so
that I've little doubt that you will ere long hear that you've got your
step."

"Faith, I've a great deal of doubt about the matter," answered Terence.
"To tell you the truth, I would rather get it in consequence of some
dashing deed which would give me a claim to it than through family
influence, by which any dolt may be pushed forward in the service."

"Well, for my part, I hold that we should be thankful for favours on
whatever account they may be granted," said Jack; "you have seen as much
service as any officer nowadays, and have twice been highly spoken of,
and no one who knows you doubts that you will do any work which may fall
in your way as well as it can be done."

The three old shipmates were laughing and talking right merrily, when
they were interrupted by a loud cry. Murray sprang on deck, followed by
the rest of the party. Just as he reached it, an uproar of voices arose
from forward, amid which those of Pango and Bango were the loudest,
shrieking for help, while Ben Snatchblock was calling out, "Seize the
rascals! tumble them overboard! knock them on the head! they've no
business here!" while other voices in Arabic and negro language were
uttering various incomprehensible cries, betokening either anger or
alarm.

On going forward, Murray saw a confused mass of his own men, with three
or four turbaned strangers and several blacks in their midst, among whom
he distinguished Bango and Pango by their nautical costume. The
strangers were quickly mastered by the seamen. Among the crowd he
perceived the old pilot, who was forthwith dragged up to him.

"What's all this disturbance about. You seem to have something to do
with it," said Murray.

"Me know nothing except that man come to take away him slaves," was the
answer.

"Who are the men who dared to venture on board with any such intent?"
asked Murray; "and as to slaves, none remain such under our flag."

"Me know nothing," answered the pilot, in a dogged tone, which showed
that he did not intend any more information should be got out of him.
Hamed, who had turned in, was summoned on deck, and the strangers were
speedily examined. One of them, with considerable hesitation, believing
that he should be put to the torture if he did not, answered that he and
his companions had come by the express orders of the pilot, for the
purpose of seizing his former slave Bango; that while the boat was
alongside, Bango having been enticed on deck to come a