atteries on either side, which they saluted as
they glided by with a hot fire, bestowing particular attention on the
palace of the prince, teaching him a lesson he was not likely soon to
forget. The batteries replied, but feebly and without damage to any one
of the ships.

The squadron now returned to the anchorage they had taken up on first
entering the bay, where their crews had plenty of work to do in
repairing damages; fishing spars and refitting before proceeding to sea.

Returning to Yokohama, they had the satisfaction of learning that their
proceedings having brought the prince to reason, the whole of the sum
demanded had been paid and ample apologies offered. The undertaking,
however, had been a costly one. Two gallant officers and eleven men had
been killed and forty-eight wounded.

Friendly relations were ultimately established with Prince Satsuma, who
expressed his intention of sending several of his young nobility to
England to be educated, while the Tycoon despatched a special envoy to
congratulate the British _charge d'affaires_ on the satisfactory
termination of all difficulties, and to express a hope that in future
amicable relations would exist between the two nations.

CHAPTER TEN.

THE EMPRESS SAILS FOR THE FIJI ISLANDS--PICKS UP TWO PAPUANS--CALLS OFF
THE COAST OF NEW GUINEA--THE WRECK SEEN--TWO BOATS GO ON SHORE--WHAT
HAVE BECOME OF THE CREW?--LIEUTENANT NORMAN ASCENDS A HILL--TOM DESMOND
AND THEIR PARTY PUSH ON--THE LIEUTENANT ATTACKED BY THE NATIVES--
RETREATS--TOM AND DESMOND MISSING--AFTER A SEVERE FIGHT, REGAINS THE
BOATS--CAPTAIN ROGERS LANDS, TO RECOVER HIS BROTHER AND HIS COMPANIONS--
UNSUCCESSFUL MARCH--NATIVE VILLAGE BURNT--BOATS SENT IN AGAIN--GALE
COMES ON, AND THE SHIP STANDS OFF THE LAND--RETURNS--NO TRACES OF THE
MIDSHIPMEN--CONTINUES HER VOYAGE--LONG STAY AT FIJI--EMPRESS AND ORION
SAIL FOR SYDNEY--A WRECK SEEN.

The Japanese difficulty having been satisfactorily settled, the ships of
the squadron separated to proceed to their various destinations. The
_Empress_, while lying in Victoria Harbour, received orders to proceed
to the Fiji Islands, with directions to touch on her way at the northern
coast of New Guinea in search of the crew of a merchant vessel said to
have been lost thereabouts. Captain Rogers was afterwards to visit
Sydney and other Australian ports before returning home.

All hands were well pleased at the thoughts of the number of places they
were to v