h a fiery countenance, overshadowed by a
prodigious cocked hat, was walking the deck with hasty strides as Murray
came up the side.

"I have been expecting you here for three days, at least, Commander
Murray," he exclaimed, as Alick made his bow. "There is work to be
done, and the sooner it is done the better. I have received notice that
a piratical band of Arabs, who have long had possession of a strong fort
up the river Angoxa, have a number of barracoons full of slaves and
several dhows lying under the protection of their guns. I have resolved
to make a dash up the river to cut out the vessels, capture the slaves,
and destroy the fort."

"I am very glad to hear it, sir," answered Murray, "and will send my
boats on shore to procure water immediately, so that we may be ready to
sail with as little delay as possible. The men, when they hear the
object, will work with a will, you may depend on that, commodore; and I
trust that the crew of the _Opal_ is not to be surpassed in smartness by
that of any other ship in commission. I think that you will acknowledge
that when you have an opportunity of judging."

"Well, well, you brought to in very good style, I must confess that,"
answered the commodore, who, though inclined to be irascible, was
quickly appeased. "When you send your boats on shore, let the officers
in command keep an eye on the natives, and take care that none of the
crew stray. The people about here are treacherous rascals, and would
murder anyone they could catch hold of without any provocation. I'll
send three of the frigate's boats to assist you, and order the crew of
one of them to remain on guard while the others are filling the casks."

The news which Murray took when he returned on board made everyone
alive. In a few minutes the boats were ready to shove off. The
brown-skinned natives kept hovering about all the time, seeing the
sailors engaged in filling the casks; and it was very evident that, had
they dared, they would have treated their visitors as the commodore had
thought probable. Not long before, in the bay, a short distance to the
northward, the inhabitants had murdered an officer and boat's crew,
without, as far as could be ascertained, the slightest provocation.
Murray was therefore thankful when his boats returned safely on board.

Leaving Saint Augustine's Bay, the frigate and corvette sailed across
the Mozambique Channel, and came to an anchor off the mouth of the
Angoxa.