n the reader. Mr
Austin, the first lieutenant, was at first very much disappointed when
he found he was not to lead the boat expedition; but he brightened up a
bit when the skipper pointed out to him that in all probability the
slavers would slip their cables and endeavour to make their escape from
the river on finding themselves attacked by the boats; in which case the
cream of the fun would fall to the share of those left on board the
sloop.

Mr Smellie--who was at all times an abstemious man--contented himself
with a couple of glasses of wine after dinner, and, the moment that the
conversation took a general turn, rose from the table, excusing himself
upon the plea that he had several matters to attend to in connection
with the expedition. As he rose he caught my eye and beckoned me to
follow him, which I did after duly making my bow to the company.

When we reached the deck the fog was so thick that it was as much as we
could do to see the length of the ship.

"Just as I expected," remarked my companion. "How are we to find the
creek in such weather as this, Mr Hawkesley?"

"I am sure I don't know, sir," I replied, looking round me in
bewilderment. "I suppose the expedition will have to be postponed until
it clears a bit."

"Not if I can prevent it," said he with energy. "Although," he added, a
little doubtfully, "it certainly _is very_ thick, and with the slightest
deviation from our course we should be irretrievably lost. Whereaway do
you suppose the creek to be?"

"Oh, somewhere in that direction!" said I, pointing over the starboard
quarter.

"You are wrong," remarked my companion, looking into the binnacle. "The
tide is slackening, whilst the land-breeze is freshening; so that the
ship has swung with her head to the eastward, and the direction in which
you pointed leads straight out to sea. Now, if you want to learn a good
useful lesson--one which may prove of the utmost value to you in after-
life--come below with me to the master, and between us we will show you
how to find that creek in the fog."

"Thank you," said I, "I shall be very glad to learn. Why, you do not
even know its compass-bearing."

"No," said Smellie, "but we will soon find it out." With that we
descended to the master's cabin, where we found the owner in his shirt-
sleeves and with a pipe in his mouth, poring over a chart of the coast
on which was shown the mouth of the river only, its inland course being
shown by two d