olours!"

"Why, that is his skin which is thus tattoed over in that curious
fashion," answered Tom. "Not a shred of a coat has he got. See, every
one of them has some device marked on him, and they are all in the same
style of uniform."

"Take care, lads; don't speak so loud; or should the fellow see that you
are laughing or talking about them, they may fancy you are insulting
them, and disagreeable consequences may ensue," cried Jack.

The three captains accordingly turned their horses' heads and rode off
in a different direction to that which the damio and his followers had
taken.

On returning on board, the captains received a summons from the admiral,
desiring to see them on important business. Having got themselves up in
full fig, as required on such occasions, they pulled away for the
flag-ship.

"There is something in the wind, depend upon it!" observed one of the
midshipmen to Tom. "Did the captain say anything about it to you?"

"I don't think he knows himself; but if he did, he would not tell me
sooner than anybody else," answered Tom. "I'll tell you what I heard
him and Captain Adair speaking about, and I shouldn't be surprised if
what they are now meeting for is connected with it."

Most of the occupants of the midshipmen's birth were assembled at tea.

"Well, Rogers, what is it?" exclaimed several voices.

"Most of us have heard of Prince Satsuma, a mighty magnificent
three-tailed Bashaw, the chief lord and owner of the city of Kagosima
and the adjacent parts. He, it appears, or one of his bare-backed
followers, some time ago murdered, without any rhyme or reason, an
English merchant, who happened to be riding along the high road. Of
course the British Government demanded satisfaction: the punishment of
the murderer, and a good round sum as compensation to his bereaved
family. These very moderate terms the prince doesn't seem inclined to
agree to, and we are, therefore, ordered here to impress him with the
necessity of doing so, and, if he does not, we are to batter down his
town, to take possession of his fleet--for it is said that he has got
one--and to make such other reprisals as may be deemed expedient to
bring him to reason. I heard the captain say that he paid a visit with
one of the principal merchants residing here, who has transactions with
the prince, to a Japanese official of high rank in the place--I forget
his name--and that during the conversation the matter under dispute w