consequences of such an act? I should have thought that you would have
been anxious to retrieve your character by showing your courage the
first time you had an opportunity of meeting the enemy."

"_My_ courage!" exclaimed the major; "who ever doubted that? It was not
my courage gave way; it was the stout arms and affectionate embraces of
my beloved daughters which kept me back in the boat when they thought
that the ship was going down. My courage and honour are as bright as
they ever were in my best days, when I was known as a perfect
fire-eater. Do you know what I did in the Crimea--how gallantly I
behaved at the storming of Sevastopol? how I held the rifle-pits against
a host of the enemy? how at the Alma I climbed up the heights, shouting
`Death or victory!' when my men were driven back by the showers of
bullets hissing past us and might have fled? Why, sir, if any officer
deserved the Victoria Cross, I did!"

"I have not heard of your brave deeds, Major Bubsby," answered Jack,
"and it is my duty to land you and your wife and daughters at the
nearest place to your destination. The state of the surf prevented my
doing so at Waterloo Bay, and now I have only to inform you that the
boat is waiting to convey you and your family on shore. Your heavy
baggage has already been sent off; what remains can be carried with
you."

The major looked aghast. "Surely, Captain Rogers, you do not mean to
say you insist on my landing, whether I like it or not, and would compel
me and my delicate wife and those fair young creatures to march thirty
miles or more through the sands of Africa without conveyance for
ourselves and baggage?"

"Duty is duty, major," answered Jack, who was determined not to take him
back if he could help it. "Your duty is to land, mine is to put you on
shore. You'll excuse me for saying this, but I intend to perform my
duty."

The major, seeing that he had no help for it, made a virtue of
necessity. He called out to his wife--

"We must go, my beloved, and our sweet children must be exposed to the
fearful dangers of this unknown land."

On hearing this Mrs Bubsby approached Jack, who stood boldly prepared
for the assault he had every reason to expect from the frown which had
gathered on the lady's brow.

"Captain Rogers!" she exclaimed, in a voice which made Jack answer--

"Madam!" He had no time to say more, when she went on--

"Have you, who belong to the sister service, the barbarity