ucceeded in so far
effacing the stains that the ordinary eye would scarcely be likely to
identify them as what they really were, which was, at all events,
something gained. There were other marks, however, which it was
impossible to obliterate, such as the scoring of the deck planks and the
pitting of the mahogany and maple woodwork forming the fore bulkhead of
the poop by bullets which had formed part of the charges of the two
carronades when they were fired to rake the main-deck; and these we were
obliged to leave as they were.

Having succeeded in thus far straightening up matters that the lady
passengers could venture on deck without too violent a shock to their
susceptibilities, the hands knocked off to go to breakfast. The meal
over, the kedge was weighed and stowed, and then the boats were brought
alongside, one after another, and the process of striking cargo back
into the hold was vigorously proceeded with. This work was of course
done by the ship's crew under Carter's supervision, and I and my own
little party of men thus had an opportunity at last to treat ourselves
to a much-needed rest. Indeed, so far as I was concerned, Burgess
insisted that I should at once turn in, and remain in my bunk until he
should give me leave to rise, or, in such a climate as this, he would
not be answerable for my life! As a matter of fact I had already begun
to realise that, with the pain of my wounded shoulder, and exhaustion
arising from want of sleep, I could not hold out much longer; and I felt
more than thankful that, after the hot reception we had given the
natives, there was not much probability of any further fighting. I
therefore gladly retired to my cabin and, having swallowed a composing
draught which Burgess mixed for me, slept until the following morning,
when I felt so much better that the worthy medico rather reluctantly
consented to my rising in time to sit down with the rest to tiffin.
That same evening, by dint of hard work, the crew succeeded in
completing the stowage of the last of the cargo, securing the hatches,
and hoisting in the boats before knocking off; and somewhat later, that
is to say about three bells in the second dogwatch, Carter availed
himself of the springing up of the land breeze to lift his anchor and
stand out to sea under easy canvas.

On the following morning, when I went on deck, the _Indian Queen_ was
out of sight of land and standing to the southward under all plain sail,
with