any tidings of
the _Empress_. Running through the Mozambique Channel, he continued his
course for Cape Town, where he arrived without any further adventure.
His first inquiry was for the _Empress_. No tidings, however, had been
received, and serious apprehensions were felt for her safety.

"It is supposed that she must have foundered in a typhoon in the Indian
seas, if she ever got there; or that she has been cast away and gone to
pieces on some unknown rock," was the answer received.

"Poor Adair! is such your end?" exclaimed Jack, sorrowfully. "I won't
believe it, however. I trust that Lucy will not hear these reports."

A day after his arrival the mail from England came in, bringing letters
for him from Julia and Murray, who had just gained his rank as an
admiral.

"As there are so many good officers seeking for employment, I conclude
that I shall be virtually shelved, although for my boy's sake I would
gladly have gone to sea again," wrote Murray. "His mother and I are
looking out anxiously for tidings of him. His last letter gave us an
account of the commencement of the Abyssinian expedition, and that he
was to go up the country with the Naval Brigade. It is important that a
youngster should see service on shore as well as afloat, although we
naturally feel anxious lest he should have suffered from the hardships
to which he must of necessity have been exposed. We are, therefore,
eagerly looking forward to his next letter. Our girls are well, and we
hear good accounts from Julia of yours; but Lucy is naturally in a sad
state of anxiety. No tidings have reached England of the _Empress_, nor
has anything been heard of Saint Maur. I am continuing to make all
possible inquiries, and have written to agents at various seaports to
ascertain from the masters of ships trading foreign to endeavour to find
some clue to his fate."

The remainder of the letter referred to private matters. The _Bellona_
remained some time in Simon's Bay, and all on board were in hopes of
being sent home, when, no transport being ready, Captain Rogers was
requested to proceed with a wing of the --- Regiment to the coast of
Caffraria, where they were immediately wanted to put down a serious
outbreak of the natives. It was far from a satisfactory or pleasant
task, for the _Bellona_ had no accommodation for officers or men; but
Captain Rogers was not a person to throw difficulties in the way when a
service could be rendered to the c