rsued the _Felicidad_ out of the
creek, only to find that she had caught a Tartar, which captured her
after a short but determined struggle--and from her the _Barracouta's_
people had learned all particulars of our somewhat disastrous
enterprise, including the news that I was missing, and was believed to
have been killed in the unsuccessful attack upon the schooner in the
creek.

Captain Stopford was kindness itself in his reception of me,
commiserating with me upon all the hardships of my late adventure, and
heartily congratulating me upon my escape from the _Francesca_, and the
saving of the Indiaman, the latter of which, he assured me, he would
take care to report in the proper quarter in such a way as should
further my advancement in the service. With regard to supplying me with
men, he promised to do the best that he could; and at Young's
suggestion--he being one of the rather large party that the captain had
invited to meet me at breakfast--it was arranged that I should have a
dozen; and as he fully agreed with me that there was just a chance that
the _Francesca_, might be at no great distance to the northward, still
actively pursuing her search for us, it was further arranged that I
should crowd sail for Sierra Leone, in the hope of turning the tables
upon Mendouca by overtaking him, in which case we were to do our best to
detain him until the arrival of the _Barracouta_ upon the scene, it
being the captain's plan to follow us at a distance of some fifteen or
twenty miles. As an incentive to expedition--and no doubt,
incidentally, to the promotion of the capture of the _Francesca_--the
captain informed me that if we managed to accomplish a quick run to
Sierra Leone, I should probably be in time to rejoin the _Felicidad_,
which schooner was then at that port, refitting after her engagement
with the _Mouette_. I was very grieved to learn that poor Ryan,
although not nearly so severely wounded as I had believed, was lying in
the hospital at Sierra Leone, prostrate with a bad attack of fever, from
which, when the _Barracouta_ left, it was greatly feared that he would
not recover.

As soon as breakfast was over the crew were mustered, and Young picked
out for me twelve good, stout men, who were ordered to pass their bags
down into the boat and go on board the _Bangalore_ with me; and, this
most welcome addition to our crew having been received, I made sail,
packing upon the good ship every rag that would draw, th