made up a tolerable ship's company for you, Higson," he
said; "keep a watchful eye over them, and do not trust them too much;
they have ample inducement to behave well, but they have been so long, I
suspect, engaged in lawless pursuits, that it is impossible to say what
tricks they may take it into their heads to play."

Murray was constantly on board the _Sarah Jane_, endeavouring to restore
her cabin to its former state of comfort. He felt that Stella could not
stay on board the _Supplejack_ with him, and painful as it was to part
with her, his only course was to send her at once to her friends in
Jamaica.

She herself saw the propriety of this, and made no demur. "I can trust
you confidently to the care of Mr Higson and your former young
protectors," he said, as he made the proposal. "As soon as duty will
allow me I hope to return to Jamaica, and then I trust that nothing will
occur to prevent me from making you mine, and giving me the right to
protect and watch over you."

Scarcely half an hour had elapsed after this before Stella was once more
on board the _Sarah Jane_. Sail was made, the anchor lifted, and the
brig with a fair wind glided out of the harbour.

Murray continued on board her as far as he could venture to sea, but as
he dared not be long absent from the _Supplejack_, he was at length
compelled to return.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

STELLA AND THE MIDSHIPMEN SAIL FOR JAMAICA IN THE SARAH JANE--VOYAGE--
ARRIVAL--JACK'S DELIGHT AT RECOVERING TOM--STELLA GOES TO THE
BRADSHAWS--HIGSON PROMOTED--THE PLANTAGENET AND TUDOR SAIL FOR
CARTHAGENA--THEY QUICKLY SETTLE ALL DIFFICULTIES--PROCEED TO THE
MOSQUITO SHORE--BOAT EXPEDITION UP THE SAN JUAN DE NICARAGUA--NIGHT
ENCAMPMENT--VISIT OF A PUMA--A CHASE--SCENERY OF THE RIVER--BIRDS AND
MONKEYS--VOYAGE CONTINUED--AN UNPLEASANT BED ON AN ANTHILL--APPROACHING
THE ENEMY--A SAD ACCIDENT--ALARM--THE CAPTAIN ATTEMPTS TO RESCUE THE
DROWNING MEN--DOES NOT RETURN.

The _Sarah Jane_ meeting with fine weather and a fair wind glided
rapidly across the Caribbean Sea. Higson felt proud of his first
command, and soon gained that self-confidence which long years spent in
a subordinate position had made him doubt that he possessed. The
midshipmen supported him well, and Needham, who acted as boatswain,--and
a more thorough man-of-war's-man never stepped,--assisted to keep the
rest of the crew in good order. Tom Rogers was declared "First
Lieutenant," and he walked the de