to the palace, and kept the Dey in complimentary converse as long as was possible with a man of such brusque and impatient temperament.
While thus engaged, several of the men and midshipmen of the 'Prometheus' proceeded to the consul's house. They did so in separate detachments, and some of them returned once or twice to the boat, as if for some small things that had been forgotten, thus confusing the guards as to the numbers of those who had landed.
When Captain Dashwood again returned to his boat there were two more midshipmen in it than the number that had left his ship—one being the consul's wife, the other his daughter Agnes! Master Jim, however, had been left behind, owing to the arrangements not having been sufficient to meet his requirements. Poor Mrs. Langley had left him with agonized self-reproach, on being assured that he should be fetched off on the morrow. Colonel Langley was of course obliged to remain with him.
When the morrow came another boat was sent ashore with baskets for provisions. One of these baskets was taken to the consul's house. It was in charge of the surgeon of the ship, as Master Jim required the services of a professional gentleman on the occasion.
All went well at first. The boat was manned by several men and midshipmen, who went innocently
