w seconds.

Both men were expert and rapid swimmers. The natives watched them in
absolute silence and open-mouthed surprise.

A few minutes sufficed to carry the swimmers to the beach.

"Have your rifles handy, lads," said the officer in charge of the boat
to his men.

"Stand by," said the captain of the "Furious" to the men at the guns.

But these precautions were unnecessary, for when the swimmers landed and
walked up the beach they were seen by the man-of-war's-men to shake
hands with the chief of the savages, and, after what appeared to be a
brief palaver, to rub noses with him. Then the entire host turned and
led the visitors towards the village.

With a heart almost bursting from the combined effects of
disappointment, humiliation, and grief, poor Ebony stood at the stern of
the man-of-war, his arms crossed upon his brawny chest, and his great
eyes swimming in irrepressible tears, a monstrous bead of which would
every now and then overflow its banks and roll down his sable cheek.

Suddenly the heart-stricken negro clasped his hands together, bowed his
head, and dropped into the sea!

The captain, who had seen him take the plunge, leaped to the stern, and
saw him rise from the water, blow like a grampus, and strike out for
land with the steady vigour of a gigantic frog.

"Pick him up!" shouted the captain to the boat, which was by that time
returning to the ship.

"Ay, ay, sir," was the prompt reply.

The boat was making straight for the negro and he for it. Neither
diverged from the straight course.

"Two of you in the bow, there, get ready to haul him in," said the
officer.

Two sturdy sailors drew in their oars, got up, and leaned over the bow
with outstretched arms. Ebony looked at them, bestowed on them a
tremendous grin, and went down with the oily ease of a northern seal!

When next seen he was full a hundred yards astern of the boat, still
heading steadily for the shore.

"Let him go!" shouted the captain.

"Ay, ay, sir," replied the obedient officer.

And Ebony went!

Meanwhile our missionary, having told the wondering savages that he
brought them _good news_, was conducted with his companion to Ongoloo's
hut. But it was plain that the good news referred to, and even Waroonga
himself, had not nearly so great an effect on them as the sight of
Orlando, at whom they gazed with an expression half of fear and half of
awe which surprised him exceedingly.

"Your story is not new to u