k_ dere. I seed dat
somefing was wrong when dey run up de river, and den I find out dat an
English ship chase dem, and come to an anchor inside de bar; den I tink
if I run away and get aboard English ship, I know I safe under dat
flag."

As he spoke he pointed to the ensign blowing out from the flagstaff
astern. Finding that Dicky Popo, as the black called himself,
understood English pretty well, the commander questioned him further,
and learned many more particulars about the ship we had just chased.
She was the _Sea-Hawk_, belonging to Havana, fully as large as the
_Heroine_, with as numerous a crew, and carrying two more guns than we
did; so that, if well fought, she would prove a formidable antagonist.
She had already captured a vessel which had, Dicky Popo said, about a
hundred and fifty slaves on board, and was waylaying another, when we
somewhat put out her arrangements, and obliged her to run up the very
river in which the schooner she had intended to capture was lying. The
pirate, not telling the captain of the schooner of his intentions, had
persuaded him to assist in defending his vessel in case they should be
attacked. For this purpose they had both landed some of their men and
guns; and he had also sent on shore the strongest among the slaves, to
assist in throwing up fortifications. Dicky Popo, hearing that the
corvette had entered the river, took the opportunity, while so engaged,
of slipping off, in the hope of getting on board; resolved, should he
regain his liberty, to give us information of the preparations made for
our reception.

I liked the expression of Dick's countenance, and was certain from the
first that he was an honest fellow. He had been kindly treated on board
a man-of-war in which he had served--having been rescued from slavery by
her; and he was truly grateful to the English, and anxious practically
to show his gratitude. I do not believe the person who talks of his
grateful heart, when he takes no pains to exhibit it.

The captain was in no way inclined to change his purpose on hearing of
the preparations made by the slavers for their defence. "I know that I
can trust to our stout fellows, who will bravely do their duty; while
our rascally enemies are fighting with halters round their necks," he
observed to Mr Worthy.

"No doubt about that, sir," was the answer; "and I hope that it will not
take us long to capture the pirate, in spite of the battery on shore,
and the assist