nish look
about her. The frigate brought the breeze along with her, and as soon
as the schooner felt it, she too made all sail, close-hauled, with an
evident intention of escaping. This left little doubt of her character.
She was a fast-looking craft, but the Ajax was also noted for her
speed, and few on board doubted that the schooner would be overtaken.
Everybody was eager to come up with her. What a satisfaction it would
be to release the poor savage islanders, and many others of whom they
had heard!

The schooner made every effort to escape, and, at last, kept away,
finding how fast her pursuer was on a wind, and endeavoured to run back
towards the island, her crew probably expecting to be able to escape
among the reefs which surrounded it. Fortunately, the island having
been well surveyed, a good chart of it existed on board. Captain
Bertram was able to stand close in after her without fear. The Ajax
came quickly up after the schooner before the wind.

"Try her with a shot, Mr Charlton," said the captain; "but fire high,
to injure no one on board."

Mr Sponge, the gunner, with alacrity fired one of the bow chasers. The
shot was admirably aimed, and the schooner's maintopmast fell over her
side. The frigate's crew uttered a shout of satisfaction.

The slaver, for so she was, did not wait for another, but instantly
hauled down her flag. It was that of Chili. The schooner was forthwith
hove up in the wind. This done, two boats were seen to leave her side.
Captain Bertram, on this, hove the frigate to, and ordered two boats to
be manned and to bring the fugitives back, while two others pulled on
board the schooner. Ben was in one of the latter, with the interpreter.
The crew gave way with a will, for they were eager to get on board. No
one was to be seen on deck as they climbed up the sides, but Tatai's
hail was at once answered by shouts from below. The hatches were
quickly knocked off, and a number of men and women came rushing up,
showing, by evident signs, their joy at being liberated. Their first
impulse, however, was to fall down on their knees on the deck, and
return thanks to Jehovah for having freed them from the barbarians by
whom they had been captured. They knew, from having several times
before seen the British flag, that they would be kindly treated. They
described through Tatai, in pathetic language, the way that they had
been treated after having been captured. They had been ordere