to be passed before the open sea could
be gained. His progress was watched with intense eagerness by those in
the other boats. Now she was lost to sight, as she sank into a valley
on the farther side of the inner roller; now she rose to the foaming
summit of the next.

"He'll do it!" cried the little commodore, standing up in the
sternsheets, that he might the better watch the progress of the young
commander's boat, and clapping his hands like a midshipman. The more
dangerous part of the bar, however, had not yet been reached; still
Murray continued his course. Now the summit of another roller was
gained, the white foam hissing and sparkling over the boat, and almost
concealing her from sight.

"She's capsized after all, and they'll have a hard swim of it," shouted
someone.

"No, she isn't," cried another voice; "I see her bows rising up on the
outer roller. In another minute she'll be clear of them."

"Bravo! well done!" exclaimed the commodore, dancing with delight;
"she's through it, and will soon be on board the _Busy Bee_."

The officer in charge of the steamer, it should be said, not finding the
boats at the time expected, had, according to orders, got up steam and
stood in to ascertain what had become of them.

"Now, my lads," cried the commodore, "what the gig has done we can do.
I'll bring up the rear, and be ready to help any boat which may meet
with an accident. The post of most danger is the post of honour, which
I claim for myself; for those in the last boat will have less chance of
being rescued than any of the rest."

Adair was the next to attempt the hazardous experiment. His boat was
half filled, but he got through without being swamped, and the water was
baled out. The rest in succession followed, each officer waiting for a
favourable opportunity to steer through the line of surf.

CHAPTER THREE.

MOZAMBIQUE--VISIT TO THE GOVERNOR--HAMED, THE INTERPRETER--ESCAPE OF A
SLAVE TO THE OPAL--PREPARATIONS FOR SHARP WORK--A SLAVE DHOW IN SIGHT--
HER WRECK--ADAIR AFTER HER THROUGH THE BREAKERS--SEVERAL OF THE SLAVES
RESCUED--BEN SNATCHBLOCK ATTEMPTS TO COMFORT THEM--HIS EFFORTS NOT
APPRECIATED--RETURN TO THE SHIP--HORRIBLE STATE OF THE RESCUED BLACKS.

While the frigate stood to the northward, and the _Busy Bee_ buzzed
across to Madagascar, the _Opal_ stood for Mozambique, where Murray had
to obtain an interpreter, to pick up all possible information regarding
the movements of slavers.