ght soon again meet in Jamaica. Alick, with Rogers and Adair,
accompanied Stella and the colonel on board the brig the next morning.
The two latter knew that they were not intruding on their friend. They
warmly entered into his feelings, though they might have doubted that
Stella's affection for him was as deep as he supposed, especially when
they observed her tearless eye and calm manner when she parted from him.
Their boat remained alongside till the brig was well out of the
harbour. As long as any one could be discerned on board, a figure was
seen standing at the stern watching them as they pulled back. Alick did
not speak. All seemed a dream to him; but yesterday, he thought himself
the happiest of mortals. Now Stella was gone, and to what fearful
dangers might she not be exposed! Rogers and Adair wished to divert his
thoughts, and began to talk of the missing midshipmen. "The captain
gives them three days more, and if the drogher does not appear at the
end of that time, he intends to send the _Tudor_ to look for them," said
Jack. "I regret allowing Tom to go, for when a number of youngsters are
together they are sure to get into mischief."

"We found it so occasionally in our younger days to be sure," observed
Adair. "I, too, am sorry I let Gerald go; however, Higson is a steady
fellow, and I hope has taken good care of them."

"When Houghton heard that we were becoming anxious about the youngsters,
he offered to send his schooner, the _Swordfish_, to look for them,"
observed Murray, rousing himself up. "If I can get leave from
Babbicome, and I am sure he will give it to escape having to take the
_Tudor_ to sea, I will go in the schooner. She is far better fitted for
cruising among the islands than the corvette, and will be more likely to
find the drogher."

"A good idea of yours, Alick, and I will go with you, as I am sure to
get leave," said Jack.

Adair wished that he could go also, but he and Rogers could not be away
from the ship together for any length of time. Jack and Terence, like
true friends, stuck close to Alick for the remainder of the day, doing
their utmost to keep him from brooding over his unhappiness. His
feelings, they knew, were too deep to allow them to banter him, as they
would probably have done under ordinary circumstances.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

CRUISE IN THE SCHOONER IN SEARCH OF THE MISSING MIDSHIPMEN--CALL AT SABA
AND FIND HIGSON--DISCOVER THE WRECK OF THE DROGHER DESER