e catch them they
shall be tried and hung immediately."

"That will not be much satisfaction to us," observed Adair.

The Governor shrugged his shoulders, and Terence observed that he should
lay the matter before the admiral at Rio, who would certainly not allow
it to pass unnoticed.

The British consul, of course, said he would have the matter looked
into, but as there appeared to be no use in waiting longer, as soon as
Adair could obtain provisions and water, he and Rogers got up anchor and
sailed for Rio.

The only information the admiral was able to gain on the subject was,
that the attack had been made by a party of slave-dealers, who hoped to
surprise the brigantine, cut the throats of the prize-crew, and then
make sail to another port, and land the slaves, trusting of course to
the effects of bribery to escape detection.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

RIO--EXPEDITION UP THE HARBOUR--YARNS SPUN--HIGSON AND THE MIDSHIPMEN
CAPTURED BY SLAVE-DEALERS--IMPRISONED--TRIED--A FRIEND IN NEED--SENT
BACK TO PRISON--ESCAPE--PURSUED--JACK AS USUAL APPEARS--AGAIN AT SEA--
CHASE A SLAVER--RUN OVER HER AT NIGHT.

Every one knows that Rio de Janeiro is one of the most magnificent
harbours in the world, with its Organ mountains in the distance, its
surrounding heights covered with the richest foliage, its
curiously-shaped rocks at the entrance, and its stately city scattered
along its shores.

On entering, Jack and Terence, much to their satisfaction, found not
only the corvette but the frigate also at anchor. Having gone on board
the admiral's ship to report their arrival and the occurrence which had
taken place at Bahia, they paid a visit to Murray. Of course, Terence
gained great credit for having beaten off the pirates. He was glad to
find that he was to be relieved of the charge of the slaver, which he
had been afraid he might have to carry over to Sierra Leone.

In the harbour lay a considerable squadron of steamers and
sailing-vessels, for which a variety of work had been cut out.

The Brazilian Government had at last united with the English in the
determination of putting a stop to the importation of slaves into the
country, though they acknowledged that their own men-of-war could do
little or nothing; the fact being that the Brazilian officers were more
or less interested in supporting the abominable traffic.

Two or three other ships were in the harbour, taking in water and
provisions before going for a long c