Bob Howlett saw the first lieutenant's fixed stare and pointing hand, and glancing round, he caught sight of the head with its chin on the gunwale. "Who's that?" cried the first lieutenant, sharply; and the men screwed up their faces and looked comically solemn on the instant, but no one spoke. "Mr Howlett," cried the officer again, "I asked you who that was in the boat!" "Beg pardon, sir; didn't know you were speaking to me. Which, sir?" The lieutenant's lips were compressed as he took a couple of strides and brought himself alongside of the middy. "If you are not careful, sir," he said severely, "trouble will follow this. You did know I spoke to you, sir. I said, `Who is that young black?' Why, it's an ape." "Yes, sir; chimpanzee, sir." "How dare you bring a monkey on board, sir?" "Only a natural history specimen, sir; and I thought--" "Oh, there you are, Staples," said the captain, coming up. "Look, I think this is right at last;" and he handed the letter to his second in command. "Looks correct, sir," said the lieutenant, after reading the letter. "Shall you act upon it?" "Act upon it, man! Of course." The monkey was forgotten. The boatswain's pipe rang out, the men came tumbling up, and as fast as it could be achieved, the anchor was raised, sail after sail hoisted, and an hour after, with every scrap of canvas that could be set, the _Nautilus_ was slowly gliding along right out to sea, with the palm and mangrove-lined shore slowly fading into the haze, while the men collected together in knots and discussed the possibility of catching a slaver that night. "What's it to be, Van," said Bob Howlett, "fun or flam?" "Tell you to-morrow morning," was the reply. "I say, I've fed the chim', and he's asleep." "Wish I was too," said Bob Howlett, "Oh, I say, ain't it hot?" CHAPTER TWO. BLACKBERRYING AT SEA. That night the _Nautilus_ was pretty close inshore, as soon as she could approach without being seen. Every light was out, the sail had been reduced, and they were gliding slowly along, watching the mouth of a river about twenty miles south of Port Goldby. They had been lying off here for days, waiting for the news the British agent had been trying hard to obtain for them, so as to enable the officer in command of her Majesty's cruiser to strike a severe blow at the horrible traffic being carried on by swift-sailing schooners and barques trading between the West Coast of Africa and the southern ports of the United States.