der received the visitors on the quarter-deck. He looked like one
who was eminently well qualified to hunt up, run down, cut out, or in
any other mode make away with pirates. There was much of the
bull-terrier in him--solid, broad, short, large-chested--no doubt also
large-hearted--active, in the prime of life, with short black curly
hair, a short black beard and moustache, a square chin, a pleasant
smile, a prominent nose, and an eagle eye. Indeed he might himself have
made a splendid chief of the very race against which he waged "war to
the knife."

"Glad to make your acquaintance, Mr Berrington," said the captain,
holding out his hand. "The native policeman has told me all about your
friends--I understand them to be such?"

"Yes--intimate friends."

"Well, this business is quite in my way. I shall be glad to take you
with me. But who are these?" he added, looking at Edgar's companions.

"They are comrades, and might do good service if you will allow them to
volunteer."

"My crew is complete," said the captain, doubtfully, "except, indeed,
that my chief engineer is just dead, but none of your men look as if
they could fill his shoes."

"That is true, but I can fill them myself," said Edgar, eagerly.

"Indeed!"

"Yes, I am an engineer by profession; my comrades are professional
divers. We have been engaged on a wreck here for some time past."

"Good," said the captain; "are your dresses and apparatus at hand?"

"Some of them are."

"Then bring them aboard at once. I leave in an hour. Just bring what
you have handy. Lose no time. I will take your men also. They may be
of use."

Within an hour after the foregoing conversation Molly Machowl was left
disconsolate in the pagoda under the care of Chok-foo, while the Rajah's
gun-boat was steaming out to sea with Edgar, Baldwin, Rooney, Maxwell,
and Ram-stam added to her warlike crew.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

BEARDING THE LION IN HIS DEN.

Steam has pretty well subdued time. Fifty years ago it was a mighty
feat to "put a circle round the globe." Now-a-days a "Cook"--by no
means a captain--will take or send you round it in "a few weeks."

Romantic reader, don't despair! By such means romance has undoubtedly
been affected in some degree, but let not that grieve thee! Romance has
by no means been taken out of the world; nor has it been, to use an
unromantic phrase, reduced in quantity or quality. Human inventions and
appliances alter the aspect