tarting. The soldiers
had re-embarked, the expedition was about to proceed, when two boats
were seen rounding a point some way down the river. The seamen cheered
heartily when they discovered that their captain's gig was taking the
lead: she having at length got near, Terence, who was looking out, with
great satisfaction saw that his old shipmate, Ben Snatchblock was on
board; as the gig came up alongside he inquired for the consul and his
friend.

"They are lost," answered the captain, "not a trace could we discover of
them. They must both, poor fellows, have been drowned before they had
been many minutes in the water, and this brave fellow here was nearly
lost also in his attempt to save them. I cannot bear to think of their
sad fate, while we shall much miss their assistance. We have, however,
an unexpected addition to our force. I had gone some way down when I
saw a fire on the shore, and putting in, found Commander Babbicome and
his boat's crew encamped, he having recovered sufficiently to enable him
to come up and join us."

"How was Snatchblock saved?" asked Terence.

"By catching hold of a big tree which rose out of the water when I was
pretty nigh done for," answered Ben. "Thanks also to Commander
Babbicome and his boat's crew, who hearing my shouts came and took me
off."

The corvette's gig, with her perspiring commander (as Terence called
him), soon afterwards came up. He was full of fight and valour, and
burning with eagerness, as he said, to have a brush with the enemy. He
looked but little able to undergo any exertion, and Captain Hemming, who
thought him unfit for the work, regretted that he had joined the
expedition, though he complimented him on his zeal and determination.

"I couldn't bear the thought of being left behind, and though I knew
that I should be reduced to a pancake, and bitten into one mass of
blisters, I determined to follow you," he answered, "but it has been
trying work, I can assure you. I have lost three stone already, so Dick
Spurling, my coxswain, who is a good judge of weight, declares, and I
have made him hoist me up on his back every morning to try. And then
those abominably greedy mosquitoes! I should have thought after
feasting on the hides of two hundred fellows or more, they might have
had the conscience to let me alone, the gluttons! I had to tell the men
off into watches to wave branches over me at night, or there wouldn't
have been an ounce of blood left