The _Bunting_ had orders to take dispatches for the East India station
before bearing up for England by way of the Cape, for the Suez Canal was
not yet open.
To be sure they would much have preferred to turn southwards at once.
But after all a month or so more could make but little difference after
so long a commission--they had been away from England now nearly five
long years.
On the very next day, however, after the dinner-party, steam was got up,
and the _Bunting_ departed from Zanzibar.
How merrily the men worked now! How cheerfully they sang! Everybody
seemed in better temper than his neighbour. For were they not,
virtually speaking, homeward bound.
"If we do happen to come across another prize you know," said Captain
Wayland to Mr Dewar, "we won't say no to her, will we?"
"That we won't, sir," was the laughing reply; "the more the merrier, and
it won't be my fault if a good outlook isn't kept both by night and
day."