about in their canoes, it is evident that they are a mixture of the
mulatto and Indian. They came alongside the ships, eager to dispose of
the turtle which they are chiefly engaged in catching, and to sell a few
eggs and chickens.

They were merry fellows, most of them speaking English; as they were
ready to take any price offered, they soon got rid of their merchandise.
The Consul advised Captain Hemming to be prepared for hostilities, and
as he was too wise an officer to despise a foe, he ordered all the boats
of the squadron to be got ready for the expedition. No one was allowed
to go on shore; indeed, scarcely a place on the face of the globe can
have fewer attractions than Graytown.

The seamen were busily employed in sharpening cutlasses and examining
their pistols, and the soldiers in furbishing up their arms ready for
active service.

Not a breath of wind stirred the glass-like surface of the water; the
sun came down with intense heat, making the pitch in the seams of the
decks bubble and squeak, so Paddy Desmond declared; even those most
inured to tropical suns felt the heat, which even the awnings stretched
over the quarterdeck could scarcely mitigate. Poor Captain Babbicome
was seen pacing up and down with a large bandanna in his hand, puffing
and blowing, and wiping the perspiration from his brow. He received but
little consolation when he heard Terence remark that it would be hotter
still up the river.

"Oh, dear! oh, dear! what shall I do?" he exclaimed; "if this continues
I shall be reduced to a skeleton."

The doctor strongly advised him to remain on board. "A sunstroke would
finish you, sir," he observed, "and you would be a loss to the service."

Still Commander Babbicome was too brave a man to give in willingly.
Even when Captain Hemming directed him to remain in charge of the
squadron during his absence, he begged to be allowed, should he feel
better, to proceed up the river.

"Act as you think best. Should you recover sufficiently to stand the
fatigue, of course I shall be glad to have your assistance," answered
his superior officer.

Murray, in the meantime, took his place as second in command. Twelve
boats were prepared for the expedition, consisting of the ships'
launches and barges, the consul's boat, a spare pinnace, and the
captains' gigs.

The next morning at daybreak the boats shoved off from the ships' sides,
saluted with loud cheers by those who remained on board. Capt