ned to
me; twenty poor fellows drowned, besides the loss of the brig; and as we
have seen nothing of our boats, I am afraid some harm must have happened
to them."

Jack and Murray did their best to comfort him, while all hands were
employed in serving out the provisions and water which had so
thoughtfully been brought. As the _Romp's_ crew were too weak to march,
the party bivouacked on the hill, with plenty of camp-fires, for which
the blacks collected abundance of fuel.

Just as they were about to start at daylight, two boats were seen
rounding a point, and Adair had the satisfaction of finding that they
were those which had been despatched from the brig some weeks before,
and which had since been cruising in search of her. The more sickly men
were at once placed on board them, and they were sent round to join the
_Gauntlet_; while the rest of the party set off overland, accompanied by
their Arab guide, who kept close to them for fear of losing his dollars.

On getting on board, Jack paid him punctually, with a warning, imparted
through Hamed, that if they were employed in the slave-trade he would
lose them again, and get himself into further trouble. Whether or not
the old fellow followed the advice he received, Jack had no means of
ascertaining.

On their return to Zanzibar, the _Opal_ and _Gauntlet_ received orders
to proceed to the Cape. Loud cheers rose from the decks of both ships
as the news was announced on board; and even poor Adair, though he had
the unpleasant anticipation of a court-martial for the loss of the brig,
felt his spirits rise considerably. Jack comforted him with the
assurance that the evidence his officers had to give must acquit him of
all blame, and that he himself had done everything possible to save the
brig.

"But I had no business to have been caught in the bay," sighed Adair.
"My prospects in the service are ruined, and I shall never get another
ship."

"Never fear," answered Jack; "we shall have perhaps a war before long,
and, depend upon it, you will not be overlooked when ships are fitting
out. Officers of dash and determination will be wanted, and you possess
the required qualities."

The packet from England had come in the day before they arrived at the
Cape, and Jack found a letter from Admiral Triton. "We shall have some
of the old work again before long, my boy, depend upon that," he wrote.
"I have it from the best authority that the Russians have made up their