n a man-of-war would be a bit of a trial. But on Mrs.
Marston's behalf I thank you sincerely."

"That's all right," said the bluff commander of the _Virago_; "now you
can get home, and in a day or so I'll come round to Samatau and take
these mutineering scoundrels into custody. Pity you did not get your
Samoan friend Malie to hang or shoot them out of hand. It would have
saved Her Majesty's Government something in food, and me much trouble."

CHAPTER XIII

"I must congratulate you, captain," said the merchant, when Frewen had
finished his story; "and I trust you will always retain command of the
_Esmeralda_. She is a beautiful ship, and, ever since you took charge,
has proved herself a lucky one."

"I certainly have had great luck. We had a beautiful passage to Manila
from Samoa, and from Manila to Newcastle I made the quickest run on
record, and from there to Valparaiso we were only thirty-five days."

Some further conversation followed regarding the future movements of the
ship, and it was arranged that she should load Chilian flour for Sydney,
and from there proceed to Samoa for orders from her owner.

Three weeks later, Frewen bid the hospitable Meroado goodbye, and sailed
for Sydney. The merchant had sold the cargo brought from Newcastle very
satisfactorily, and in addition to the amount given him for this, Frewen
also received from Mercado over two thousand pounds belonging to Captain
Marston's estate.

The crew of the _Esmeralda_ consisted of twenty men, ten of whom were
either Englishmen, Americans, and Scandinavians, and ten stalwart
natives of Savage Island. The first officer was a Dane named Petersen,
whom Frewen had engaged at Samoa. He was an excellent seaman, and took a
great pride in the ship; the second officer was Randall Cheyne; and the
third, a sturdy old Yorkshireman of sixty, with the frame and voice of a
bull. Frewen was as satisfied with his officers as he was with his crew,
and the exceedingly good fortune which had attended him since he had
taken charge at Samatau had put him in a very pleasant frame of mind,
and he was eagerly looking forward to meeting Mrs. Marston and rendering
an account of his stewardship. When he reached Sydney from Manila he
had placed a considerable sum to her credit, and learned that Captain
Armitage, of the _Virago_, who had conveyed to Sydney the specie which
was on board the _Esmeralda_ when the mutiny had occurred, had safely
deposited it in her name in