her nearly on her beam. The shock was so violent and unforeseen, that
the unrestrained slaves, who were enjoying the fine weather on deck,
rolled to leeward till they floundered in the sea that inundated the
scuppers. There was no power in the tiller to "keep her away" before
the blast, for the rudder was almost out of water; but, fortunately,
our mainsail burst in shreds from the bolt-ropes, and, relieving us
from its pressure, allowed the schooner to right under control of the
helm. The West Indian squall abandoned us as rapidly as it assailed,
and I was happy to find that our entire loss did not exceed two
slave-children, who had been carelessly suffered to sit on the rail.

* * * * *

The reader knows that my voyage was an _impromptu_ speculation,
without papers, manifest, register, consignees, or destination. It
became necessary, therefore, that I should exercise a very unusual
degree of circumspection, not only in landing my human cargo, but in
selecting a spot from which I might communicate with proper persons. I
had never been in Cuba, save on the occasion already described, nor
were my business transactions extended beyond the Regla association,
by which I was originally sent to Africa.

The day after the "white squall" I found our schooner drifting with a
leading breeze along the southern coast of Cuba, and as the time
seemed favorable, I thought I might as well cut the Gordian knot of
dilemma by landing my cargo in a secluded cove that indented the beach
about nine miles east of Sant' Iago. If I had been consigned to the
spot, I could not have been more fortunate in my reception. Some sixty
yards from the landing I found the comfortable home of a _ranchero_
who proffered the hospitality usual in such cases, and devoted a
spacious barn to the reception of my slaves while his family prepared
an abundant meal.

As soon as the cargo was safe from the grasp of cruisers, I resolved
to disregard the flagless and paperless craft that bore it safely from
Africa, and being unacquainted in Sant' Iago, to cross the island
towards the capital, in search of a consignee. Accordingly I mounted a
spirited little horse, and with a _montero_ guide, turned my face once
more towards the "ever faithful city of Havana."

My companion had a thousand questions for "the captain," all of which
I answered with so much _bonhommie_, that we soon became the best
friends imaginable, and chatted over all