very soon
got washed white, and returned on deck as spruce-looking midshipmen as
they usually appeared. Theirs and Jack's great regret was, that as
Alick had to go back to the brig, and they must join the frigate, they
would again be separated. Rogers and Adair were once more or board the
_Ranger_, with Lieutenant Hemming and Needham, and the rest of the
people who had escaped the various dangers to which they had been
exposed since they quitted her. Captain Lascelles was of opinion that
it would be necessary to inflict a severe punishment on the
slave-dealing king and his white allies, and accordingly resolved to
send another expedition up the river without delay, to burn his town and
any other barracoons which might be in the neighbourhood; or to induce
him to break off all intercourse with the Spanish slave-dealers. The
Commodore was able to carry out his object even sooner than he expected,
by the arrival of two other brigs, the _Rambler_ and the _Tattler_.
Jack and Terence were very much disappointed when they found that they
were not to go. To their earnest request to be allowed to volunteer,
Captain Lascelles replied, "I admire your spirit, my lads, but as you
are not made of iron, and I cannot afford to expend my midshipmen,
others must take their share of the work. You are both of you already
as thin as thread-papers."

Certainly by this time they had become very brown and wiry, and bore but
a slight resemblance to the rosy, jolly-looking midshipmen they were
when they left England. Hemming, however, again went in command, and
Wasser begged that he might accompany him as interpreter. With somewhat
of an envious feeling the midshipmen saw a considerable flotilla of
boats cross the bar and pull up the river.

The day passed away, and so did the greater part of the next, and still
the boats did not reappear. Captain Lascelles became somewhat anxious.
Hour after hour went by. "There they come, there they come!" was
shouted by several who were on the lookout on deck. Not only were all
the boats seen, but several large canoes were in their company. In one
of the latter, as they drew near, Jack recognised his friend, the negro
king, seated in the stern and dressed in the same magnificent uniform in
which he had appeared in his own palace. He seemed perfectly happy, and
was smoking a pipe with true regal dignity. The side was manned to
receive him, and with a grand air he stepped on deck, making a profo