humbugged? Yes, that's exactly what I
do mean. Why, doctor, doctor, at your time of life consider."

"But----"

"Come, come, get rid of this silly fancy, old friend."

"At least," insisted the doctor, "do me the favour to communicate with
the consul."

"Indeed, I shall do nothing of the kind. You can see the British consul
if you like, and a rare laugh he'll enjoy at your expense when he sees
how you have been duped by this young scoundrel."

"Ahem!"

* * * *

Well, the doctor did not communicate with the consul after this, and
Jack Harkaway waited with his companions, Mole and the "wet blanket,"
Harry Girdwood, and the two faithful darkeys, and waited in vain.

Waited until they grew heart-sick with hope deferred.

CHAPTER XCVIII.

JOE DEERING AT HOME AGAIN--ON THE LOOKOUT--NEWS AT LAST--JOVIAL CAPTAIN
ROBINSON IN DANGER.

We must cross the Channel to England again.

But not for long.

One character in our drama of real life has not appeared upon the scene
for some time.

We allude to the skipper of the "Albatross," Joe Deering.

Captain Deering had finished his course and returned to his native
land.

He was anxious to get home, for he had a purpose in view.

He wished to rout out two men to whom he owed a very deep grudge, which
he was fully determined to pay off.

One was Mr. Murray, the treacherous owner of the ill-fated "Albatross,"
for Captain Deering, it should be borne in mind, was ignorant of the
wretched man's well-merited fate.

The other was that traitor friend of his, the accomplice of the elder
Murray--jovial Captain Robinson.

Joe Deering was in earnest, and he pursued his inquiries with the
utmost diligence.

The jovial captain was not to be heard of anywhere at first.

But Joe Deering, baffled here, like a skilled mariner as he was, set
out on another tack.

He made his inquiries for Mr. Murray alone.

"Where one thief is," said Joe, to himself, "the other murdering
scoundrel is sure to be not far off."

For some time his search proved unavailing again; but he was presently
rewarded for his perseverance by the first gleam of good luck.

He learnt the late address of Murray senior.

"This is a step in the right direction," said Joe Deering, with a
chuckle.

So with renewed hope he went to the house.

"Mr. Murray ain't been home for many months, sir," said the
housekeeper, in reply to Deering's inquiry, "and I h