.
+
+Tom closed with the savage half-breed, Malayan looking sailor, and, to
+carry out his messmate's simile, seemed to regularly worry him as he
+bore him backward.
+
+But there were others of the enemy watching the encounter--one who had
+previously reached the chamber, and another who had suddenly drawn
+himself up and sprung over the sill.
+
+This fellow drew back for a few moments to watch the struggle and await
+his opportunity, before, heavy machete in hand, he sprang forward, to
+make a savage cut that would have gone hard with Tom May, but Murray saw
+the impending stroke, parried it with the cutlass he held, and then
+struck upward with the hilt, catching the assailant full in the nose
+with the heavy steel guard, staggering him for a moment, and then
+thrusting home, the man went down, just in time for May's antagonist to
+trip over backward, the two fellows yelling as they rolled over and
+over.
+
+"Come on, messmates," growled Tom May; and there was a short
+continuation of the struggle before one after the other the enemy were
+driven headlong from the window and the room was clear.
+
+"Thankye, Mr Murray, sir," said the big sailor, taking the cutlass from
+between his teeth.  "You did that fine; didn't he, lads?"
+
+"Splendid!" said the boatswain; "but what's the good of a cutlass, mate,
+if you don't use it?"
+
+"Hah!  That's just what I was thinking of," said the big sailor.  "I
+just stuck it atween my tusks so as to tackle that ugly warmint, as I
+thought it would be easier to chuck overboard, and then you see I was
+too busy to ketch hold again.  But it do seem comic, Mr Murray, sir,
+don't it?  But it have kep' it clean."
+
+"Yes, Tom; and you cleared the deck magnificently."
+
+"Did I, sir?  Well, I'm glad I do'd some good; and fingers was made
+afore forks, warn't they, sir?  And pretty handy too."
+
+"Yes, I suppose so, Tom; but look here, my lads," cried Murray sharply.
+"Lay hold of that big old bedstead and draw it across the window.  It
+will block it up.  Then clap that big wardrobe on the top."
+
+"Ay, ay, sir!" cried the men, as they seized the heavy framework and ran
+it across the opening, fastening it directly after in its place by
+laying the heavy wardrobe across.
+
+"That's done it tidy," cried the big sailor; "and that's the beauty of
+having your orficer with yer to show yer what to do."
+
+"None of your banter, Tom," cried the midshipman sternly.
+
+"Beg pardon, sir," said the man, in protest.  "'Twarn't done for that.
+I meant it honest, sir.  I shouldn't never have thought on it."
+
+"All right," said Murray, smiling in the broad frank face.  "Why, Tom,
+it's a treat to be with you again."
+
+"Is it, sir?" cried the man.
+
+"That it is, Tom."
+
+"But you don't mean it, sir.  I say, ain't that what you called banter?"
+
+"Banter?  No, Tom; I'm only too glad to get back to you.  But how are
+you, Tom?  Haven't you got hurt over these tussles?"
+
+"Hurt, sir?" said the man, beginning to feel himself over.  "I dunno,
+sir.  Bit sore like just there, and my shoulder's just a shade stiff."
+
+"Yes, and there's some paint off your nose, Tommy," said the boatswain,
+chuckling.
+
+"Is there?" said the man, touching his rather prominent feature
+tenderly.  "Humph!  It do feel a bit like it.  Never mind; I'll report
+mysen to the doctor when I get aboard again, and he'll put on a patch of
+his solid black--that as he keeps ready to lay on all at once.  But I
+say, Mr Murray, sir," he added, closing up to his young officer, "you
+did me good in saying what you did.  I felt real bad without you, sir,
+and as if I'd not been doing my dooty like to let you get away from me
+as I did."
+
+"Nonsense, Tom!  Who could help it?  But it was awkward to be separated
+like that.  I began to be afraid that we should never get together
+again."
+
+"Well, sir, that's just what I got a touch of, sir, but I pulled myself
+up short, sir, and I says to myself, `Mr Murray's too good an orficer,'
+I says, `not to find his way out of any hole as these slave-hunting
+varmint would dig for him.'"
+
+"There you go again, Tom," cried Murray angrily.  "You know how I hate
+flam."
+
+"I'm blest, sir!" cried the man, in an ill-used tone.  "Oh, you are hard
+upon me, sir."
+
+"Then you shouldn't stoop to flattery."
+
+"Flattery, sir?  Well, if that warn't honest I'm a Dutchman.  I only
+wish I'd got a witness, sir, as heared me say it, sir; but I only says
+it to myself, and you don't believe him."
+
+"Yes, I do, Tom," cried Murray.
+
+"Hullo, sir!  They're at it again somewhere else."
+
+"Pst!" whispered Murray, holding up his hand and stepping on tiptoe
+towards a door at one end of the room, partly hidden by a thick curtain.
+
+The next moment he was signing to the men to follow him.
+
+They were just in time, for a ladder had been raised against a narrow
+slit of a window of what was fitted up as a bathroom, and as the lad
+dashed in, it was to find that one of the slaver's men was in the act of
+leaping down into the room, striking at the middy in his bound, and with
+such force that he drove the lad headlong backwards, half stunning him
+in his fall.
+
+"Here, what is it?" cried Murray, after a few minutes, in a confused
+manner.  "Who did that?"
+
+"Why, it was this here chap, sir," said Tom May.  "Here, ketch hold of
+his heels, man, and let's send him back to his mates; we don't want him
+here."
+
+"Who wounded him--who cut him?" cried Murray excitedly.
+
+"I'm not quite sure, sir," said Tom May drily, "but I think as it was
+me, sir.  You see, he let himself go at you, sir, and I just give him a
+tap."
+
+"You've killed him, Tom," said the lad, in rather an awe-stricken tone.
+
+"Nay, sir.  Tap like that wouldn't take it out of him.  I might ha' hit
+a bit softer, but I was 'bliged to be sharp, or he'd ha' finished you
+off, sir, and of course we didn't want that.  There, let go your end,
+messmate," continued the man, and still half dazed, Murray stood staring
+as he saw one of their fierce-looking, half European, half Lascar-like
+enemies passed out of the narrow window, bleeding profusely, and
+disappear, his passing through the opening being followed by the dull
+sound of a heavy fall.
+
+"You've killed him, Tom!" cried Murray again, with his face
+drawn-looking and strange.
+
+"Nay, sir," grumbled the sailor, "but 'twouldn't ha' been my fault, sir,
+if I had.  Some un had to have it, and it was my dooty to see as it
+warn't my orficer, sir.  I do know that."
+
+Murray was silent.
+
+"Why, I say, sir, you'd ha' tapped one on 'em pretty hard on the head if
+you'd ha' seen him coming at me; now wouldn't you?"
+
+"Yes, I should," said Murray, with something like a sigh.  "Look here,
+Tom," he added hastily, "we have too many holes to keep closed.  I want
+some of the pieces of furniture crammed into these places.  It ought to
+have been done before."
+
+"It was done, sir," grumbled the man.  "That's what the first luff said,
+sir, and we've been doing nothing else; but as fast as we stopped up the
+beggars kep' on shoving the stuff out again with bamboos."
+
+The high narrow window was, however, once more pretty securely blocked,
+and for many hours to come the defenders of the place had their work cut
+out to repel the attacks that were made, the two blacks proving
+invaluable in keeping up a supply of water to drench the woodwork that
+the enemy attacked with fire, so that pretty well a day had glided by
+without much change having taken place.
+
+It was evident that the slaving chief had a strong force at his disposal
+in carrying on a desultory kind of siege of the plantation house, while
+at the same time it seemed to the besieged that a sort of running fight
+was being carried on with the _Seafowl_, whose guns were heard pretty
+constantly, though during the afternoon that followed Murray's arrival
+at the plantation it seemed that the brig must have followed the slaving
+craft to the opposite side of the island, where firing was still going
+on.
+
+During a lull in the attack upon the planter's house, Lieutenant
+Anderson busily inspected his defences, and, like a prudent officer, saw
+to his supplies and examined as to whether he could not take further
+measures for their protection and the setting at defiance of the enemy
+for some time to come.
+
+"He ought to have driven us out or taken us prisoners hours ago, Mr
+Murray," he said, "for he has five times our force."
+
+"Yes, sir; he seems to have," replied Murray.
+
+"And yet we have managed to keep him at bay.  He has the advantage of
+being able to set scores of blacks to work fetching fuel to try and burn
+us out, bringing up provisions, doing everything but fight--they are of
+no use for that--while we have only two of the dark-skinned fellows; but
+I must say those two have proved to be invaluable."
+
+"Yes, sir.  That man, Caesar--we have him to thank for showing us how to
+utilise the water-tanks."
+
+"Yes, and the underground supplies," said the lieutenant.
+
+"And the whereabouts of the warehouses; otherwise we should have been
+starved out."
+
+"Yes, Mr Murray; we have been pretty fortunate, and I think we should
+have been able to hold out if it were not for one thing."
+
+"Should have been, sir?"
+
+"Yes, of course, my lad.  You see, I should have contented myself with
+having remained standing upon the defensive until the captain came to
+our help, though I should strongly have advocated a sally and the
+cutting of the way to the sloop so as to receive the help of the doctor
+for poor Mr Roberts--Eh?  What were you going to observe?"
+
+"That I venture to think that it would be the wisest plan in any case,
+sir."
+
+"No, not in any case, Mr Murray.  You see, our position is a very
+serious one."
+
+"I don't think the men think so, sir."
+
+"Eh?  Do you think that they take a rosy view of it?"
+
+"I'm sure they do, sir."
+
+"Humph!  Well, I mustn't damp them till the last extremity."
+
+"But surely, sir--" began Murray.
+
+"I surely see that you do not know what I know, Mr Murray."
+
+"I suppose not, sir," said the lad.
+
+"But I do not see why you as a youth growing into manhood, and who are
+sharing with me the responsibilities of this position, should not know
+everything."
+
+"I think I do know everything, sir," said Murray, smiling, "and see
+fully how precarious our position is."
+
+"Indeed, Mr Murray?" said the lieutenant sadly.
+
+"Yes, sir; I think I see all, and it makes me feel very proud to know
+how brave and contented the men are, poor fellows!  If I were in
+command, sir, I should be delighted to see the confidence the men have
+in their leader."
+
+"Hah!  Yes, my dear boy," said the lieutenant, smiling more sadly than
+before.  "Well, I think that perhaps I shall tell you all."
+
+"All, sir?  Is there a graver peril than I know of?"
+
+"Yes, my lad, and I think that you ought to know--that is, if you would
+rather share my knowledge than remain in ignorance."
+
+"I would rather share the knowledge, sir, and try to help you," said the
+lad firmly.
+
+"Good!  Then you shall; Mr Murray, we have a strong little fort here,
+and provisions enough to last us a month."
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"But we shall be driven to cut our way somehow to the sloop."
+
+"Why not attack one of the schooners, sir--board her--for there are
+evidently more than one."
+
+"Because we want the sinews of war, Mr Murray."
+
+"Money, sir?" cried Murray.
+
+"Tchah!  Nonsense!  Powder, my boy--powder."
+
+"Why, sir, I thought--" began Murray.
+
+"So did I, my lad; but unfortunately those blacks in supplying us with
+water to saturate that last fire--"
+
+"Threw it over the powder-supply, sir!" cried Murray, in horror.
+
+"Yes, my lad; that is our position, and we have only a few charges
+left."
+
+"Hah!  Well, sir," said Murray drawing a deep breath, "then we must use
+the edges of our cutlasses."
+
+"Good!" said the lieutenant, clapping the lad upon the shoulder.  "I am
+glad I told you, Mr Murray, for it has taught me that I have a brave
+lad upon whom I can depend.  Yes, my lad, we have edges to our
+cutlasses, and when it comes to the last we must use them too."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FORTY NINE.
+
+"CAESAR DON'T KNOW."
+
+It was a little later on that, during a quiet interval and while in
+obedience to his officer Murray had been seeing to the men and taking
+care they were well refreshed ready for the next attack that might be
+delivered, the lieutenant joined the lad.
+
+"Are the men satisfied?" he said quietly.
+
+"Yes, sir; any one would think that we were out upon an excursion."
+
+"Poor lads!" said the lieutenant.  "I'm afraid it is going to be a sad
+excursion for them."
+
+"Oh, I don't know, sir," said Murray cheerily.  "Who knows, sir, but
+what the captain may come and cut us out at any time, and call upon us
+to help him rout out the horrible wasps' nest?"
+
+"That's a good, bright, boyish way of looking upon things, my boy," said
+the lieutenant, "and we shall see.  There, come and let's look at our
+wounded ones.  Have you had a chat with your messmate lately?"
+
+"I've been to see him three times to-day, but he is very weak yet.  You
+have been with him too, sir.  He told me.  I wish you would speak to
+Titely, sir.  He wants to get up and fight, and he is not fit."
+
+"I've already forbidden it, Mr Murray," said the lieutenant; "and the
+poor fellow looked quite cut up, so I promised him a double allowance as
+soon as he got well enough."
+
+The lieutenant was silent for a few minutes, and stood as if listening
+so intently that Murray grew uneasy.
+
+"Do you hear anything, sir?" he asked.
+
+"No, my lad; I wish I could.  I am getting anxious."
+
+"The men are keeping a very sharp lookout, sir."
+
+"Oh yes; I am not afraid of that, my lad.  My anxiety is for the
+_Seafowl_.  It is so long since I have heard her guns, and then they
+were apparently a long distance away."
+
+"Yes, sir," said Murray cheerfully; "but then it is a long while since
+we heard the slaver's guns, and that seems to mean that the captain has
+silenced and perhaps--"
+
+"Perhaps what, Mr Murray?"
+
+"I was going to say sunk the schooner, sir; but I hope he has not done
+that, for the men's sake."
+
+"What, on account of prize money?" replied the lieutenant.  "Oh, by the
+way, Mr Murray, I suppose you still believe in that black fellow,
+Caesar?"
+
+"Oh yes, sir, thoroughly.  I'm sure he saved my life."
+
+"Humph!  Well, I want to have faith in him, but it is hard work to trust
+in people sometimes.  Then I get thinking a great deal about that Mr
+Allen.  I suppose he is sincere."
+
+"Oh, I feel sure he is, sir.  The thorough reverence the black Caesar
+has for him is sufficient to prove that his master is good to his
+people."
+
+"Well, after the ill these slave-owners have done the poor creatures
+they owe them something in the way of recompense.  Humph!  How strange!
+We begin talking of the black, and here he is.  He wants to speak to
+you, seemingly.  Call him up."
+
+Caesar had come peering in at one of the doors, and as soon as Murray
+signed to him he hurried eagerly into the room, when the lieutenant
+looked at him searchingly and said--
+
+"What about your master, my man?  Where do you think he is now?"
+
+Caesar started violently, and his lips quivered as he said huskily--
+
+"Caesar don't know, sah.  Berry much frighten."
+
+"What, about the slavers and their schooners?"
+
+"No, massa.  Caesar 'fraid Massa Huggin take um and kill um."
+
+"What for?  Why should he kill one who is his master?"
+
+"Bad man, massa.  'Fraid Massa Allen talk to Bri'sh cap'en and set all a
+black free.  'Fraid Massa Huggin kill um."
+
+"Not so bad as that, I hope," said the lieutenant.
+
+"Caesar berry much 'fraid Massa Allen no let Caesar kill Massa Huggin."
+
+"I should think not!" said the lieutenant; and Caesar looked at him
+curiously.
+
+"Massa Huggin bad man, sah.  Caesar kill, sua.  Him take away and kill
+um.  Caesar t'ink so first time.  T'ink so now."
+
+"Where would he take them?"
+
+"Caesar know, sah.  Show Bri'sh officer where.  Oder side island where
+slabe barracks and slabe ship come."
+
+"You could take us there, my man?" said the lieutenant.
+
+"Yes, massa.  Caesar show way when Bri'sh cap'en come wif plenty men.
+Not 'nough now.  All get kill.  Show Bri'sh officer all um slabes.  All
+Massa Huggin strong men, berry strong men."
+
+"Good.  You shall, my man," said the lieutenant; "and as you say this
+Huggins's men are so strong we will wait for reinforcements, so as to
+make sure of taking them."
+
+"Massa try," said the black.  "Try sabe Massa Allen.  Try quick."
+
+"But what are you fidgeting about?" said Murray sharply.
+
+"Caesar t'ink Massa Huggin man come and fight soon."
+
+"What makes you think that?" asked Murray.
+
+"Caesar don't know, massa.  Caesar feel Massa Huggin man come soon.
+Look, massa.  Big Tom May come 'long."
+
+The black turned excitedly to point in the direction of the head of the
+open staircase, where the big sailor had suddenly appeared.
+
+"Rocks ahead, sir," he said, in a low gruff whisper.
+
+"Something wrong to report, my lad?"
+
+"Ay, ay, sir.  They arn't come out yet, but three lookouts report seeing
+the enemy just inside the edge of the plantation, sir."
+
+"Off with you then, Mr Murray," cried the lieutenant, "and take your
+old station.  Use your ammunition carefully," he added, with a meaning
+intonation and a peculiar look which made the lad nod his head quickly.
+"Keep the sharpest lookout for fire.  They must not get hold of us
+there."
+
+Murray hurried off with Tom May, followed by the black, and before many
+minutes had elapsed the expected attack had developed so rapidly, and
+was delivered with such energy, that but for the brave resistance, the
+enemy must have carried all before them.  As it was the little party of
+defenders met them with so fierce a fire that the savage-looking mongrel
+crew were sent staggering back, followed by the triumphant cheers of the
+_Seafowls_, who were still cheering when Mr Anderson made a gesture and
+called for silence.
+
+"Up on to the head of the staircase, my lads," he cried.  "We must make
+our stand there."
+
+"Beg pardon, sir," growled Tom May, with the look of an angry lion, "but
+will you have some cartridges sarved out, for me and my messmates have
+fired our last."
+
+"Yes, my lads," said the lieutenant, "that is a bitter fact.  We have
+fired our last shots, and we must fall back now upon our cutlasses."
+
+"Ay, ay, sir," said the big fellow coolly.  "D'yer hear, my lads?
+Cutlashes it is."
+
+And at that crucial moment, as Murray ran his eyes along the faces of
+the men, there was no sign of dismay--just the cheery, contented look of
+Seaman Jack Tar ready for the worst, and the deep threatening tones of
+the beaten-back enemy were pretty well deadened by a hearty cheer.
+
+But an hour later, the enemy were back in stronger force, to be driven
+off once more, but at a terrible expenditure of force, for as Murray and
+Tom May came back from the sheltered room where they had laid their
+gallant leader, badly wounded, by the side of Roberts, it was to find
+the members of their sadly diminished force sitting wearily together
+discussing another loss which Harry Lang unwillingly communicated to the
+young officer.
+
+"But have you looked round well?  Perhaps he's lying somewhere among the
+trees."
+
+"Oh yes, sir, we've looked, and he arn't there.  We've been talking it
+over, sir, and we all think the same: he's had enough of it, sir, and
+gone."
+
+"Who has?" said Tom May gruffly.
+
+"That there nigger, Caesar, Tom."
+
+"Dunnot believe it," said Tom May fiercely, for he was very sore.
+
+"Well, messmate," said Harry Lang, "he arn't here."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FIFTY.
+
+CAESAR FINDS THE KEY.
+
+It was at the end of a desperate struggle, during which the brave little
+party of sailors had again and again driven their assailants back and
+repaired the defences of the two windows they held by dragging fresh
+pieces of furniture to their breastwork from other rooms, and they had
+now thrown themselves down, panting and exhausted, so as to recover what
+strength they could before another attack was made.
+
+Nothing could have been better done, but as Tom May said, they wanted
+time.
+
+"'Tain't wittles and drink, Mr Murray, sir," he said.  "There's been
+plenty o' that, sir.  I think we've all had too much.  What we want is,
+as I says afore, time, sir, for it all to turn into strength."
+
+"Yes, Tom," said the middy bitterly; "we are all completely exhausted--
+that is to say, you and all our brave fellows are."
+
+"Well, arn't you too, sir?  Seems to me as you're much more zausted than
+we lads is."
+
+"Oh, don't talk about me, Tom.  I'm as weak as a child now."
+
+"Nat'rally, sir.  Your muscles is done up, and what you ought to do now
+is to see if you can't hit on some dodge."
+
+"Tom," cried Murray despairingly, "I've tried to hit on some plan till
+my brains refuse to act."
+
+"Yes, sir; nat'rally, sir; but can't yer hit on something in the
+blowing-up-of-the-beggars line?"
+
+"Tom!" cried the lad passionately.  "How can I scheme an explosion and
+blow the wretches up without powder?"
+
+"Zackly so, sir; that's what I've been thinking.  You can't, can yer?"
+
+"No, Tom."
+
+"Couldn't make a big pot or kettle so hot that when they come along next
+time it would bust, could you, sir?"
+
+"No, Tom, I certainly could not," said the middy decisively.
+
+"Course not, sir," growled the man, frowning.
+
+"We're beaten, Tom; we're absolutely beaten," said Murray bitterly; "and
+the next time the wretches come on it will be the last."
+
+"Oh, I dunno, sir.  Never say die!  Don't you be downhearted, sir.
+There's a deal o' fight in us yet, as you'll see nex' time the beggars
+makes a roosh."
+
+"No, Tom; we're getting weaker and weaker."
+
+"Yah!  I wonder at you, sir," said the sailor, moistening his hand,
+taking a good grip of his cutlass, and then laying it down again.
+"We're getting a bit longer rest this time, and jest as like as not,
+sir, they'll begin to tire soon."
+
+"No, Tom; they fight with a desperate energy which is too much for us."
+
+"Well, they do go it, sir, I must say.  You see, it makes a deal o'
+differ when a man's got a noose round his neck.  They knows that if they
+don't get the best of us they'll be strung up to the yard-arm, and it
+sets 'em thinking that they may as well fight it out as that.  But
+there, we're not licked yet, sir, though I must say as it was a nasty
+knock for us when the first luff went down, knocked silly as he was by
+that swivel-eyed Molatter chap--'bout as ugly a ruffian as ever I did
+see.  Then, too, it was a bit o' hard luck for us when that darkie chap
+got rooshed off in the muddle.  He would ha' been useful to fetch powder
+and help load."
+
+"When there was no powder, Tom?" said the lad bitterly.
+
+"Yes, sir; I meant if there had been any, o' course.  Poor chap, he
+couldn't help being a black un, could he, sir?  I've thought over and
+over again that if he could ha' grown white and talked like a Christian,
+sir, he'd ha' made quite a man."
+
+"Lie still, Tom," cried Murray, laying a hand upon the big sailor's arm.
+
+"Thought they was coming on agen, sir?"
+
+"No, no!  I'll rouse you up the moment I hear them advancing.  Rest all
+you can."
+
+"Thankye, sir," said the man drowsily.  "But you won't go to sleep, sir?
+You must be dead tired yourself, sir, and it's so dark it may tempt
+yer, sir."
+
+"You may trust me, Tom."
+
+"Course I may, sir.  But I think if I was you I'd give the first luff
+another drink o' water, sir."
+
+"I did a short time ago, Tom."
+
+"And I been thinking, sir, that if you could tie three or four sheets
+together and slide down 'em you might get hold o' that ladder they put
+up again' the window to swarm up."
+
+"I did, Tom, when you told me the last time."
+
+"Course you did, sir, and I forgot," said the man drowsily.  "But what's
+that there?"
+
+"What?" asked Murray, as he sat listening in the darkness, with his
+exhausted comrades lying about beside the barricaded window.
+
+"That there," whispered the man, pointing through the gloom over where a
+dark line was formed by a piece of furniture.
+
+Murray made a snatch at the sailor's cutlass, took a firm grip of the
+hilt, and then creeping cautiously over two of the recumbent sailors,
+made for the opening, now quite satisfied that May's eyes even now had
+been sharper than his own, and that one of the enemy was stealing up by
+means of some bamboo pole or ladder, to guide his companions into the
+bravely defended room.
+
+Murray rose slowly, threw back the heavy sharp blade till the hilt
+rested against his left ear, and gathering into the effort all his force
+he was about to deliver his cut upon the unguarded enemy's head, when
+there was a quick whisper:
+
+"Massa Murray no hit.  Take hold 'fore Caesar tumble down."
+
+The middy loosened his hold of the cutlass just in time, and catching
+hold of the black's hand with both his own, dragged him over the
+barricade right into the room.
+
+"Hullo, darkie," whispered Tom May; "it is you, is it?"
+
+"Yes, Massa Big Tom," replied the black feebly, and as if speaking in
+weakness and in pain.
+
+"Thought you'd come back to your friends again.  Didn't bring in any
+more powder, did you?"
+
+"No, Massa Tom," replied the poor fellow faintly.  "Caesar nearly get
+kill.  T'ink nebber see poor Massa Allen again.  Couldn't find um."
+
+"Did you, blackie?  Well, we all began to think something of that kind."
+
+"Massa Murray Frank and all Bri'sh sailor come 'long o' Caesar.  T'ink
+take um where Massa Allen must be."
+
+"No, my man," said the middy sadly.  "I can't leave my friends here.  We
+must hold this place to the last."
+
+The black sank back on the littered floor and groaned.
+
+"Poor Massa Allen!" he said.
+
+"Lookye here, darkie," said the big sailor; "tain't no use to howl.
+What do you say to getting a good bunch of palm leaves and waiting till
+these slaver beggars come again, and then setting fire to the place and
+burning them all up together?"
+
+"Yes, sah," said the black sadly.  "Caesar go and set fire to
+sugar-barrel; all burn up."
+
+"Bah!  Take too long, darkie.  Now, if you'd got a barrel o' powder!"
+
+"Big Massa Tom want barrel o' powder?"
+
+"Do I want a barrel of powder?" growled the big sailor, in a deep-toned
+voice full of contempt and scorn.
+
+"Not big barrel sugar," said the black sadly; "lilly barrel black
+powder, all black like niggah."
+
+"Here, what are you talking about, you old pitch kettle?" cried the
+sailor, full of animation now.  "You don't know where there's a lilly
+barrel, do you?"
+
+"Yes," said the man quietly.
+
+"Not a lilly white barrel?"
+
+"No, sah; lilly black barrel.  Two--ten--twenty lilly barrel."
+
+"What!" cried Murray excitedly.  "Where is it?"
+
+"Down'tair," said the black, speaking with more animation now.  "Massa
+Murray Frank wantum?"
+
+"Yes, of course," cried the lad.  "Where do you say it is?
+Down-stairs?"
+
+"Yes, massa.  Down'tair long wi' Massa Allen bottle of wine.  Plenty
+bottle o' wine.  Two, ten, twenty lilly barrel black powder."
+
+"Avast there, my lads," said the big sailor, in a deep, low whisper.
+"Rouse and bit, my chickens.  Here's corn in Egypt and no mistake."  And
+then, as the men sprang up ready to meet another attack, even if it
+might be the last, Tom May turned to Murray.  "Beg pardon, sir, but
+what's it to be?"
+
+"Get a barrel of powder up directly, Tom," replied the lad; "that is, if
+it doesn't turn out too good to be true.  You serve it out to the lads,
+too, and be ready to give the enemy a surprise when they come on again."
+
+"Beg pardon, sir, but hadn't we better make it a mine, sir?  Clap a
+couple o' barrels just in their way.  Lay a train, and one on us be
+ready to fire it just as they're scrowging together under the window."
+
+"Yes, far better, Tom; far better than blazing at the wretches with the
+muskets.  Here, Caesar, show us where the powder is.  Is it locked up?"
+
+"Yes, massa; down'tair.  Caesar know where key."
+
+The feeling that he was going to be of some great assistance to those
+who were the friends of his master seemed to rouse up the black, who
+staggered at first as he rose, and then seemed to grow stronger as he
+led the way towards the door, caught at the balustrade, and before he
+could be seized fell and rolled heavily down the stairs, to lie groaning
+feebly at the bottom.
+
+"Look at that now!" cried the big sailor, as he helped Murray to raise
+the poor fellow to his feet.  "Why didn't you speak out about the
+gunpowder before?"
+
+"Caesar not know," moaned the shivering black.  "Key dah," he panted.
+"Key dah."
+
+"Key dah!" growled the big sailor.  "Who's to know where _dah_ is?
+Can't you show us?  I believe we shall have the beggars here before we
+can find it, sir."
+
+But the black began to recover a little and ended by leading the way in
+the darkness to a closet in the principal down-stairs room, leaving it
+open, and then, armed with a key and hurrying his companions back, he
+opened a door in the wide hall, and holding on by the big sailor, showed
+the way down into the cellar of the well-vaulted house.
+
+The rest proved to be easy, though every step was taken under a state of
+intense excitement, while the wounded and worn-out sailors forgot every
+suffering, inspired as they now were by hope.
+
+At last, armed with a couple of fair-sized kegs of powder, held in
+reserve in case of troubles with the large body of slaves that were
+always about the plantation and at the so-called barracks, the plan of
+laying a mine and firing it when next the enemy made an attack was
+modified at Murray's suggestion into the preparing of some half-dozen
+shells, each composed of an ordinary wine bottle or decanter fully
+charged and rammed down with an easily prepared slow match such as would
+occur to any lad to contrive ready for lighting from a candle held
+prepared in the upper chamber, risk being a matter that was quite left
+out of the question.
+
+"Hah!" ejaculated Murray, as the shells were at last prepared.  "Now
+they may come on as soon as they like.  This must be the best plan,
+Tom--to wait till they begin to attack, and fire from here."
+
+"Well, it's the safest, sir; but mightn't we load every piece we've got
+and give 'em a taste of that wittles as well, sir?"
+
+"Of course," was the reply; and every piece was loaded; but still the
+enemy did not come.
+
+"I say, sir, this here arn't going to end in a big disappyntment, is it,
+sir?"
+
+"What, do you think they mayn't come?"
+
+"Yes, sir, that's it."
+
+"What could be better, Tom?" replied Murray.
+
+"Oh, I want 'em to come, sir," grumbled the man.  "They've made us so
+savage that we shan't none of us be happy without we gets a chance to
+use this here dust."
+
+"They'll come; depend upon it, Tom," said Murray.
+
+"Then how would it be to light a fire out yonder, sir?" suggested the
+big sailor.
+
+"What, so as to see the enemy?"
+
+"Nay, sir; we shall manage that, and when the shells busts, sir, they'll
+light it up a bit; but what I meant was, sir, to start a pretty good
+fire just at a fair distance in front of the window, sir, just handy for
+some of us to make up good big charges of powder tied up in the sleeves
+of our shirts, sir, handy and light ready to heave into the hot parts
+where the fire's burning.  They're pretty tough, them slavers, but a few
+of them charges set off among 'em would be more than they'd care to
+face.  We've got plenty o' powder, sir, to keep it on till to-morrow; so
+what do you say?"
+
+"I say, certainly, Tom," replied Murray; "and on thinking again of what
+we had first planned, I say that we will lay a train from the door under
+this window to a mine consisting of one of the barrels just hidden."
+
+"And me fire it, sir?" cried the big sailor eagerly.
+
+"No; I shall do that myself," said Murray firmly.
+
+"All right, sir; you're orficer," said the big sailor, rather sulkily,
+"and a sailor's dooty's to obey orders; but I did think, sir, as a
+orficer in command was to give orders and let them as was under him do
+the work.  I don't mean no offence, Mr Murray, sir, but I thought you
+was in command now that the first luff was down in orspittle, or as we
+say, in sick bay."
+
+"Well, we'll see, Tom," said Murray.  "I don't want to disappoint you,
+my lad.  What we've got to make sure of is that the mine is fired."
+
+"Ay, ay, sir; but you might trust me, sir."
+
+"I do trust you, Tom," replied Murray.  "There, let's have the powder up
+and take the head out of another keg."
+
+"Ay, ay, sir.  Give the word, sir, and we'll soon do that."
+
+"Off with you," cried Murray; and while the men were gone below, he
+carefully arranged the so-called shells that had been prepared, so that
+they were handy for hurling from the window, and once more examined the
+quick match that had been formed of strips of linen and moistened
+powder--a fuse that could be depended upon to keep burning when once set
+alight.
+
+He had hardly satisfied himself as to the arrangement of the terrible
+weapons that had been prepared, before a sound that floated through the
+open window drew him close up, and he had hardly stood there in doubt a
+couple of minutes before his doubt was dispelled, for plainly enough,
+and apparently from the other side of the island, came the report of a
+heavy gun, which was answered by another report, evidently from a gun of
+different calibre.
+
+Just then the men who had been below came hurrying up, bearing the
+powder as coolly as if it was so much butter.
+
+"I've brought two on 'em, sir," said the big sailor, "and if you'll just
+look on, sir, we'll make all right."
+
+"Be careful, my lad," said Murray.  "Remember the light's here."
+
+"Ay, ay, sir; we'll be on the lookout for sparks," replied the man; "but
+hullo, sir!  Hear that?"
+
+"Yes," said Murray; "firing over there, and the captain at work."
+
+"Three cheers for 'em, my lads!  We shall have the beggars at us here
+soon."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FIFTY ONE.
+
+LAYING THE TRAIN.
+
+The dangerous preparations were soon made, and Tom May's and his
+comrades' hands were plainly seen trembling as they handled their kegs.
+
+"Look at that now, sir," said the big sailor.  "Did you ever see such a
+set o' cowards in your life?"
+
+"Cowards, Tom?  Never," said Murray, who was all of a quiver too.
+
+"More did I, sir.  I wouldn't ha' believed I could ha' been in such a
+shiver and shake.  I supposed it'd be for fear we shouldn't be ready for
+the warmint; but it don't look like it, do it?"
+
+"Yes, Tom, for your hands are steady enough now you've done."
+
+"Well, I hope so, sir," said the man, "because it seems such a bad
+example to the lads, and they've all ketched it.  Hullo, darkie!  What,
+are you shaking too?"
+
+"Yes, Massa Tom," replied the black, with his teeth chattering.  "Caesar
+drefful frighten we no get the gunpowder go off when Massa Huggin man
+come.  You let Caesar take lilly barrel now and light um, massa."
+
+"Why, here's another awfully cowardly chap, Mr Murray, sir.  It's a rum
+un, arn't it?"
+
+"You make has'e, Massa Tom May; not talkee so much palaver," cried the
+trembling black, seizing hold of one of the barrels and hoisting it upon
+his shoulder.  "You bring candle; set light."
+
+"No, no, Caesar," cried Murray.  "Not ready yet.  Wait."
+
+The man parted with the little keg unwillingly, and stood with his hand
+to his ear straining his neck out of the window, and listened.
+
+"Massa Huggin man come along," he panted.
+
+"Well, we're ready for them, my coal-dust messmate."
+
+"Hush!" whispered Murray.  "Who's that calling?"  For a voice reached
+them from the next room.
+
+"It's Mr Roberts, sir.  Ahoy, there!  Coming, sir."
+
+Murray ran through the opening to where the middy was lying trying to
+make himself heard.
+
+"Were you calling, Dick?" said Murray, his voice still trembling with
+excitement.
+
+"Calling?  Yes!  Shouting till I was hoarse.  I could hear.  You've got
+powder now.  Bring some here, and the fellows' muskets.  I can load if I
+can't do anything else."
+
+"Yes, bring powder," said another voice, one, however, that sounded very
+weak and faint.  "I think I can reload, too, for the lads."
+
+"No, no, Mr Anderson," cried Murray excitedly; "leave it all to us,
+sir.  The enemy are coming on again, and there is no time to make fresh
+preparations."
+
+"Ahoy, there, Mr Murray!  Now's your time!"
+
+"Off with you, my lad, and Heaven help you!" groaned the lieutenant.
+"Roberts, we must bear our lot, and be satisfied with our defenders."
+
+Murray was already through the door which separated the two rooms, to
+find the men waiting, as ready and eager as if not one amongst them had
+been wounded.
+
+"Are they very near?" asked Murray excitedly.
+
+"Quite nigh enough, sir," growled the man who was hugging one keg,
+another able-seaman holding another, while the black grasped a couple of
+the extemporised shells.
+
+"No, no, Caesar," said Murray sharply.  "Put those down here; they are
+for throwing.  You lead the way out through the lower door along the
+path the enemy will come."
+
+"Yes sah.  You come too?" cried the black.
+
+"Yes; quick!  Off with you!"
+
+The man hurried down the staircase, followed by the two sailors, whose
+comrades had received their orders to stand fast at the upper window to
+cover the engineering party.  The door was thrown open, and Murray led
+the way out into the darkness, Caesar holding his hand tightly.
+
+"Too late!" said the lad hoarsely; and he drew back.
+
+"No, no, sah; plenty time," whispered the black.  "Come 'long."
+
+"Ay, ay, sir!" growled Tom May.  "Sharp's the word."
+
+"But we shall be running into their arms, my lad, and lose the powder."
+
+"Not us, sir.  They can't see us coming, and we mustn't let 'em hear
+us."
+
+"Forward, then," whispered Murray.  "What! there, Caesar?" he continued,
+for the black had run forward a few steps and then stopped short in a
+dark alley leading towards the side of the plantation and the quarters
+of the black servants.
+
+"Yes, massa.  Huggins man mus' come 'long here."
+
+There was no time for consideration, for the enemy was evidently
+approaching cautiously, and before any further order could be given Tom
+May had plumped down the keg he carried, and his companion was about to
+follow suit with the other, but Murray checked him.
+
+"No, no," he whispered; "one first.  Is the top quite open, Tom?"
+
+"Open it is, sir," was the reply.
+
+"Now then, my lad, take the other keg and lay the train.  Sprinkle it
+thickly, walking backward right away along the path here to the door."
+
+"Right it is, sir," growled the big sailor.  "No, no, messmate; you keep
+hold o' the barrel and walk alongside.  I'll ladle it out.  Mind, all on
+you, not to tread in the dust.  D'yer hear, darkie?  Keep back, I tell
+you; too many cooks 'll spoil the broth."
+
+It was rough work, and clumsily executed, but somehow or other, and in
+spite of the near approach of the enemy, who seemed to be aware of their
+proximity, the train was effectively laid, and the engineers regained
+the doorway, just in front of which the train was made to end.
+
+"Now for the candle, Tom," whispered Murray.  "Here, you, Caesar, where
+are you going?"
+
+There was no reply, for the black had dashed in and run up the
+staircase, to seize the light from the upper room where the covering
+party were standing ready to fire from the window.
+
+It was a risky proceeding, and Murray stood below in the doorway looking
+on, but afraid to speak for fear of doing more harm than good, as he saw
+the faithful black steal rapidly down the stairs, his black fingers
+enclosing the burning candle like an open lanthorn which threw its
+glowing fluttering flame upwards over the black weird-looking face with
+its glistening eyes and white teeth.  Every moment the flame threatened
+to be extinct, but it fluttered and recovered itself as the black
+tottered down into the hall and then stepped quickly past Murray in the
+effort to shelter the candle behind the door.
+
+"Dah, massa," he panted.  "Now say when Caesar set fire to de powder."
+
+"No, my man," panted Murray.  "I must fire the powder myself.  You tell
+me when."
+
+"Caesar say when, massa?"
+
+"Yes, and I will fire the train.  Now then, you stand close behind me
+when I step out.  You, Tom, stand behind the door, and as soon as I have
+fired the train Caesar and I will dash back into the house, and you clap
+to and fasten the door.  Do you see?"
+
+"No, sir, but I can feel," growled the man; "but won't the 'splosion
+bust it open?"
+
+"Very likely, Tom."
+
+"Ay, ay, sir; but right it is, sir."
+
+"Now then, Caesar," whispered Murray, thrusting one hand behind the door
+to seize the candle and place it ready in shelter.
+
+"Not yet, massa," said the black, who stood out a couple of yards from
+the door.  "Dey come 'long close, but all 'top now."
+
+"Ah, they have found the powder keg," ejaculated Murray.
+
+"No, sah.  Dey all close 'longside and wait for more Massa Huggin man."
+
+"Then I will not fire yet."
+
+"No, sah.  Caesar fink dey watch see Murray Frank, want know what um do.
+All talkee palaver.  No fire yet."
+
+"I must fire soon," whispered the lad, in a strangely excited tone of
+voice, which sounded as if he were being suffocated.
+
+"No; Murray Frank not fire yet," whispered the black, in eager tones.
+"Wait plenty more Huggins man come.  Yes," he whispered, as a burst of
+voices as of many of the enemy hurrying up could be heard; and then
+above all came the strangely familiar tones of one who had been leading
+the newly-arrived party, and Murray started violently as there fell upon
+his ear in fierce adjuration--
+
+"Wall, why are you waiting?  In with you, curse you, and finish them
+off!"
+
+The black started back to retreat into the house, but Murray extended
+his left hand and caught him by the shoulder.
+
+"Where are you going?" he whispered.
+
+"Run!" was the reply.  "Massa Huggin."
+
+"Not yet," whispered Murray.  "Is it time now?"
+
+The lad's calm words had the effect of steadying the trembling black as
+they listened, and his voice was no longer the same as he said firmly
+now--
+
+"Yes, massa.  Time now.  Fire!"
+
+Murray thrust the black from him as he snatched the light from behind
+the door, took a couple of steps towards the enemy, and stooped down
+with the candle burning blue and seeming to become extinct as the lad
+touched the path.  Then there was a bright flash as the powder caught,
+sputtered and began to run, lighting up the figure of the midshipman in
+the act of dashing in through the doorway, a score of bullets rattling
+after him in answer to an order; and then the door closed with a heavy
+bang.
+
+Darkness within and a blaze of light without, where the voice of the
+Yankee could be heard shouting orders which rose above the buzzing
+fluttering noise of the running train.
+
+"Hurt, Mr Murray, sir?"
+
+"No!  Where's the black?"
+
+_Crash_!
+
+A fierce burst as of thunder, and the just-closed door was dashed in,
+while the hall and staircase were filled with light.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FIFTY TWO.
+
+WHAT THE POWDER DID.
+
+The horrible dank odour of exploded gunpowder; a blinding smoke; thick
+darkness; a strange singing in the ears, and then, in connection with a
+sensation as of having been struck down and stunned, an awful silence.
+
+These were Murray's impressions as he slowly struggled to his feet.
+Then as his scattered senses began to return he cried hoarsely--
+
+"Who's here?--Who's hurt?"
+
+There was no reply for a few moments, and then from somewhere up-stairs
+as it seemed to Murray, Roberts shouted--
+
+"Do speak, somebody!  Are you all killed?"
+
+"No, no," panted Murray, who now began to cough and choke.  "Speak,
+somebody!  Who's hurt?"
+
+"Here, avast there!" now burst forth the hearty tones of the big sailor.
+"Let's have it, messmates, only don't all speak at once.  Arn't all on
+you killed, are you?"
+
+"No, no," cried one.
+
+"Knocked the wind out of us," said another, from the upper room.
+
+"Here, steady there," cried Tom May now, in a voice full of excitement.
+"Avast there, what did you do with the rest of that there keg of
+powder?"
+
+"Me?" cried Harry Lang, who had handled it.  "You, yes!  What did you do
+with it, messmate?"
+
+"Took it up-stairs.  I mean, brought it up here."
+
+"Then 'ware sparks."
+
+The dread of a fresh explosion in the presence of the faint sparks that
+could be seen lying here and there for some distance about the front of
+the planter's house set every one to work with bucket and water, and it
+was not until broad daylight that confidence began to reign, with the
+calmness which accompanied the knowledge that the door which had been
+blown in had been replaced by a strong barricade to act as a defence
+against a renewed attack.
+
+Of this, however, there was no sign, the danger resting only in the
+imagination of the wearied-out and wounded men, several of whom had sunk
+into a stupor of exhaustion, while Murray, Tom May and the black were
+out exploring, and finding here and there at a distance from the front
+of the house traces of the havoc which could be produced by the
+explosion of a keg of gunpowder.
+
+Not to dwell upon horrors, let it suffice to say that one of the
+discoveries made was by Tom May and the black, when the following words
+were uttered--
+
+"Well, look ye here, darkie, you needn't shiver like that.  Y'arn't
+afraid on him now?"
+
+"No; not 'fraid; but he make niggah 'fraid all many years, and Caesar
+keep 'fraid still.  But nebber any more.  He dead now."
+
+"But are you sure this was him?"
+
+"Yes, Caesar quite suah.  Only 'fraid now poor Massa Allen dead too."
+
+"Ah, well, messmate--black messmate, I mean--we had nothing to do with
+that, and Master Huggins will never make an end of any more poor
+fellows; so don't shiver like jelly, for I says it's a blessing that the
+beggar's gone."
+
+"Yes, Massa Tom.  No 'fraid no more.  All a blessing Massa Huggins
+gone."
+
+"And all his men, darkie."
+
+"Yes, sah, and all his men.  They never come back no more."
+
+"What is it?" said Murray, coming up.  "Have you found out anything
+more?"
+
+Tom May made an announcement which Murray communicated to the wounded
+lieutenant, and he had hardly finished when the sound of firing began
+again.
+
+"What's that?" cried Mr Anderson, raising himself upon one arm.
+"There, you needn't tell me, Murray, lad; I know.  It's the captain
+attacking, or being attacked by, some of the slaving scoundrels, and we
+are not there to help him."
+
+"But surely, sir, we have been helping him by what we have done," said
+Murray; and the lieutenant stretched out his hand, wincing and groaning
+as he did so, and clutched the midshipman's arm.
+
+"Thank you, my dear boy," he said; "that does me good.  We have been
+helping him, haven't we?"
+
+"Why, of course, sir.  That explosion has ended in killing the chief
+slaver, the head of the gang, as well as a terrible number of his
+wretched followers."
+
+"So it has, Mr Murray; so it has.  Your doing too."
+
+"Oh no, sir; I only played my part.  We did," said Murray, smiling.
+
+"We?  Nonsense!  You fired the train."
+
+"Yes, sir, as your deputy, and with your instructions.  It was done by
+us in following out duties that the captain would have wished carried
+out."
+
+"Ha!  Thank you, Mr Murray.  I am weak and faint and troubled by the
+idea that I have not done my part."
+
+"Oh, nonsense, sir.  There, let me put this wet handkerchief to your
+head.  You're feverish again."
+
+"Thank you, Murray," sighed the lieutenant gratefully.  "You are a good
+fellow.  I wish Mr Roberts were as good an officer."
+
+"Well, you have your wish, sir," said Murray laughingly.  "He'd have
+done his share if he hadn't been wounded."
+
+"Ah, yes; how is he?"
+
+"Getting better, sir, certainly."
+
+"That's good, Murray," said the lieutenant, with a sigh.  "I want to
+make as good a show of the men as I can when I have to face the captain
+again.  I'm afraid, though, that it will be a very bad one, eh?"
+
+"Plenty of wounded, sir, but none very bad.  The poor fellows have
+broken down a bit now that the work's done, but they'll soon mend."
+
+"Then you don't think, Murray, that the captain will find much fault
+with me and my men?"
+
+"He'd be very unreasonable if he did, sir."
+
+"Hah!  You think so, Murray?  But he can be rather unreasonable
+sometimes, Murray, eh?"
+
+"Terribly, sir."
+
+"Hah!  That's comforting, Murray, for I am very weak.  I feel, you see,
+that I ought to be up and doing now, my lad, and I haven't the power to
+stir."
+
+"Beg pardon, sir," said Murray, "but now you're _hors de combat_ am I
+not leading officer?"
+
+"Certainly, my dear boy, and I tell you that you have done wonders."
+
+"Thank you, sir," said Murray, "but I was not fishing for compliments.
+What I wanted you to say was that I was to take the lead."
+
+"I say so, then, certainly, my dear sir."
+
+"Well, then, sir, I say that your duty is to lie still and get better,
+and that our lads are to do the same."
+
+"Well, leaving me out, Murray, that's quite right."
+
+"Yes, sir, and including you.  The best thing is for me to give our lads
+a rest to recoup a bit.  We can't do better than hold this place in case
+of a fresh attack."
+
+"Quite right."
+
+"And wait until the captain sends help."
+
+"Excellent, Murray; but the captain may be waiting for help to come from
+us."
+
+"Yes, sir, and if he is I am sorry to say that I could not lead four men
+to his aid."
+
+"Oh dear, that's bad," groaned the lieutenant.
+
+"You couldn't get up and lead us, sir."
+
+"Get up?  Lead you, Murray?  My dear lad, I am as weak as an infant."
+
+"Ray--ray--hooray!" came loudly.
+
+"What's that?" cried the lieutenant excitedly.  "Quick, lad!  My sword.
+A fresh attack."
+
+"No, sir," cried Murray, who had run to the window as the cheering was
+responded to loudly.  "It's Mr Munday with over a dozen men coming up
+at the double.  Do you hear, sir?--`_Seafowls_ ahoy!'"
+
+"Ah!" sighed the lieutenant, sinking back upon the now stained pillow
+which had been taken from one of the planter's beds.
+
+"Mr Murray, that you?" came from the front.
+
+"Yes, sir," cried Murray, who was looking from the window.
+
+"Well, I shouldn't have known you.  You're as black as a sweep."
+
+"Yes, sir," said the middy, clapping his hand to his face.
+
+"Seen anything of Mr Anderson?"
+
+"Yes, he's lying up here, wounded."
+
+"What!  Not badly?"
+
+"Got a nasty wound, sir, but it will soon be better," replied the middy,
+glancing back at the half-fainting officer.
+
+"Come up, Munday," cried the latter; and in a few minutes the second
+lieutenant had forced his way over the barricaded entrance and reached
+the rooms that now formed the temporary infirmary.
+
+"Very, very glad to have found you at last," said Mr Munday, shaking
+hands warmly.  "My word, sir, you have had a tremendous fight here!"
+
+"You can report to the captain that I have done my best, Munday, and our
+lads have fought like heroes."
+
+"That's good, sir.  I'm sure they have.  I wish, though, we had been
+here."
+
+"And now you will either get us aboard or send for Mr Reston."
+
+"I'm sorry to say that I can't do either," said the second lieutenant.
+
+"What!" cried the chief officer.
+
+"It has been like this; the captain sent me ashore with a boat's crew to
+find you and the rest, and as soon as we were out of sight he was
+attacked by a couple of schooners."
+
+"How did you know that?" asked Murray, who had laid his hand upon the
+chief officer's lips to keep him from speaking.
+
+"From the two boat-keepers; and one of these schooners our lads report
+as being commanded by that scoundrel who tricked us with his lugger.  He
+was the real owner of the schooner that escaped."
+
+"Ah!  Go on," said Mr Anderson faintly.  "Tell Murray, and let me lie
+and listen."
+
+"Well, then," continued the officer, "these two schooners attacked the
+skipper just when he was shorthanded, and before I could get back to my
+cutter they had been there, driven the two boat-keepers ashore, and
+scuttled her.  Of course my two men could do nothing but make for me.
+So there I was ashore, listening to the firing, while the skipper had to
+keep on a running fight, and that's been going on ever since, for
+they've been a bit too many for the _Seafowl_, it seems to me."
+
+"How unfortunate!" said Murray.
+
+"Horribly, sir," said the second lieutenant.  "Here have I been hunting
+you ever since, though I've had a few skirmishes with the scoundrels,
+who have seemed to swarm."
+
+"Yes," said Murray, nodding his head.  "White, black and mongrel scum of
+the earth."
+
+"Exactly, my lad.  Well, to make a long story short, the place is such a
+maze that I'm sure I should never have found you if we hadn't seen the
+flash of this explosion.  Of course we heard the roar far enough away,
+but that would not have guided us without we had seen the direction."
+
+"No, sir, I suppose not.  Well, sir, what's to be done now?" said
+Murray.
+
+"Let's hear what Mr Anderson says."
+
+"Hush!  He has fallen asleep," whispered Murray.  "Poor fellow!  He is
+very weak."
+
+"And ought to have Reston to him.  We're in a nice hole, Murray, upon my
+word!  Have you got a morsel of prog?  My lads are starving."
+
+"We've plenty, sir."
+
+"Hah!  Then feed us, dear lad, and then we shall be ready to fight or do
+anything you like.  But hullo!  What about Dick Roberts?"
+
+"Wounded, but getting better.  He's in the next room, doing nothing but
+sleep."
+
+"Next room!  Upon my word you middies are pretty sybarites!  Well, let
+us have this prog."
+
+"Come down to the dining-room," said Murray.  "Mr Anderson cannot do
+better than sleep."
+
+"Dining-room!" said the second lieutenant in a whisper, as they left the
+chamber.  "What next?  You haven't got such a thing as a cellar of wine
+on the premises, have you, my lad?"
+
+"Yes, sir," said Murray, laughing; "but that's where we have our powder
+magazine."
+
+"Give us something to eat, then, my dear fellow, and then let's see if
+we can't use the powder to blow up the two schooners which are pounding
+the _Seafowl_.  Hark!  They're at it still."
+
+"No," said Murray, listening; "those must be the _Seafowl's_ guns."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FIFTY THREE.
+
+THE CAPTAIN'S LAST BLOW UP.
+
+Murray proved to be right, for the distant reports which came from
+somewhere on the far side of the island proved to be the last fired by
+the man-o'-war, which, shorthanded though she was, and desperately
+attacked by the powerful well-manned schooners, had kept up a continuous
+fight, so cleverly carried on that it had at last ended by the running
+ashore of one of the big slaving craft, and the pounding of the other
+till in desperation the skipper, who proved to be the cunning Yankee
+hero of the lugger trick,--the twin brother of the scoundrel Huggins who
+had met his fate in the explosion,--set his swift craft on fire before
+taking, with the remnants of the crew, to the woods.
+
+It was not until a couple of days later that, after extinguishing the
+fire on board the second schooner and setting sail with her for the
+harbour, Captain Kingsberry commenced firing signal guns to recall his
+scattered crew, and communication was made by the help of Caesar.
+
+"Yes, Massa Murray Frank," he said eagerly; "Caesar soon show um way to
+where big gun go off."
+
+He, too, it was who gave signals which resulted in the collection of as
+many of the plantation slaves as were wanted to bear the wounded men in
+palanquins through the maze-like cane brakes and down to the shore,
+where a shady hospital was started in which Dr Reston could rule
+supreme, his patients chuckling to one another as they luxuriated in the
+plantation coffee, sugar, molasses, fruit and tobacco, and thoroughly
+enjoyed themselves--so they said--in the jolliest quarters that had ever
+fallen to their lot.
+
+Caesar, too, in his actions was certainly one of the greatest of the
+Caesars, for in spite of a terribly scorched face, and burned and
+wounded arms and hands, he worked almost without ceasing.  Scores of his
+fellow-slaves flocked to help, and under his guidance the captain and
+crew of the _Seafowl_ were perfectly astounded by the extent of the
+plantation buildings, and the arrangements that existed for carrying on
+the horrible trade and keeping up the supply from the far-off African
+coast.
+
+It was a busy time for the _Seafowls_, as they called themselves, but
+they had the prisoners to deal with, for those left alive of the crews
+of the two schooners had managed to reach the familiar shelter of the
+dense shores, from which they did not wait to be hunted out, but
+utilised some of the light boats of whose existence they were well
+aware, and sickened by the terrible lesson they had received, made sail
+for one of the neighbouring bays.
+
+It was, as has been said, a busy time for the _Seafowls_, for there were
+the two captured schooners to get afloat and the fired rigging to
+restore before they were fit to take to a destined port as prizes.
+There were vile barracks to burn, and plenty of other arrangements to
+make as to the destination of certain newly-arrived prisoners who had to
+be saved from their terrible fate.
+
+Briefly, although the sailors called it a good holiday, it was a period
+of the hardest work, but what with prize money and tasks that paid
+mentally every lad and man who thought, it was a time of pleasure; and
+it was not till towards the end of the _Seafowl's_ stay that Caesar came
+on board the sloop of war one evening with his face flushing with
+excitement and showing all his teeth.
+
+"Caesar find um at last, massa," he cried.
+
+"Find?  Find?  Not Mr Allen?" said Murray.
+
+"Yes, massa.  Find good ole Massa Allen."
+
+"Then he is not dead?"
+
+"Yes, massa.  No massa.  Huggins no kill um.  Shut um up.  Tell um,
+massa, dat um poor crack looney."
+
+"What!  Lunatick!"
+
+"Yes, massa, looney, mad.  Shut um up."
+
+"Where?  And have you seen him?"
+
+"Yes, massa.  Tullus find um in niggah hut shut up, and take me dah."
+
+"Then that Huggins has not killed him?"
+
+"No, massa; shut um up.  Say um mad man.  Berry bad.  Get more bad
+ebbery day till Tullus find um.  Black slabe woman 'top wiv him.  Massa
+Huggins say kill her if she let um go."
+
+"Poor creature!" said Murray, wrinkling up his brow.
+
+"Yes, sah; berry poor creature, sah.  Caesar berry sorry.  Massa Allen
+good massa, and Caesar lub um."
+
+"But where is he now?  Not dead?"
+
+"Yes, massa been die berry much all um time.  Couldn't quite go die till
+poor Caesar come, and den he shake hand.  Say `Good-bye, Caesar, lad.
+Tell Massa Murray Frank.  Tell um t'ink de bes' ob a poor weak man.'"
+
+"Mr Allen said that, Caesar?" said Murray.
+
+"Yes, sah.  Caesar cry bofe eyes.  Tullus cry and slabe woman cry when
+we put um in de groun' fas' asleep.  Everybody lub poor Massa Allen,
+sah.  Gone dead.  Say go to sleep happy now.  No more slabe trade now.
+No more poor niggah leap overboard now Massa Murray Frank and Bri'sh
+sailor come."
+
+"Well, Mr Murray," said the captain, about an hour later, "I hope you
+are ready to return to your duties."
+
+"Yes, sir, certainly," said the lad, staring.
+
+"I'm glad of it.  And, by the way, this is a very favourable opportunity
+for saying a few words in season to you.  Let me tell you that I am not
+at all satisfied with the way in which your duties have been carried
+out, any more, I may say, than I have been with the way in which I have
+been served by your brother officers.  I look for something better in
+the future, sir, something decidedly better in the future, I may say;"
+and he stalked aft and went below.
+
+"Did you hear what Captain Kingsberry said, sir?" said Murray to the
+chief officer, who just then came limping up with his spy-glass beneath
+his feeble arm.
+
+"Yes, Murray, every word.  My dear boy, it is a way he has.  There,
+there, my lad, I think amongst us we've given the slave-trade its
+heaviest blow."
+
+THE END.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Hunting the Skipper, by George Manville Fenn
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