self once in the position, and I only hope I may get an efficient
officer in his place."

Adair was sorely tempted to go home by the first opportunity, instead of
taking command of the _Romp_; but two motives prevented him--first, he
had been appointed commander; and, secondly, hoped by capturing a number
of dhows to be able to pick up some prize-money, which might assist him
in setting up house when he got back to England.

"I say, Uncle Terence, am I to follow you on board the brig or to remain
here?" asked Desmond, when he heard of Adair's appointment and
promotion.

"If the commander can spare you, I think, Desmond, I will take you with
me," answered Adair, "but it must depend upon him. He may be unwilling
to lose the services of so valuable an officer."

"Arrah now, Uncle Terence, you're poking fun at me," exclaimed Desmond;
"but I'm after thinking how Archie Gordon will get on without me. We've
been together ever since he came to sea, and it will seem strange to him
and to me if we're separated."

"I've a notion that each of you will get along very well by yourselves,
and neither of you will be able to lead the other into mischief," said
Adair.

"Mischief d'ye mane, Uncle Terence," cried Desmond; "sure it's what
neither of us are capable of."

"No, of course you are both of you wonderfully well-conducted young
gentlemen," replied Adair; "and, besides, you are getting rather too old
for playing monkey tricks; but still I'd rather keep my eye upon you,
and so I intend to ask Commander Murray to lend you to the _Romp_ till
she's ordered home."

The next day the corvette reached Zanzibar, where the first object which
greeted the eyes of those on board was a fast-looking screw-steamer such
as had never before appeared in those waters. The first person who
stepped on board was Jack Rogers, looking as fresh and jolly as if he
had just come from England, instead of having been roasting in the East
for the last two years or more. Following him came Tom, who dived down
into the midshipmen's berth to have a talk with his old friends.

Jack expressed himself well pleased with the steamer, though he had
never belonged to one before. "The only bother is that I don't
understand the engineer's reports; and when he tells me that so much
steam has been blown off, all I can reply is, `Make it so,'" he
observed, laughing; "however, I suppose I shall know all about it by and
by, as I go down as often as I can into the