eiving from Tom and Archy
the last message which her father sent her.

Although the consul promised to protect her, and the ladies of the
family treated her with the greatest sympathy and kindness, she was
naturally anxious to join her friends in Jamaica, and Murray was also
unwilling that she should remain longer on shore than possible.

There were few places at that time more disorganised and disturbed than
Carthagena. The consul himself and his family, indeed, were frightened,
and gladly accepted Murray's invitation to take up their quarters on
board the _Supplejack_, till matters were in a more settled state on
shore. The consul's boat was in readiness, and the whole party were
soon assembled on the deck of the brig. Their departure showed the
government that the commander intended to carry out his threat of
sending for a fleet to bombard their town should his demands not be
complied with. Another messenger was therefore despatched to hasten the
departure of the captured merchantmen, which, the wind being favourable,
within the time allowed were seen entering the harbour.

As his duty would not allow Murray to leave Carthagena until he had
received instructions from the admiral, he determined forthwith to send
the _Sarah Jane_ with an account of the event which had occurred, and to
ask for instructions.

As soon as she came to an anchor, Higson, Tom, and Archy, with a boat's
crew were sent on board. Great was the midshipmen's delight when they
stepped on deck to see "Master Spider" on the top of the caboose,
apparently on excellent terms with his new associates; he knew his old
friends, however, at once, and came hopping down to greet them with
every demonstration of pleasure.

The brig was in a terribly dirty condition, and the furniture of the
cabin was considerably damaged, while the greater part of her cargo and
every article of value had been carried off.

The native crew was sent on shore, and Murray picked out the most
respectable of her former ship's company, with two or three of the best
men out of the sloop to man her, promising them a handsome reward if
they behaved well.

Though he could ill spare Higson, there was no one else to whom he could
entrust the command of her.

He felt bound also to send the three midshipmen back to their ships, and
the confidence he had in Needham made him resolve to send him, and in
addition he picked out four good men from the _Supplejack_.

"I hope we have