that I should like to say to your men before
they leave the ship."

"Certainly, Sir Thomas," said I; and down we both trundled to where the
little party of _Sharks_ stood lovingly eyeing the movements of their
ship, and, as is the manner of sailors, abusing her and all in her the
while.

"My lads," said the general, as they faced round at our approach, "you
are about to leave us and return to your own ship, where I doubt not you
will receive a warm and hearty welcome from your messmates. But before
you go I wish, on behalf of myself and the rest of the passengers of the
_Indian Queen_, to express to you all our very high appreciation of the
splendid manner in which you have conducted yourselves while on board
this ship, and, still more, of the magnificent services which, under the
leadership of your gallant young officer, Mr Grenvile, you have
rendered not only to the owners and crew of the ship, but also to us,
the passengers. There can be no manner of doubt that, under God, and by
His gracious mercy, you have been the means, first, of rescuing the bulk
of the crew from death of a nature too horrible to contemplate, and
secondly, ourselves, the passengers, from a fate equally horrible. By
so doing you have laid us all under an obligation which it is utterly
impossible for us adequately to requite, particularly at this present
moment; but it is my intention to go on board your ship to express
personally to your captain my very high opinion of the conduct of each
one of you. And meanwhile the passengers as a body have deputed me to
invite your acceptance of this bag and its contents, amounting to ninety
sovereigns--that is to say, ten pounds each man--as a very small and
inadequate expression of our gratitude to you. I wish you all long life
and prosperity."

"Thank'e, Sir Thomas, thank'e, sir; you're a gentleman of the right
sort, you are--ay, and a good fighter too, sir; we shan't forget how you
went with us into that village, away yonder, to help save them poor
`shell-backs'," and so on, and so on. Each man felt it incumbent upon
him to say something in reply to Sir Thomas's speech, and, still more,
by way of thanks for the handsome gift that had come to them through
him.

By the time that this pleasant little ceremony of the presentation was
over, the two vessels were hove-to, and Carter, who of course saw and
heard what was going on, must needs come down and have his say also.

"Mr Grenvile, and men of