eared to be French, and French was everywhere spoken. Mr Mildmay,
the only officer who professed to care much for society, was sadly
disappointed on finding that there were no ladies in the place. He,
therefore, in some stanzas which he wrote, described it as a "Paradise
without an Eve."

The great drawback to the place was the heat; for behind the town rises
a precipice upwards of seven thousand feet in height, which effectually
shuts out the breeze, except from one quarter. The summit, however,
being covered by luxuriant vegetation, adds another beautiful feature to
the scenery of the island.

CHAPTER TEN.

NEWS FROM ENGLAND--JACK ROGERS APPOINTED TO THE GAUNTLET--ADAIR
PROMOTED, AND SUCCEEDS HIM IN COMMAND OF THE ROMP--THE THREE MIDSHIPMEN
TRANSFERRED TO THE GAUNTLET--A TRIP ON SHORE--SAILORS IN THE
SLAVE-MARKET--THE SULTAN APPEARS--GAUNTLET ON THE NORTHERN STATION--TOM
KETTLE AND BILL SAUCEPAN, THE KROOMEN--A TRAP FOR SLAVERS--MR LARGE'S
EXPEDITION IN SEARCH OF WILDFOWL--FINDS MORE THAN HE BARGAINED FOR--IS
THE ISLAND BEWITCHED?

The corvette was within a hundred miles of the African coast, when a
sail was sighted on the port-bow coming down before the wind. She was
soon seen to be a large ship, and little doubt was entertained that she
was the _Radiant_. That she was so was in a short time proved, when she
got near enough to allow her number to be seen. The corvette
accordingly hove-to, to await her coming. As she drew near, she
shortened sail, and hoisted a signal to send a boat for mail-bag.

No summons could be more willingly attended to. The boat was soon
alongside, when a large letter-bag was lowered into her, and Adair was
summoned to give an account of the trip to Seychelles.

He of course inquired the news. There were some changes in the station.

"Commander Rogers has been confirmed in his rank," said the commodore;
"and I have appointed him to succeed poor Danvers, the late commander of
the _Gauntlet_ steamer, which arrived out on the station after you
sailed. I hope that he'll have gained some experience in the _Romp_,
for I mean to do something in putting down the slave-trade. I am
determined to strike a blow at the traffic before I return to the Cape,
where the doctor tells me I ought to go for the sake of the health of
the ship's company and my own; and so I will, as soon as I hear that a
few more captures have been made. By the bye, you've been pretty
successful, and I'll give