acks in the stern-sheets were standing up and
gesticulating, and flourishing their clubs and lances, and encouraging
their companions. The sun at length went down, and with the last gleam
of light shed by his rays they could see the canoes still in pursuit.
Darkness, however, now rapidly rose over the deep, and hid them from
their view. Murray wisely bethought him of altering the schooner's
course more to the southward for a short time. Nearly an hour passed,
and there were no signs of the canoes. They had therefore little
apprehension that they would overtake them. The schooner was hauled up
again on a wind. The night passed away, and when morning broke neither
the canoes nor the land were in sight.

"If the breeze lasts we may hope to regain the ground we lost last
night," observed Murray. But it did not; and when once more they
reached in towards the land, they found that they had made as little
progress as before. Again, too, their provisions were running short.
Though they might catch some fish, the supply was uncertain.

"We shall have to bear up again for Cape Coast Castle after all, I am
afraid," observed Adair to Murray. "And really, Alick, if I were you, I
would leave the old craft there, and let us find our way as we best can
to Sierra Leone. Yet, of course, if you resolve to continue the voyage,
I'll stick by you. You'll not think I hesitated about that point."

"I know full well that you'd not desert me, Paddy, even if things were
ten times as bad as they are," answered Murray. "But you also know me
well enough not to suppose that I would disobey my orders and abandon
the schooner while she holds together. If she gets a slight repair,
with a fresh supply of provisions, she will be as well able to perform
the voyage as she was at first. There is no use starving, though; and
as we have scarcely anything left to eat on board, we'll keep away at
once for Cape Coast Castle."

The order to put up the helm was received with no little satisfaction by
Needham and the rest, and in less than three days the schooner was
riding safely at anchor before the old fort. The Governor received the
two midshipmen with the greatest kindness.

"Well, my lads," said he, "I suppose you have had enough of this
knocking about in your rotten old tub, and will not object to leave her
this time. We shall soon have a man-of-war here, which will carry you
up to Sierra Leone, and I will bear you free from all blame with