merous crew, of every colour and
shade, from the fair European down to the dark tint of the darkest
African. Our stores and the various articles we brought on the raft
were now hoisted on board, and the structure which had cost us so much
pains to build was cast adrift. The officers, I observed, all wore
jackets and straw caps, which I fancied was not usual for officers of
men-of-war; but probably on account of the heat of the climate the usual
custom was departed from. Senhor Silva and the captain of the schooner
were walking up and down the deck conversing eagerly. At length Senhor
Silva stopped as he was passing me, and said, "I have found an old
friend in the captain of the _Andorinha_ (the _Sea Swallow_), and we are
happy to meet each other again. He begs that you and our other friends
will consider yourselves as welcome and honoured guests on board. I
have told him that we have lost sight of the other raft, and he promises
to keep a look-out for her. He has already given directions to have
cabins prepared for you, and begs that you will make yourself as
thoroughly at home as possible."

This was indeed satisfactory news. Timbo, Jack, and Ramaon were sent
forward, where they were well received by the crew; for although Jack
could not make himself understood, nor understand what was said, Ramaon
was always ready to interpret for him. The wind, which had been for
some time increasing, now blew half a gale, and we had great reason to
be thankful that we had got on board so fine a craft. The captain
insisted on giving up his cabin to Kate and Bella, and Stanley and David
had another prepared close to them, while a third was devoted to the
accommodation of Senhor Silva and I, the two boys being placed in
another rather more forward. Not only were we comfortably accommodated,
but a handsome dinner was, soon after we got on board, placed on the
table. The captain announced himself as Senhor Marques da Costa. He
was very polite, and a good-looking man, though somewhat dark even for a
Portuguese. This, I concluded, arose from having been a long time on
the coast. He understood but little English, so we had to carry on our
conversation chiefly through our friend Senhor Silva. He, however,
never seemed tired of interpreting for us. When the captain heard that
we wished to proceed to the Cape, he expressed his regret that his
duties required him to remain on the coast. He could not, he said,
indeed promise to