lence, though I preserved my temper most
admirably till he was done. Then I rose slowly from the seat, and
pointing the doctor silently to the vacant chair,--for I could not
speak with rage,--I took my stand immediately in front of him, gazing
intently into his eyes. The company gathered eagerly round, expecting
I would retaliate wittily, or pay him back in his coin of abuse.

After a minute's pause I regained my power of speech, and inquired
whether the phrenologist was ready. He replied affirmatively;
whereupon my right hand discovered the bump of impudence with a
tremendous slap on his left cheek, while my left hand detected the
organ of blackguardism with equal prominence on his right!

It was natural that this new mode of scientific investigation was as
novel and surprising as it was disagreeable to poor Du Jean; for, in
an instant, we were exchanging blows with intense zeal, and would
probably have borrowed a couple of graves from the cholera, had not
the boarders interfered. All hands, however, were unanimous in my
favor, asserting that Du Jean had provoked me beyond endurance; and,
as _la belle Duprez_ joined heartily in the verdict, the doctor gave
up the contest, and, ever after, "cut" the lady.

CHAPTER LI.

In the first lull of the pestilence, the French merchantman was
despatched from Marseilles, and, in twenty-seven days, I had the
pleasure to shake hands with the generous friends, who, two years
before, labored so hard for my escape. The colonial government soon
got wind of my presence notwithstanding my disguise, and warning me
from Goree, cut short the joys of an African welcome.

I reached Sierra Leone in time to witness the arbitrary proceeding of
the British government towards Spanish traders and coasters, by virtue
of the treaty for the suppression of the slave-trade. _Six months_
after this compact was signed and ratified in London and Madrid, it
was made known with the proverbial despatch of Spain, in the Islands
of Cuba and Porto Rico. Its stipulations were such as to allow very
considerable latitude of judgment in captures; and when prizes were
once within the grasp of the British lion, that amiable animal was
neither prompt to release nor anxious to acquit. Accordingly, when I
reached Sierra Leone, I beheld at anchor under government guns, some
thirty or forty vessels seized by cruisers, several of which I have
reason to believe were captured in the "Middle Passage," bound from
Ha