on board, and once more they made sail to the northward.

The old mate, as may be supposed, was in an especial ill-humour, which
he vented on poor Charley, who required comforting for the loss of his
friend. For three days he had to endure all the abuse heaped on him,
but he bore it without complaint, resolving not again, if he could help
it, to take a long cruise with Rhymer. At length a sail was seen ahead,
standing towards them. As she drew nearer--

"That's her, that's the old ship!" cried Morgan, who was on the
look-out.

Dick was right, and in another hour the ship hove to and the boat got
alongside. Rhymer's downcast countenance showed that he had
unsatisfactory intelligence to communicate. The commander listened to
his report, but made no remark; he then desired to hear Charley's
account.

"We can't let the poor boy be lost without a further effort to recover
him!" observed Captain Curtis.

He sent for Mr Hanson, and they held a consultation. The result was
that the commander determined, having already picked up the other boats,
to proceed to the mouth of the river and to send them in to inquire from
the first Arabs they could meet with what had become of the missing
midshipman and to insist on his liberation.

There was a chance also of their capturing a dhow laden with the slaves
which had been landed. The ship came off the mouth of the river at
night, and the boats were got ready to go in over the bar as soon as
there was light sufficient to see their way, by which time also the
flood would have made. Mr Hanson begged to have charge of the
expedition, as he felt an especial interest in the recovery of Ned. The
boats pulled up at a rapid rate, and soon reached the spot where the
encounter had taken place. Charley, who had accompanied Mr Hanson,
kept a look-out along the bank, half expecting to see a signal made by
Ned. No one appeared, and if there were any inhabitants, they kept out
of sight. The boats pulled up the river for ten miles or more, till Mr
Hanson's, which was leading, grounded. No trace of the missing
midshipman was discovered, and, much disappointed, the expedition
returned to the ship.

The weather proving fine, the "Ione" remained at anchor. Every day a
boat was sent in ready to receive the midshipman should he appear, but
returned with the same unsatisfactory report.

The commander, considering that everything possible had been done to
recover the midshipman, then orde