skippers of
ships calling off their island. Here the old patriarchs, with their
families, had dwelt for well-nigh half a century or more, knowing little
of what was going forward in the world, and by the world unknown.

The _Opal_, having supplied herself with a stock of fresh provisions,
once more weighed anchor, carrying off Green's old shipmate, Jerry Bird,
who seemed heartily glad to get away from his friends, whom he described
in no very flattering colours. After a run of twelve days, the _Opal_
came in sight of the Cape, but it was night before she dropped her
anchor in Simon's Bay. Dark masses of land were seen towering above her
mastheads, and rows of light streaming from the maindeck ports of two
frigates, between which she took up her berth; while the sound of bugles
coming across the water betokened the neighbourhood of troopships, with
redcoats on board, bound out to India, or returning home. It reminded
those whose thoughts were with the loved ones in Old England, to lose no
time in sitting down to their desks. Of course the commander wrote to
his wife, and Adair humbly requested that he might be allowed to enclose
a letter to Lucy, in case, as he observed, she might still be staying
with Mrs Deborah Triton. They both also wrote to the kind old admiral.

As the morning broke, a ship was seen standing out of the harbour, and a
boat sent with a well-filled letter-bag to overtake her. How hard the
crew pulled! for they knew by the commander's manner that he intended
that letter-bag to be put on board. They did it, however,--as British
seamen generally do whatever they are ordered,--though at no small
expenditure of muscular strength, and, of course, received, well
pleased, a glass of grog on their return on board.

The _Opal_ remained but a short time at the Cape. Murray received
orders to follow the _Radiant_, one of the frigates seen on the night of
her arrival, to the Mozambique Channel, as soon as she had filled up
with water and other stores.

The corvette made but a short stay, and again sailed for Saint
Augustine's Bay, at the southern end of Madagascar, which island was
sighted in little more than a fortnight. The _Radiant_ was found at
anchor in the bay, Commodore Douce, who commanded her, having put in to
water the ship.

Murray went on board to pay his respects and receive his orders, and
numerous visits were exchanged between the two ships. The commodore, a
remarkably small man wit