rigate came slowly on with the lead going and look-outs at frigate,
although she might not carry more than six or eight guns. At length she
got within about a mile of the island, when the screw was stopped and a
boat lowered. There was only one landing-place on the lee side, close
below the hill on which the flag-staff had been erected.

Tom, securing four handkerchiefs to the end of a spar, hastened down to
it to guide the boat in. On she came, pulled by six strong arms, a
lieutenant and midshipman in the stern sheets. Tom, Desmond, and Billy
stood ready to receive the strangers. The boat was quickly run up on
the beach, when the officers stepped on shore.

The lieutenant, observing the three midshipmen's tattered uniforms,
advanced towards them, and inquired as he shook hands, "Has an American
man-of-war been cast away here?"

"No, sir; but an American whaler was wrecked here a few weeks ago."

"Then who are you, and how came you here?" asked the lieutenant.

Tom in a few words narrated their adventures, and then asked, "And what
is your ship, sir?"

"The _Bellona_, Captain Murray--"

"What! Captain Alick Murray?" exclaimed Tom. "I served with him. He
is my brother Jack's greatest friend."

"Are you Captain Rogers's brother? That is extraordinary," exclaimed
the lieutenant, "for he is a passenger with us, going out to command the
_Empress_ in the China seas."

"My brother Jack on board! That is good news."

Tom now doing the honours, introduced the lieutenant to Dr Locock.

"Of course Captain Murray will be most happy to receive you on board,
with any of the survivors of the whaler's crew," said the lieutenant.

"I am much obliged to you; there is but one, and I shall be glad to
embrace the opportunity of visiting China," answered the doctor.

The lieutenant had received orders to return as soon as possible, but
Tom begged him to come and see the vessel they had commenced building;
though he had made up his mind to try and get Jack to come on shore
also, as he was ambitious to show their handiwork to him.

"You deserve great credit for the attempt," said the lieutenant, as he
examined the structure; "but I congratulate you on escaping the
necessity of making a voyage in her, for had she touched a rock, it is
probable that she would have gone to pieces."

After this remark Tom felt less anxiety to exhibit the vessel to his
brother Jack. The lieutenant now repeated that his orders were to
ret