or spirit of evil,
had got possession of them, and was wreaking his malice on their heads.
Orlo gladly, by the lieutenant's orders, went frequently below to try
and comfort them, and to assure them that by the return of daylight
fresh efforts would be made for their rescue. Still great indeed were
their sufferings. Many, both men, women, and children, died during that
fearful night, from wet, cold, fear, and hunger, as they sat, still
closely packed on the slave deck. Orlo's kind heart made him suffer
almost as much as they were doing--the more so that he felt how little
could be done to relieve them.

At length the morning dawned, when it was found that the ship had driven
considerably farther in towards the beach. As daylight broke, people
were seen collecting on the shore; their numbers increased; they were
gesticulating violently. Did they come to render assistance to their
perishing fellow-countrymen? No; led on by the miscreant whites who had
formed the crew of the slave ship, and deceived by their falsehoods,
they had come to attempt the recapture of the ship. The corvette had,
of necessity, stood off-shore for the night. Lieutenant --, hoisting a
signal of distress, prepared to defend the prize to the last. He
examined the shore anxiously. The slaver's crew and their black allies
were bringing boats or canoes to launch, for the purpose of attacking
the ship. Should the wretches succeed, he knew that his life and that
of all his companions would be sacrificed.

At length the corvette was seen working up under all sail. She
approached; her anchor was dropped, and her boats, being lowered, pulled
in towards the wreck. As they got near, the people on shore, balked in
their first project, opened a hot fire of musketry on them. The boats
had not come unarmed. The larger ones were immediately anchored, and,
each having a gun of some weight, opened a hot fire on the beach. This
was more than the slave-dealers had bargained for. They were ready
enough to kill others, but had no fancy to be killed themselves.
Several times the blacks took to flight, but were urged back again by
the white men, till, some of the shot taking effect on them, the beach
was at last cleared.

The wreck was now again boarded. Lieutenant--and his men were found
almost worn out; the hold was full of water, and the ship was giving
signs of breaking up. No time was to be lost. The larger boats
anchored, as before, outside the