clesiastics,
whose power in the eastern seas was even greater than it was at
home.

Tidore was the furthest of the Portuguese settlements, and the
ship, having now made her round, was to return direct to Goa. The
priest hesitated whether to remain, or to return in her. He had
made it one of the conditions of peace with Ternate that a
missionary should be received there, a place of worship erected,
and that he should be allowed to open schools, and to teach the
tenets of his religion to all; and he hesitated whether he would,
himself, at once take up that post, or whether he would report the
matter at Goa, where perhaps it might be decided to send a priest
who had acquired something of the language of the Southern Seas. He
finally decided upon the latter course.

The governor furnished the lads with letters, recommending them
most warmly to the viceroy, and stating the great services which
they had rendered to him in the defense of the island; saying,
indeed, that had it not been for their prudence, and valor, it was
probable that the natives would have succeeded in destroying the
small body of Portuguese, and in massacring the reinforcements
landed from the vessel. The priest also, while viewing the young
men with the natural horror of a Portuguese ecclesiastic for
heretics, was yet impressed with the services that they had
rendered; and considered their own shortcomings to be, in a great
measure, atoned for by the wholesale conversion which had, to some
extent, been effected by their means.

Bidding a hearty adieu to the governor, they took their places on
board ship and sailed for Goa. It was a six weeks' voyage, but the
vessel was well furnished with provisions and, after their
hardships, the boys greatly enjoyed the rest and tranquility on
board. In due time they found themselves lying off the mouth of the
river up which, at a short distance from its mouth, the capital of
Portuguese India was situated.

Chapter 22: Home.

The captain, who was accompanied by the priest, rowed up the river
to report the arrival of the ship and the events of his voyage to
the authorities, and to place in their hands the letter of the
governor of Tidore. Twenty-four hours later the captain returned,
with orders for the ship to sail up the river; and that, on their
arrival, the young Englishmen were to be landed and conducted to
the presence of the viceroy himself.

The young adventurers, much as they had traveled, we