n the
establishment's prime, could, at a favorable moment, despatch at least
a thousand slaves within the space of four hours. Yet I have heard
from Kroomen at Gallinas the most harrowing tales of disaster
connected with the shipment of negroes from that perilous bar. Even in
the dry season, the mouth of this river is frequently dangerous, and,
with all the adroitness they could display, the Kroos could not save
boat-load after boat-load from becoming food for the ravenous sharks!

* * * * *

I was quite afloat at New Sestros on the tide of success, when the
cruiser that for a while had annoyed me with a blockade, became short
of food, and was obliged to bear away for Sierra Leone. My well paid
spy--a Krooman who had been employed by the cruiser--soon apprised me
of the brig's departure and its cause; so that in an hour the beach
was in a bustle, despatching a swift canoe to Gallinas with a message
to Don Pedro:--"The coast is clear:--send me a vessel:--relieve my
plethora!"

Forty-eight hours were hardly over when the twin masts of a clipper
brig were seen scraping along the edge of the horizon, with the
well-known signal for "embarkation." I was undoubtedly prepared to
welcome my guest, for Kroos, Fishes, Bushmen, Bassas and all, had been
alert since daybreak, ready to hail the craft and receive their fees.
There had been a general embargo on all sea-going folks for a day
before, so that there was not a fish to be had for love or money in
the settlement. Minute precautions like these are absolutely necessary
for all prudent slavers, for it was likely that the cruiser kept a spy
in her pay among _my_ people, as well as I did among _hers_!

All, therefore, was exceedingly comfortable, so far as ordinary
judgment could foresee; but alas! the moon was full, and the African
surf at such periods is fearfully terrific. As I listened from my
piazza or gazed from my _bellevue_, it roared on the strand like the
charge of interminable cavalry. My watchful enemy had been several
days absent, and I expected her return from hour to hour. The
shipment, though extremely perilous, was, therefore indispensable; and
four short hours of daylight alone remained to complete it. I saw the
risk, yet, taking counsel with the head Kroo and Fishmen, I persuaded
them, under the provocation of triple reward, to attempt the
enterprise with the smallest skiffs and stoutest rowers, while a band
of lusty youths sto