g the day. From this position I
could hear all that passed, whether they went down into the fore-peak,
or remained to converse on the forecastle. About ten minutes
afterwards I heard the boat grate against the ship's side, and the men
of the slaver mount on the deck.

"All right?" inquired one of the slavers.

"Yes," replied our second mate; "skipper and his men are on shore, and
the first mate taken with the fever."

"All the better," replied another; "one less to handle. And now, my
lads, let's to business, and have every thing settled to-night, so
that we may not be seen together any more till the work is done."

They then commenced a consultation, by which I found it was arranged
that our ship was to be boarded and taken possession of as soon as she
was a few miles out of the bay, for they dared not attack us while we
were at anchor close to the fort; but the second mate and eight men
belonging to us were to pretend to make resistance until beaten down
below, and when the vessel was in their power, the captain, I, and the
other four men who were ashore in the boat, were to be silenced for
ever. After which there came on a discussion as to what was to be done
with the cargo, which was very valuable, and how the money was to be
shared out when the cargo was sold. Then they settled who were to be
officers on board of the ship, which there is no doubt they intended
to make a pirate vessel. I also discovered that, if they succeeded, it
was their intention to kill their own captain and such men of the
slaver who would not join them, and scuttle their own vessel, which
was a very old one.

The consultation ended by a solemn and most villainous oath being
administered to every man as to secrecy and fidelity, after which the
men of the slaver went into their boat, and pulled to their own
vessel. The second mate and our men remained on deck about a quarter
of an hour, and then all descended by the ladder to the fore-peak, and
turned into their hammocks.

As soon as I thought I could do so with safety, I came out of my
lurking-place, and retreated to the state-room. It was fortunate that
I did, for a minute afterwards I heard a man on deck, and the second
mate came down the companion-hatch, and inquired whether I wanted any
thing. I told him no; that I was very ill, and only hoped to be able
to go to sleep, and asked him if the captain had returned. He replied
that he had not, and then went away. As soon as I was left t