to give some directions to his
native crew.

Till the pilot vessel re-entered the Hooghly, and Morton lost sight of
the Indiaman, his eye was seldom off her, while his thoughts were even
still more constant.

Once more he was on board the "Thisbe." He felt no inclination to
revisit Calcutta, and he only went up there once to pay his respects to
Mrs Edmonstone. She very naturally talked of Miss Armytage, and spoke
warmly in her praise. It was a subject of which Morton was not likely
to grow tired.

"Admiral Rainier tells me that he has ordered the `Thisbe' to proceed to
Bombay, so that you will have an opportunity of renewing your
acquaintance with my young friend," she added. "I think that I shall
charge you with a small parcel for her; some articles which were not
ready before she sailed."

This was delightful news for Morton. He had not heard that there was
any chance of the frigate being sent round to that presidency. Of
course it was not out of the pale of probability that Mrs Edmonstone
was likely to know where the ship was to be sent before the officers
belonging to her. Two or three days passed before the captain himself
had the information confirmed by the admiral's secretary.

"You are right, Morton," he said when he came on board. "We are bound
for Bombay, and if we put our best foot foremost we shall get there as
soon as that old tea-chest, the `Osterley.'"

Morton got his parcel from Mrs Edmonstone, and three days afterwards
the "Thisbe's" keel was ploughing the waters of the Indian Ocean.
During the voyage one pair of eyes, at all events, kept a bright look
out for any sail of the appearance of the "Osterley" Indiaman. The
second lieutenant was continually going aloft, spy-glass in hand,
sweeping the horizon. Some of his shipmates might have suspected the
cause, but he gave no reason for this practice which he had adopted. It
was war time, and he might have been on the look-out for an enemy.

"We shall be much obliged to you, Morton, if you make out a rich prize
some day," observed Sims. "A Dutchman from Java, or a Spaniard from the
Manillas, would be about the thing."

Day after day passed, but neither friend nor foe was seen.

At length, however, the "Thisbe" touched at Ponte de Galle, when she
fell in with another frigate direct from England, which had letters on
board for her. Ronald got one from his father. He could not bring
himself to live on shore, and having applied for em