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 gunboats.

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.