inkling of our presence somewhere in the river, and go straight to sea
again, preferring to try his luck on some other part of the coast.
There was just sufficient time for our lads to get a meal in comfort
before the moment arrived for them to shove off and make their way to
the mouth of the lagoon in order to intercept, and prevent the escape
of, the returning ship; the skipper therefore gave orders to pipe all
hands to dinner, and while the meal was in progress he made his
dispositions for the forthcoming expedition.

As before, I was left in charge of the convalescents to take care of the
sick and see that the prisoners--now, of course, considerably augmented
in numbers by our most recent captures--did not get into mischief. But
although I was not permitted to participate in the fun, I was in no mood
to lose it altogether; I therefore waited patiently until the little
flotilla of boats had started--and my services on their account were no
longer required--and then, having first gone the rounds of the place and
satisfied myself that everything was perfectly safe, I slung my
telescope over my shoulder and made my way aloft to the crow's-nest,
wherein I comfortably settled myself, and, levelling my glass over a big
branch that served admirably as a rest for it, prepared to watch the
progress of the boats and, as I hoped, witness the capture of the ship.

The crow's-nest was rigged among the topmost branches of the highest
tree on the islet, the view obtainable from it was very extensive,
embracing an arc of the horizon of nearly one hundred and eighty
degrees, which included, on my far right, the mouth of the river, some
twenty miles distant, and a few miles of the offing beyond, while
stretching away to the left of that point, toward the southward and
eastward, could be traced the entire course of the river as far as the
native town of Olomba, and thence onward to the Camma Lagoon, while the
near and middle distance was occupied by the waters of the N'Chongo
Chine Lagoon, with--in the present instance--the boat flotilla carrying
on under a heavy press of canvas to fetch the passage giving access to
the river.

I watched these for some time, observing with interest the gallant
manner in which the captain's gig, under a spread of canvas that was
manifestly too much for her in the roaring sea-breeze that was now
blowing, struggled along and contrived to still retain the lead of the
bigger and more powerful boats; an