nt to put a whole host
of the niggers to flight!"

"As you please, Major Bubsby," said Jack. "I shall be ready to
appropriate a portion of my after cabin to your wife and daughters, and
I will direct the carpenter to put up a screen, that they may live in
private if they wish to do so."

"Ah, that will do, that will do," answered the major.

This conversation took place out of earshot of Mrs Bubsby, who was not
aware of Jack's kind intentions towards her. Jack, approaching with a
bow, requested her and her daughters to remain on deck until the cabin
was fitted up for their accommodation. "We do things rapidly on board,
and shall not detain you long," he added.

"I am surprised that the major did not intimate his intention to bring
us; but it is very like him," answered Mrs Bubsby. "He is a worthy
man, and devotedly attached to me and my daughters. Allow me to
introduce them. Eugenia, my eldest, and Angelica, my second daughter.
They look forward with greater pleasure to the voyage and life in the
bush than I do, I confess. They are good-hearted girls, and would be
ready to follow their father into the field, if required."

"Ah, yes; we do not care where we go, or what we do," said Eugenia. "We
are never so happy as when on horseback or living under canvas."

"I delight in the sea, and I love seamen," said Angelica, smiling
sweetly at the captain.

She was not aware that Jack possessed a wife and family. He had now to
quit the ladies to attend to the duty of the ship.

"Blue Peter" had been flying for some time, and a gun was fired to hurry
off those on shore. The anchor was weighed, and the _Bellona_ with her
living freight steamed majestically out of the harbour.

As soon as things had been got somewhat to rights, the baggage stowed
away, and the soldiers berthed, Jack and his lieutenants had time to
look after the officers.

Directly the ladies' cabin was ready, Jack escorted them below. Mrs
Bubsby cast a somewhat indignant glance at the canvas screen which had
been put up, but said nothing. But Eugenia exclaimed--

"How nice! we shall hear everything that is said outside, and you'll
hear us, so we must take care what we talk about."

"I'm sure that we shall hear nothing but what is pleasant and sensible
and right," said Jack, with less veracity than it was his wont to speak.

Mrs Bubsby gave a "hem!" and Jack, bowing, left the cabin in possession
of his fair guests.

The major was pacing