peel you and give you three
dozen, you nasty black-looking, ungrateful swab. Hi! jump up! Here
comes old Staples. Now then, both of you, come along."

He seized one with each hand by the sleeves of their duck frocks, and
dragged them forward; but in an instant, they had snatched themselves
free, and returned to Mark, speaking softly in their own tongue, and
with a good deal of gesticulation, till Mark ended Bob's perplexity by
pointing to the lower deck, when they walked obediently after the
midshipman right away to the forecastle hatch, and went below.

Five minutes later Bob was back again by his messmate's side.

"That's just my luck," he said, sourly. "I beat the bush and somebody
else catches the bird. Oh, here's Mr Russell coming; we shall have the
whole quarter-deck on the sick list directly."

But all the same Bob ran across to offer the second lieutenant his arm,
as he walked feebly toward where Mark was seated, and eagerly stretched
out his hand to grasp that of the young brother officer who had shared
the peril of what had so nearly been their last adventure.

Mark heaved a sigh, but it was one full of satisfaction as they two sat
quietly talking together, with first one and then another to come up and
utter a few words of congratulation; and when sailors and marines passed
and saluted with a friendly smile, there was no mistaking the popularity
of the two convalescents.

Meanwhile the _Nautilus_ glided along due south, and there was a good
deal of speculation as to her next destination, till Mr Staples came
up, and in the conversation which ensued, announced that they were to
search for a river about sixty miles along the coast, one which was not
marked down in any chart, but was supposed to exist, and to be a
stronghold of those engaged in the slave trade.

It was getting toward evening, and the two invalids had pleaded for the
doctor's permission to stay longer on deck, for the soft air was
delicious, and gave them fresh strength at every breath. They were very
silent as they sat watching with keen delight the varied business of the
ship, doubly interesting to them now that they could not take part in
it, when the wind began to drop, and the course of the vessel to grow
more sluggish.

There was nothing for the men to do, and permission had been given to a
party of them, just towards sundown, to take the grains forward and try
to harpoon some of the swift fish playing about their bows in the