he launch, was Johnnie, waving to his bosom friends above, his short
clay pipe gripped between his sharp white teeth, and emitting now the
aroma of a different brand of tobacco, the powerful, far-penetrating
scent of Navy shag, the smoke which tries the stomach of the raw
recruits. Johnnie was unaltered in appearance, save that he had had a
wash. A bucket and a piece of soap had transformed him sufficiently,
and he stood there below in his old clothing, looking just as he did at
the stockade, save that the garments were now more ragged and stained,
while there was a huge rent extending up one leg to the knee. The wound
on his cheek was there, covered with a piece of strapping, which gave it
unusual and ghastly proportions. Johnnie was undoubtedly proud of that
wound, and thought no more of lost beauty. He laughed and chattered,
and seeing Dick about to descend, called out a final farewell to his
late entertainers.

"Golly! you come all to Sierra Leone and see how Johnnie do for yo!
Plenty eat, plenty drink, and all berry glad yo come. Dance and sing,
play de banjo or flute. Yes, yo come, and Massa Dick be dere to meet
yo. S'long, yo boys; glad we meet."

There was a roar from the deck above.

"So long, cocky. If yer get tired o' stokin' that 'ere kettle, jest
apply aboard this here ship. Plenty of baccy and grub, cocky, and
you'll be welcome. And, Johnnie," one of the voices suddenly broke in,
silencing the others, "when yer come again with Mr Stapleton, jest
remember that quids is scarce aboard this here ship. Jest tip 'im the
wink and bring aboard a few of them 'ere bags o' gold. We could do with
a little extry pay and allowances."

That brought forth another roar, and a cheer as Dick took his place at
the tiller, a tiller which now, thanks to the kindness of the Commodore
and the skill of the carpenter, had been refitted.

"Cast off!" cried Dick. "Ahead. Let 'er have it. Sound that whistle,
Johnnie."

They went away from the side of the _Rattlesnake_ with a rush, and were
soon steaming along the coast, increasing their distance from their late
friends rapidly. Then they set their eyes towards Elmina and Cape Coast
Castle, which they hoped to reach before night. Presently they sighted
the fort at Elmina, with the native town and the expanse of cleared
ground, precautions which the Dutch had taken against fever, but which,
in spite of the example thus set them, and the crying need, the English