d George, "I scarcely know; but I suppose I shall endeavour
to get a berth on board a homeward-bound ship, or work my passage home.
There is nothing else that I can do, for I am absolutely penniless."

"Well," said Captain Singleton, "if a sufficient sum to defray the
expenses of your passage home would be of any service to you, I dare say
I could manage to raise such an amount, and you shall be heartily
welcome to it."

"Thank you, very much," returned George; "but I could not possibly
accept your exceedingly kind offer, even as a loan, for I could not be
certain of ever being in a position to repay it. No, I shall have to
get a berth of some kind."

Four days after the above conversation the cruise of the _Hebe_
terminated, and on the day following George and Tom found themselves
cast adrift, as it were, in the sandy streets of Kingston.

They were not absolutely penniless, however; for, in addition to a good
serviceable suit of clothes apiece out of the slop-chest, Captain
Singleton had insisted upon George's accepting a ten-pound note, to meet
their more immediate needs, and, being in a friendly port now, the two
seamen had very little doubt of getting employment of some kind or other
before long.

Their idea was first to make the round of the various shipping agents'
offices, and endeavour to obtain a berth on a homeward-bound ship. If
that failed, then George thought they might possibly, aided by Captain
Singleton's influence, obtain work in the dockyard at Port Royal; and,
if the worst came to the worst, they could always depend with absolute
certainty upon being received on board a man-o'-war.

In pursuance of the first-mentioned plan, they were wending their way
along the street, when, as they passed the entrance to a large general
store, they were violently jostled by a man who was making his exit from
the place with considerable precipitation.

"Beg pardon, shipmates, no damage done, I hope. I ought to have kept a
better lookout when crowding sail to the extent--why--why--no, it
_can't_ be; and yet--hang me if it _ain't_, after all. Well, this _is_
a pleasant surprise, and no mistake. Cap'n, how are ye? And you, Tom,
how did them damned slave-drivers treat you?"

It was Mr Bowen, the late chief mate of the _Aurora_. He was dressed
in the somewhat rough garb of the mate of a coasting schooner, but was
looking well and hearty nevertheless, and certainly had nothing of the
appearance of a man who