truthful
answer could possibly be procured. They had an interpreter, a Chinese,
who spoke English, though rather of a funny sort, and as it required a
good deal of cleverness to comprehend it, it may be supposed what he
professed to wish to communicate was not always very clear. The man who
might most have assisted them, Hoddidoddi, had been missing ever since
Rogers' and Adair's battle on the island, and it was supposed that he
must have concealed himself for the purpose of returning home. The
_Dugong_ had been three days at sea, when a clipper schooner, with dark
hull, square yards, and a most rakish look, hove in sight early in the
morning, and approached the frigate.

"On the coast of Africa, I should say that the fellow was not honest,"
observed Mr Cherry, who had the morning watch, to Adair; "I wonder what
he wants."

"A very pirate or slaver," replied Adair, "but she is only, I suspect,
an honest opium-smuggler."

"Honest, do you call her?" exclaimed the lieutenant. "If because a vile
system is carried on openly it is to be considered honest, then slaving
is honest, and piracy, and highway robbery, for that matter. See,
however, her gallant skipper is not afraid of us. Look, with what a
self-satisfied air he walks the deck with his gold-lace cap, and glass
under his arm. They are preparing to lower a boat, and he'll come to
pay his respects as one captain does to another."

In a short time the master of the schooner made his appearance on the
deck of the frigate. Captain Grant got up to receive him. He was an
intelligent, dashing-looking young man.

"I am glad that I have fallen in with you, sir," he began. "Last night,
just before sunset, I heard some firing, and standing in the direction
from which the sound came, I observed a brig-of-war apparently almost
surrounded by junks not far from the land, to the southward of this--out
there. I made sail, hoping to render her assistance; but so large a
force of sailing and row junks sallied out from behind a point of land
and made towards me, that, as I have lost half my crew with sickness and
a former battle with a squadron of the villains, I was compelled to up
stick and run for it. I shall be glad, however, to return with you, and
assist in piloting you to the spot."

"Thank you, captain--thank you," answered Captain Grant, extending his
hand. He wisely never denied nominal rank to masters of vessels,
however employed. "I most gladly accept your