ue to de eastward ob San
Domingo, keeping a look-out dat no English cruiser pick us up, we see
one evening, just as de sun go down, a big ship from de nor'ard standing
for us. De cappen say she French--de mate say she Spanish--some ob de
men say she Dutch--oders strife she English--I not know what to tink.
De cappen say, "Best make all sail and stand 'way." So we did; but de
bell just strike two in de fust watch, when we see her ranging up
alongside. Den de cappen order de guns to be fired; but before de
matches lighted, de stranger she aboard us. In a few minutes forty
savage-looking fellows came springing on to our deck, pistolling some
and cutting down oders of de crew. I see at once what going to happen--
if I stay on board de brig, I be killed wid de rest--so I make a leap
and gain de fore-rigging ob de stranger. Running for'ard, I leap down
de hatchway and stow myself away in a berth. Eben dere I hear de
dreadful cries and shrieks ob de crew as dey put to death by de
pirates--for such I guess be de gentry into hands whose we hab fallen.
I know by de sounds I hear as I lie quaking in de berth dat dey were
removing de cargo ob de prize on board dere own ship. It was nearly
daylight before dey hab taken out all de cargo dey wish to secure; den
dey cast off, and directly afterwards I hear several shot fired. I know
dat sooner or later I must show myself, as de watch who hab been working
all night would be coming below to turn in; so I creep on deck, and make
my way aft to where a man I tink must be de cappen was standing. No one
stop me, for dey all too busy or too sleepy to notice me. I take off my
hat and make him a polite bow, and ask in English if he want a
cabin-steward, as I ready to serve him. "And if you like sea-pie,
cappen, I cook one such as nobody can beat, let me tell you dat," I say.
"I head cook."'

"`You're an impudent rascal, whoever you are,' he reply, `but perhaps,
for once in a way, you speak the truth.'

"`Do, cappen, just try me to-morrow, or next day, or when you get de
materials to put in de pie,' I say.

"`I'll think about that, my man,' he answer, licking him lips. And den
I know I all safe. `He not kill me if he tink I make good sea-pie,' I
say to myself; `for black fellow sometimes more cunning dan white
buccra--he! he! he!' Peter chuckled. `Where do you come from?' he ask.

"`I tell him I carried off and made to serve on board de French ship,
and dat I glad to escape fr