AFLOAT 149 forward to this place after he- had lost the protection of the gun-boats if you had not been with him.” Gregory at once went to the quarters of Colonel Wingate and sent in his name. In two or three minutes he was shown in. A naval officer was in the room with the colonel. “ You have come at the right time, Mr. Hilliard. I was just speaking of you to Captain Keppel. I suppose General Hunter has told you how I proposed utilizing your services ? ” Yes, sir, he was good enough to tell me.” “ You speak both Arabic and the negro dialect perfectly, I am told ? ” “ I speak them very fluently, almost as well as English.” “ Just at present you could not be of much use to me, Mr.

Hilliard. Of course I get all my intelligence from natives, and have no occasion to send white officers out as scouts. Otherwise, from the very favourable report that I have received from General Hunter, I should have been glad to have you with me; but I have no doubt that you would prefer to be in one of the gun-boats. They are certain to have a more stirring time of it for the next few weeks than we shall have here.”

I should like it greatly, sir, if Captain Keppel thinks I shall do.”

I have no doubt about that,” the officer said with a smile. “ I shall rate you as a first lieutenant and midshipman all in one, and I may say that I shall be very glad to have a white officer with me. There are one or two spare cabins aft, and you had better have your traps moved in at once; I may be starting to-morrow.”

Shall I take my servant with me, sir? ” “ Yes, you may take him if you like. I suppose you have a horse ? ” Yes, sir, a horse and a camel; but I shall have no difficulty in managing about them, a few stores, shall I bring “Ho, there is no