"

Mr Hanson was delighted with the readiness shown by Mr Farrance to
forward their object, and he and his brother officer at once promised to
under take the arrangement of an expedition.

"No time then must be lost," replied Mr Farrance. "I give you and
Lieutenant Pack authority to obtain such a vessel as you consider fit
for the purpose, and to engage a crew for her, and companions for your
land journey. You will, I conclude, select a small craft which can keep
close in with the coast or run up rivers, as every mile you can go by
water will save you so much, or probably a still greater distance of
land journey."

Further arrangements having been made, the two officers and Tom Baraka
took their departure, promising to report progress.

Mr Hanson was not a man to let the grass grow under his feet, and the
old lieutenant was even more eager than his friend to get under weigh.

Within three days they paid another visit to Mr Farrance. They had
purchased a schooner of about 150 tons, which had once been a yacht--a
fast craft. Hands had been engaged, chiefly from the crew of the
"Ione"; three men from Cowes accustomed to fore and aft vessels, one of
whom was to act as mate. The fitting out of the schooner would be an
easy matter, but the preparations for the land journey required more
time and consideration. The only two people who had as yet undertaken
to go were Charley Meadows and Tom Baraka. Two stout Africans who had
lately arrived in England on board a ship from India, and who stated
that when boys they had been captured on the east coast, but had escaped
from Madagascar, to which island they had been carried, to an English
merchantman, appeared well suited for the undertaking. Mr Hanson was
only waiting until he could hear more about them.

Being satisfied with their testimonials he engaged them, and the next
day, as he was prosecuting his search in the neighbourhood of the docks,
he met with an Arab and three Lascars, of whom, on inquiry of the
masters of the ships who brought them home, he obtained a favourable
report. The Lascars were brave and useful fellows, while the Arab spoke
English fairly, and he had already penetrated some way into the interior
of Africa.

Both officers, assisted by Charley Meadows, who had been sent for, were
engaged from morning until night in superintending the preparations.
The old lieutenant when he quitted home had expected to return, but as
the "Hope" was ready for