rs by the
English vixen, or to face the danger, in person, and become the bearer
of my own message.

The proposal sounded oddly enough in the ears of the Kroomen, who, in
spite of their acquaintance with my hardihood, could scarcely believe
I would thrust my head into the very jaws of the lion. Still, they had
so much confidence in the judgment displayed by white men on the
coast, that I had little difficulty in engaging the boat and services
of a couple of sturdy chaps; and, stripping to my drawers, so as to be
ready to swim in the last emergency, I committed myself to their care.

We passed the dangerous surf in safety, and in a quarter of an hour
were alongside the Termagant, whose jolly lieutenant could not help
laughing at the drenched _uniform_ in which I saluted him at the
gangway. Slaver as I was, he did not deny me the rites of hospitality.
Dry raiment and a consoling glass were speedily supplied; and with the
reassured stamina of my improved condition, it may readily be supposed
I was not long in satisfying the worthy Mr. Seagram that I had no
concern in the encounter betwixt the natives and his boats. To clinch
the argument I assured the lieutenant that I was not only guiltless of
the assault, _but had made up my mind irrevocably to abandon the
slave-trade_!

I suppose there was as much rejoicing that night on board the
Termagant over the redeemed slaver, as there is in most churches over
a rescued sinner. It was altogether too late and too dark for me to
repeat the perils of the surf and sharks, so that I willingly
accepted the offer of a bed, and promised to accompany Seagram in the
morning to the prince.

Loud were the shouts of amazement and fear when the negroes saw me
landing next day, side by side, in pleasant chat, with an officer,
who, eighteen hours before, had been busy about my destruction. It was
beyond their comprehension how an Englishman could visit my factory
under such circumstances, nor could they divine how I escaped, after
my voluntary surrender on board a cruiser. When the prince saw Seagram
seated familiarly under my verandah, he swore that I must have some
powerful _fetiche_ or _juju_ to compel the confidence of enemies; but
his wonder became unbounded when the officer proposed his entire
abandonment of the slave-trade, _and I supported the lieutenant's
proposal_!

I have hardly ever seen a man of any hue or character, so sorely
perplexed as our African was by this singular sugg