could do his duty in foul weather as well as in fine. Then there were
calms and light winds.

The line was passed. Much to O'Connor's disappointment, the commander
would not allow the usual customs, having given notice that he should
not receive "Daddy Neptune" and his Tritons on board.

The ship put into Rio, in South America, which, though apparently out of
her course, was not really so. Having remained a few days in that
magnificent harbour, and obtained a supply of fresh provisions and
water, she again sailed, and soon fell in with the south-easterly trade
wind, which carried her rapidly without a tack across the Atlantic.
Table Bay was soon reached, and the officers were anticipating a run on
shore, when the commander received orders to sail immediately for the
east coast, to assist in putting a stop to the trade in slaves, said to
be carried on along it for the supply of the Persian and Arabian
markets. Many of the mess grumbled at being sent off so soon again to
sea, and declared that they would have remained on shore had they known
they were to be engaged in such abominable work.

"I have heard all about it," exclaimed Rhymer. "We shall never have a
moment's quiet, but be chasing those Arab dhows night and day, and if we
capture any, have to crowd up our decks with hundreds of dirty
blackamoors, whom we shall be obliged to nurse and feed until we can set
them on shore, with the chances of fever or small-pox and all sorts of
complaints breaking out among them."

Very different were Ned's feelings when he heard the news; it was the
very station to which he had hoped the ship might be sent. His
knowledge of the good qualities possessed by Tom Baraka made him sure
that the blacks were not the despicable race some of his messmates were
disposed to consider them. They, at all events, had immortal souls, and
might with the same advantages become as civilised and as good a
Christian as Tom was. There was a possibility, though a very remote
one, that he might fall in with Tom's wife and child, and he pictured to
himself the satisfaction of being able to restore them to liberty. He
did not, however, express his feelings, except to Charley, as he
considered, justly, that it would be like throwing pearls before swine
to say anything of the sort to Rhymer or O'Connor, who would only have
laughed at him.

The "Ione" had a quick passage round the south coast of Africa, and she
now entered the Mozambique Channel