like jelly, for I says it's a blessing that the
beggar's gone."

"Yes, Massa Tom. No 'fraid no more. All a blessing Massa Huggins
gone."

"And all his men, darkie."

"Yes, sah, and all his men. They never come back no more."

"What is it?" said Murray, coming up. "Have you found out anything
more?"

Tom May made an announcement which Murray communicated to the wounded
lieutenant, and he had hardly finished when the sound of firing began
again.

"What's that?" cried Mr Anderson, raising himself upon one arm.
"There, you needn't tell me, Murray, lad; I know. It's the captain
attacking, or being attacked by, some of the slaving scoundrels, and we
are not there to help him."

"But surely, sir, we have been helping him by what we have done," said
Murray; and the lieutenant stretched out his hand, wincing and groaning
as he did so, and clutched the midshipman's arm.

"Thank you, my dear boy," he said; "that does me good. We have been
helping him, haven't we?"

"Why, of course, sir. That explosion has ended in killing the chief
slaver, the head of the gang, as well as a terrible number of his
wretched followers."

"So it has, Mr Murray; so it has. Your doing too."

"Oh no, sir; I only played my part. We did," said Murray, smiling.

"We? Nonsense! You fired the train."

"Yes, sir, as your deputy, and with your instructions. It was done by
us in following out duties that the captain would have wished carried
out."

"Ha! Thank you, Mr Murray. I am weak and faint and troubled by the
idea that I have not done my part."

"Oh, nonsense, sir. There, let me put this wet handkerchief to your
head. You're feverish again."

"Thank you, Murray," sighed the lieutenant gratefully. "You are a good
fellow. I wish Mr Roberts were as good an officer."

"Well, you have your wish, sir," said Murray laughingly. "He'd have
done his share if he hadn't been wounded."

"Ah, yes; how is he?"

"Getting better, sir, certainly."

"That's good, Murray," said the lieutenant, with a sigh. "I want to
make as good a show of the men as I can when I have to face the captain
again. I'm afraid, though, that it will be a very bad one, eh?"

"Plenty of wounded, sir, but none very bad. The poor fellows have
broken down a bit now that the work's done, but they'll soon mend."

"Then you don't think, Murray, that the captain will find much fault
with me and my men?"

"He'd be very unreasonable if he did, sir."

"Hah