Lieutenant Playdon officiated as best man, whilst the _Orient_ was left so scandalously short-handed for many hours that a hostile vessel, at least twice her size, might have ventured to attack her.
Soon afterwards, Robert resigned his commission.

He regretted the necessity, but the demands of his new sphere in life rendered this step imperative.

Mining engineers, laborers, stores, portable houses, engines, and equipment were obtained with all haste, and the whole party sailed on one of Sir Arthur Deane's ships to convoy a small steamer specially hired to attend to the wants of the miners.
At last, one evening, early in July, the two vessels anchored outside Palm-tree Rock, and Mir Jan could be seen running frantically about the shore, for no valid reason save that he could not stand still.

The sahib brought him good news.

The Governor of Hong Kong felt that any reasonable request made by Anstruther should be granted if possible.