rl as Miss O'Regan is, will
longer defer your happiness. Should she contemplate so cruel a
proceeding, I must get my sisters, Mary and Lucy, to argue the point
with her, and depend upon it they will bring her round. I have promised
Terence to pay him a visit to Ballymacree, but I told him that I cannot
go till I see you settled. Should you find your fair one's obdurate
heart soften before I arrive, he will be delighted to undertake the post
you offer me, and I cannot wish for a better substitute. He begs me to
say this, and you well know that next to me you have not a truer friend.
He has promised to come and stay with us at Halliburton, after he has
paid a flying visit to his own home, and we hope to meet you and Mrs
Murray there, as my father and mother propose asking you to take it in
your way to the north, where we conclude you will wish to introduce your
bride to the Highland home you have so often described to us."

Jack said a good deal more, indeed his letter was one of the longest he
had ever indited. He, of course, also wrote home, begging Sir John to
invite Murray to stay at Halliburton till the arrival of the _Carib_.
Terence promised to post the letters as soon as he got on shore, or to
deliver Murray's, which was directed to his agent, should he by chance
be at Portsmouth.

"Good-bye," said Terence, as they parted, "we shall meet again before
long, depend upon that, for I hear that your brig is to be sent home as
soon as a steamer comes from England to relieve you; they have an idea
that such vessels are more likely to prove efficient slaver-hunters than
such small craft as yours."

Jack took an active part in the work going forward at Monte Video, and
when it was over he began eagerly to look out for the expected orders to
return home.

Two steamers at last arrived, the second came to relieve the
_Supplejack_. Without an hour's delay, having already received on board
fuel and fresh provisions, the anchor was hove up, and under all sail a
course was steered for Old England. Her crew gave three hearty cheers,
as she glided out from among the ships destined to remain behind.
Desmond had continued on board her, as Terence considered that the
longer he remained afloat the better, as it might not be so easy to get
him another ship.

Except a pampeiro, which, had not Jack been wideawake, might have taken
the masts out of the brig, or sent her--where many a vessel of her class
has gone--to the bottom