one," he cried. "Three of them, boys, and heartily!"

"Silence, please. Higgens, direct Mr Stapleton to the spare cabin and
see to him. Thank you, lads, we like to see a plucky act recognised."

It was an officer who spoke, and at his word the men gave another cheer
and departed, while Dick, still somewhat overcome at the honour done
him, followed the mess servant who had appeared, and went down to a
cabin. Here he stripped off his rags, and was invited to pass through a
narrow doorway to the bath. When he emerged, dripping and feeling
wonderfully fresh, there was the mess servant waiting to give him a
rub-down, and to help him to dress, for his shoulders were now
excessively stiff, while his knee was very painful. He was, in fact,
sore all over. But his joy at being amongst friends was great, and he
made light of the pain.

"Mr Hilden's compliments, sir, and he thinks these garments will be
about the size. He hopes you will make use of them."

The servant, who was one of the marines, held out a suit of white, and
Dick gladly availed himself of the clothing. There was a complete
change of linen also, and when at length he hobbled from the cabin he
was looking spruce and neat again--a clean young Englishman, modest of
manner, well grown, and with that air of quiet determination which is so
common to young men of our race, and which sat so well on him. No one
would have thought that this young fellow had been up-country in a
responsible position, and that he had so recently had such a tussle with
the natives.

"What shall I do with these?" asked the servant, politely, smothering a
smile as he pointed to Dick's discarded rags.

"Throw them overboard, or burn them, please," was the smiling answer,
"and--er--er--"

"James, sir."

"Well, James, is there anything--?"

"Breakfast waiting, sir. Yes, sir. This way. The officers are
waiting."

He led the way to the gunroom, and in another minute our hero was
limping across the polished boards to where a long table was placed
between two of the guns. There were a dozen officers there, more or
less, and they at once rose to greet him.

"Glad to see you about again, Stapleton," said one, who looked as if he
were the senior. "Let me introduce my friends. Officers of H.M.S.
_Rattlesnake_, Mr Stapleton; Dick Stapleton, I think."

He said the last with a pleasant smile, while Dick bowed to those
present.

"Dick Stapleton, I think," repeated the officer.