Meanwhile energetic preparations were going on for fitting out an expedition. Every available boat was manned and armed, and the little naval brigade, consisting of a hundred bluejackets and twenty marines, was placed under the command of the gunnery lieutenant, Mr. Howard. All the necessary arrangements, however, took some time, especially as the steam-launch had to be hoisted out and fitted for active service. Captain Brooke did not regret the delay, as he still hoped that his warnings to the released Arab prisoners would have effect, and that Jack would be held to ransom without loss of time. In this, however, he was doomed to disappointment, for no messenger bearing the olive-branch of peace arrived upon the scene. The sun was now descending swiftly into his cloudy bed in the radiant west, and, as there is scarcely any twilight in the tropic zone, the officers of the "Forte" recognised that it would be impossible for the expedition to start before the following morning. It was known, of course, that only three armed Arabs had formed Jack Villiers's escort; but, for all that was known to the contrary, these men might easily induce some of the warlike Somalis to join them and assist in forming ambushes or other devices of guerilla warfare. There were two prime difficulties which presented themselves to Captain Brooke's mind. The first and most important was that the Arabs, incensed at being pursued, might put Jack to death out of pure spite; and the second was that it was impossible to tell in which direction the fugitives had gone, as nothing had been seen of them since the cutter's crew had observed them clambering up the acclivities of Ras Joo-joo like so many startled deer pursued by a leopard. Dawn broke in a clear cloudless sky. The "Forte," now anchored in the bay, appeared to be lying in a tranquil lake, unruffled by the lightest catspaw. The bleak and barren-looking shores appeared to be deserted. Not a human being was visible on strand or cliff, although the signalmen repeatedly swept them with their powerful telescopes. It was necessary to take action, and that promptly. The naval brigade was mustered, and then drafted into the boats. Every man was armed with a rifle and cutlass, the petty-officers being supplied with revolvers as well. Thring, as a friend of the kidnapped midshipman, was allowed to accompany the force, much to his own satisfaction. The steam-launch took the little flotilla in tow, and, with her engines going full speed ahead, steered for the mouth of the Joo-joo river, where it was proposed to disembark the force. No field-guns were taken, owing to the nature of the country, but the launch had a seven-pounder mounted in her bows in case it should be necessary to disperse any body of natives that might assemble to dispute the landing--a not very probable contingency.