and Inez Alvarez--even to prevent their
escaping from California.

Escape! Yes; that is the word which Crozier and Cadwallader make use of
in their conversation on the subject--the form in which their fear
presents itself.

Before reaching the Sandwich Islands, they receive a scrap of
intelligence, which in some respect cheers them. It has become known to
the _Crusader's_ crew that the frigate is to make but short stay there--
will not even enter the harbour of Honolulu. The commission entrusted
to her captain is of no very important nature. He is simply to leave an
official despatch, with some commands for the British consul: after
which head round again, and straight for Panama.

"Good news; isn't it, Ned?" says Cadwallader to his senior, as the two
on watch together stand conversing. "With the quick time we've made
from 'Frisco, as the Yankees call it, and no delay to speak of in the
Sandwiches, we ought to get to the Isthmus nearly as soon as the Chilian
ship."

"True; but it will a good deal depend on the time the Chilian ship
leaves San Francisco. No doubt she'd have great difficulty in getting a
sufficient number of hands. Blew told you there was but the captain and
himself!"

"Only they; and the cook, an old darkey--a runaway slave, he said.
Besides a brace of great red baboons--orangs. That was the whole of her
crew, by last report! Well; in one way we ought to be glad she's so
short," continues the midshipman. "It may give us the chance of
reaching Panama soon as she, if not before her; and, as the frigate's
destined to put into that port, we may meet the dear girls again, sooner
than we expected."

"I hope and trust we shall. I'd give a thousand pounds to be sure of
it. It would lift a load off my mind--the heaviest I've ever had on
it."

"Off mine, too. But even if we don't reach Panama soon as the Chilian
craft, we'll hear whether she's passed through there. If she have,
that'll set things right enough. We'll then know they're safe, and will
be so--`_Hasta Cadiz_'."

"It seems a good omen," says Crozier, reflectingly, "that we are not to
be delayed at the Islands."

"It does," rejoins Cadwallader; "though, but for the other thing, I'd
like it better if we had to stay there--only for a day or two."

"For what reason?"

"There!" says the midshipman, pulling up his shirtsleeve, and laying
bare his arm to the elbow. "Look at that, lieutenant!"

The lieutenant looks, and sees upo