great rejoicings upon their arrival there; the
joy of the inhabitants, both European and native, being immense at the
destruction of the formidable pirate colonies, which had so long
ravaged the seas.

After the repairs were completed, the fleet, with the troops which had
formed the expedition, were to sail for Madras. Charlie, however, did
not wait for this; but, finding that one of the Company's ships would
sail, in the course of a few days after their return to Bombay, he
obtained leave from Colonel Clive to take a passage in her, and to
proceed immediately to Madras. Tim and Hossein, of course, accompanied
him; and the voyage down the west coast of India, and round Ceylon,
was performed without any marked incident.

When within but a few hours of Madras, the barometer fell rapidly.
Great clouds rose up upon the horizon, and the captain ordered all
hands aloft to reduce sail.

"We are in," he said, "for a furious tempest. It is the breaking up of
the monsoon. It is a fortnight earlier than usual. I had hoped that we
should have got safely up the Hoogly before it began."

Half an hour later the hurricane struck them, and for the next three
days the tempest was terrible. Great waves swept over the ship, and
every time that the captain attempted to show a rag of canvas, it was
blown from the bolt ropes. The ship, however, was a stout one, and
weathered the gale.

Upon the fourth morning the passengers, who had, during the tempest,
been battened below, came on deck. The sky was bright and clear, and
the waves were fast going down. A good deal of sail was already set,
and the hands were at work to repair damages.

"Well, captain," Charlie said to that officer, "I congratulate you on
the behaviour of the ship. It has been a tremendous gale, and she has
weathered it stoutly."

"Yes, Captain Marryat, she has done well. I have only once or twice
been out in so severe a storm, since I came to sea."

"And where are we now?" Charlie asked, looking round the horizon.
"When shall we be at Madras?"

"Well," the captain said with a smile, "I am afraid that you must give
up all idea of seeing Madras, just at present. We have been blown
right up the bay, and are only a few hours' sail from the mouth of the
Hoogly. I have a far larger cargo for that place than for Madras, and
it would be a pure waste of time for me to put back now. I intend,
therefore, to go to Calcutta first, discharge and fill up there, and
then touch at