em, was
wringing our hands as though he would wring them off.

Smellie saw the exquisite agony which our warm-hearted "first luff" was
unconsciously inflicting upon _me_ by his effusive greeting, and
thoughtfully interposed with a--

"Gently, Edgar, old fellow. I am afraid you are handling poor Hawkesley
a little roughly. He has received rather a bad hurt in the right
shoulder to-night in our fight with the schooner's people."

"Fight!--schooner's people! I beg your pardon, Hawkesley; I hope I
haven't hurt you. Why, you never mean to say you have had to _fight_
for the schooner?" Austin interrupted, aghast. "Well, we _took_ her by
surprise; but her people proved very troublesome, and very pertinacious
in their efforts to get her back again," Smellie replied. "But, come,
let us get on board the old _Daphne_ once more. I long to set foot on
her planks again; and, like Hawkesley here, I shall not be sorry to
renew my acquaintance with Burnett."

So said, so done. We made our way into the boat, leaving the prize crew
to secure the prisoners, and a few minutes later stood once more safe,
if not altogether sound, on the deck of the dear old _Daphne_.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

A STERN CHASE--AND A FRUITLESS ONE.

"Welcome back to the _Daphne_, gentlemen!" exclaimed Captain Vernon as
he met us at the gangway and extended his hand, first to Smellie and
then to me. "This is indeed a pleasant surprise--for all hands, I will
venture to say, though Armitage loses his step, at least _pro tem_., in
consequence of your reappearance, Mr Smellie. But he is a good-hearted
fellow, and when he entered my cabin to report you alongside, though he
seemed a trifle incredulous as to your personality, he was as delighted
as a schoolboy at the prospect of a holiday."

Smellie took the skipper's extended hand, and after replying suitably to
his greeting, said:

"I must beg you will excuse Hawkesley, sir, if he gives you his left
instead of his right hand. His starboard shoulder has been disabled to-
night by a pistol-bullet whilst supporting me most intrepidly in the
task of bringing out the schooner."

The skipper seized my left hand with his right, and pressing it
earnestly yet gently, said:

"I am proud and pleased to hear so gratifying an account of you,
Hawkesley. Mr Armitage has already borne witness to your gallantry
during the night attack upon the slavers; and it was with deep and
sincere sorrow that I received the