elations and friends of the gallant
fellows who lost their lives, that a very important work has been
performed, and that the capture of this stronghold of the slave-trade
will prove one of the severest blows that hateful traffic has ever
experienced. It has done much also, I trust, to advance the cause of
religion and civilisation in Africa, and will help, I hope, to wipe away
the dark stain which is attached to many of the so-called Christian
nations of the world. Akitoye is now installed King of Lagos. He
professes great friendship for the English, as well as for the people of
Abeokuta. If he proves the stern enemy of the slave-trade and the true
friend of Christianity, we shall not have fought in vain."

On searching for the Spanish and Portuguese slave-dealers, by whom the
Lagos people had been trained to arms, none were to be found. They had
fled, and as their property was completely destroyed, they have never
since returned. The midshipmen heard that their old acquaintance Don
Diogo was one of those who had establishments there, but they could not
hear anything of him, nor what had become of the felucca, on board of
which he was last seen. One thing was very certain, that his love for
the English generally, or for them in particular, could not have been
increased when he found that all his property in Lagos had been
destroyed. The squadron at length once more put to sea, and Lagos has
ever since virtually been under the jurisdiction of the British
Government, who retain it for the purpose of keeping in check the
traffic in slaves.

The frigate had been some weeks at sea before she at length fell in with
the _Archer_, which Murray had then to rejoin. All three of the
midshipmen were beginning to look forward to the time when they might
hope once more to return to England. Still they were perfectly content,
till the time arrived, steadily to go on in the performance of their
duty.

When Murray left the frigate he took with him his two parrots, Polly and
Nelly, but Queerface remained, and Adair declared that under his
judicious system of education he had become one of the most learned and
sagacious of monkeys. He said that it reminded him very much of Don
Diogo, and so he and Jack amused themselves by rigging him out in a
dress similar to that in which they had seen the old Don appear. The
imitation was so good that the moment Queerface sprang up on deck the
likeness was recognised by all who saw him.