to the harbour. There lay the little
_Supplejack_, like a bull-dog watching his charge, with Long Tom still
pointed at her prize, while her young commander, ever vigilant, walked
her deck.

Very great, as may be supposed, was his delight when he saw the corvette
glide up to an anchorage, and when Captain Hemming came on board.

"Since the _Sarah Jane_ sailed, I have not once set foot on shore," said
Murray, after the first greetings were over; "I acted, as I thought, for
the best, and I hope that the admiral was not inclined to find fault
with me for what I have done."

"Find fault with you! On the contrary, my dear fellow, he is
delighted," answered Captain Hemming. "He also told me in confidence
that you may depend on your promotion. By the bye, your young relative
Gordon is the bearer of a despatch which will give you further
information. I'll leave you to read it while I have a talk with the
consul who, I see, has just come off."

The despatch which Archy delivered to his cousin need not be made
public, though it afforded him intense satisfaction.

The consul, after a brief conversation with Captain Hemming, returned on
shore to communicate with General Carmona. It was reported on board
that the general had offered, as he could not restore the British
subjects he had shot to life, to give up an equal number of natives to
be dealt with in the same manner, should the English commander be so
disposed.

Although he talked a little big about being compelled to give up the two
merchant vessels which had been legally captured, he was glad enough to
drop the subject on condition that his corvette and schooners were
restored to him, while he promised in future never to shoot, hang, or
imprison any British subject without a legal trial; thus the matter
being settled, "Long Tom" was once more housed, and the _Supplejack_
sailed out of the harbour.

Murray, not supposing that anything of consequence was likely to take
place, was much disappointed when, instead of proceeding to Jamaica, he
was ordered to join the other ships on their way to Nicaragua.

Both the three lieutenants and the three midshipmen, though on the same
service, were now separated, Gordon having remained on board the
frigate, Desmond having joined the corvette, while Tom continued with
his brother.

Various were the surmises as to the sort of service in which they were
to be engaged. All they knew was that the President of an insignificant