eard by the first lieutenant,
who held Mr Scoones in most supreme contempt, fully believing, from
what he knew of him, that it was through his drunkenness that the ship
had been lost.

"Mr Scoones," he said, addressing that person, "it has been decided
that you should go on shore at once. If you are in a hurry to reach
Batavia, you can, without difficulty, find your way overland."

A boat was just then about to shove off. The first mate of the hapless
"Druid" having no traps to get ready, stepped into her, and was conveyed
on shore.

"Hartley," said the first lieutenant, turning to Owen, "I wish you to
draw up an exact account of the shipwreck, and state, to the best of
your belief, how it occurred, and if corroborated by your two surviving
shipmates, they shall sign it, and it shall be sent home. That fellow
ought never to get the command of a ship, or sail again even as a mate."

Owen was sorry to leave Mr Leigh, who remained in command of the prize;
at the same time he was glad to escape from Ashurst, who showed, during
a short visit he paid to the frigate to get some of his traps, that he
retained the ill-feeling he had all along manifested towards him.

Mike and Nat managed to come on board the "Sylvia" for a few moments to
congratulate Owen, they having heard of what they called his good
fortune.

"You are in your proper place now, Mr Hartley," exclaimed Nat; "one
good thing is, that Mr Ashurst won't venture to hit you with the rope's
end."

"Shure I'm mighty plased to see you made an officer, Mr Hartley," said
Mike; "when you are a commander, as you will be sartain one of these
days, I'd be proud to be your coxswain."

"I'm not a midshipman yet," answered Owen, laughing, "though I truly
thank you for your good wishes."

Owen drew up a faithful report of the loss of the "Druid," which,
meeting with the approbation of Captain Stanhope, was forwarded by the
first opportunity. The repairs to the frigate and her prize having been
made, they sailed to Batavia, where several other men-of-war were found
at anchor.

Not without some, difficulty a crew was collected to man the "Venus,"
partly from the seamen of merchant vessels in port, as also from some
who had been shipwrecked, with a few men-of-war's men from the "Sylvia"
and other ships. Mr Hawkins, the first lieutenant of the "Sylvia," who
had just been promoted to the rank of commander, received an acting
order as captain of the "Venus," and Mr Leig