ed with the barbaric language of the up-river
natives, through whom we should be able to communicate with them and
carry on the necessary negotiations. And such a man it was now my first
duty and anxiety to secure. I had given this matter a great deal of
careful consideration during our passage, and had at length determined
upon the course of action that seemed to promise the most successful
results; and it was in accordance with this determination that I
anchored in Banana Creek instead of proceeding forthwith up the river to
the spot named by Mendouca as the scene of the captivity of the
_Sapphire's_ boats' crews.

I entered the river without any disguise of any sort, showing British
colours and the man-o'-war's pennant; and, as I had expected, our old
friend Lobo soon came alongside in his gig, with his usual stereotyped
smiles and bows, and offers to supply us with anything and everything
that we might happen to want. I took care to be below when he boarded
us; and, in accordance with previous arrangements, Gowland, who met the
fellow upon his arrival, proposed that he should go down into the cabin
and see me personally upon the business of his visit. He at once
assented, willingly, Gowland following him down, and when the two had
entered, the sentry at the cabin-door closed it after them.

"Ah, good-morning, sar," exclaimed Lobo to me, as he entered. "Glad to
see you back in the river, sar! I hope dat de capitan and officers of
de beautiful _Barracouta_ are all well? Ah, gentlemen, dat was a ver'
fine bit of vork, dat attack of yours upon Chango Creek; ver' fine and
ver' successful. I 'ave alvays been proud of _my_ share in dat exploit.
But, gentlemen, you mus' please never so much as vhisper dat I, Joaquin
Miguel Lobo, had anything to do vid it. My vord, if you did, de rascal
slavers vould cut my t'roat for me, and de man-o'-war gentlemen vould
lose a fait'ful ally."

"No doubt, Senor Lobo," agreed I genially. "But, never fear, you are
perfectly safe from betrayal to the slavers, so far as we are concerned;
you shall find us as faithful to you as you have been to us. But sit
down, man, and let me offer you a glass of wine."

With many bows and wreathed smiles, and deprecating elevations of the
shoulders, Lobo took the seat to which I pointed him, and I touched a
bell.

"Steward, put the wine and some glasses on the table, will you; and also
a box of cigars that you will find on the shelf in my cabi