h, by the way, the black scoundrels and their allies
were sentenced to five years' penal servitude, the judge regretting his
inability to impose a heavier punishment from the fact of proof being
wanted of the active participation of the prisoners in the atrociously
cruel murder of Cato and the other diabolical work perpetrated on board
the ill-fated ship.

We were all glad when this matter, with the examination and sickening
details that it entailed, was finally settled, and we were at liberty to
go where we liked.

Colonel Vereker more than justified my confidence in him.

"Heavens! my boy, you must and shall be as my son," he said, wringing my
hand in a grip that I knew would be faithful unto death. "Come with me
and I will make a man of you, and a rich one, too, Dick Haldane!"

"But how shall I manage about my mother and sister, sir?" said I
hesitatingly. "How shall I manage about them during my absence?"

"You can make over your salary to them, for you will not want anything
while at Caracas, as you will live with me as my private secretary," he
replied, with another hearty shake of my hand. "The money shall be paid
to your mother regularly by my agent here, so that you need have no
fears on that score as to her support. But I do not want you to decide
such an important change in your life without proper consideration, and
the advice of your friends, my boy. Go and consult Senor Applegarth,
who I know is an old friend of yours as well as being your captain; and
then, if he and your other friends advise your acceptance of my offer,
and your mother and sister are willing to part with you--why then, Dick,
you may consider the matter settled, and you, some day, will be very
thankful you accepted my offer."

The skipper did not hesitate for one moment in giving his opinion,
though, like most of my mess-mates, he was good enough to say how sorry
he would be to part with me, and how he would miss me.

"Go by all means, my lad," said he. "By George! it's a chance that
doesn't come twice in a fellow's lifetime, and you may consider your
fortune as good as made!"

Mr Fosset and Garry O'Neil were equally enthusiastic.

"Faith, now, sor!" observed the latter, with a comical air of assured
deference at my future dignified position, as he imagined it would be,
"I hope ye'll remember ye'r humble ould fri'nd Garry whim ye're
Prisidint of the Venezuelan Raypublic, mid a lot of yaller divvles for
lackeys, an' so many