on; and within the next fortnight I had
the satisfaction of finding myself a full-blown lieutenant.

Meanwhile, the Mixed Commission had condemned all four of our prizes--as
indeed they could not avoid doing--and the crews were sentenced to long
terms of imprisonment with hard labour in chains upon the roads. Then
there arose the question of replacing the _Psyche_ on the station; and
at the earnest representation of Captain Perry the Commodore was induced
to take upon himself the responsibility of purchasing the _Josefa_ into
the service, rechristening her the _Eros_, and commissioning her under
the command of Captain Perry, who at once arranged for the whole of the
officers and crew of the _Psyche_ to accompany him.

Then, arising out of the loss of the _Psyche_, another matter was
brought to the fore which was destined to exercise a very important
influence upon my fortunes. This matter had reference to the dearth of
shallow-draught vessels in the slave squadron vessels capable of
following the slavers in over the bars of the African rivers and
fighting them upon equal terms. At the moment in question we had not a
ship in the squadron drawing less than fourteen feet of water;
consequently, when a slaver entered a shallow river, or a river with a
shallow bar, such a course of procedure as that which had led up to the
loss of the _Psyche_ was imperative; and it was very strongly felt that
the time had arrived for an improvement in the conditions. The result
was that _El Caiman_ also was purchased into the service, rechristened
the _Dolphin_, and placed under my command with a crew of sixty, all
told; of whom, however, Jack Keene, midshipman, and Tasker, the gunner's
mate--who in his new ship held the rank of gunner--were the only
individuals with whom I had already been shipmate; the rest were a
motley crowd indeed, collected out of the gutters and slums of Freetown.
The _Dolphin_, it was arranged, was to act in the first instance as
tender to the _Eros_; but, later, might perhaps be detached for certain
special work which was just then beginning to attract the attention of
the authorities.

There was, however, still another matter that was at that moment forcing
itself upon the attention of the Commodore; and that was the doings of
two craft which were pursuing the nefarious business of slavers, with a
measure of audacity that was only equalled by the impunity with which
they worked. They were said to be sister