As he said these words the smoke cleared away from the cruiser, and we had a splendid view of her as she rose majestically to a heavy sea, and fell gracefully into the trough again. "A Britisher, by ——!" exclaimed the Captain, "and a beauty too; give way, my lads, she's stopped her engines. Let us get aboard, and I'll soon learn what's in store for me."
In order that it may be understood what reason the Captain had for these strong suspicions of arrest and imprisonment, I will here make quotation from the Queensland Government Gazette, an official journal of severely correct character, which, like "the Apparatus, cannot lie."
Colonial Secretary's Office,
Brisbane, 20th August 1875.
His Excellency directs the subjoined circular despatch received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, together with the enclosed correspondence with the Board of Admiralty, respecting the proceedings in the South Seas of W. H. Hayston, a United States' subject, and master of the American brig Leonora, to be published in the Gazette for general information.
A. Macalister.
The Admiralty to the Colonial Office.
Admiralty, 12th January 1875.
Sir,—I am commanded by the my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit herewith, for the information of the Earl of Carnarvon, a letter and its enclosures from Commodore Goodenough, Senior Naval Officer of the Australasian Station, reporting the proceedings of W. H. Hayston, a citizen of the United States, and master of the late American brig Leonora. It is requested that these papers be returned in order that they may be sent to the Foreign Office.—I am, etc.