our," the other
remarked, a little drily. Then, as if he might have said too much, he
added hastily, "We slavers carry little else, you know, than our shackles
and a few extra tierces of rice; the rest of our ballast is made up of
these guns, and the stuff to put into them."

"And is it usual for ships in the trade to carry so heavy an armament?"

"Perhaps it is, perhaps not. To own the truth, there is not much law on
the coast, and the strong arm often does as much as the right. Our owners,
therefore, I believe, think it quite as well there should be no lack of
guns and ammunition on board."

"They should also give you people to work them."

"They have forgotten that part of their wisdom, certainly."

His words were nearly drowned by the same gruff voice that had brought-to
the skiff of Wilder, which sent another hoarse summons across the water,
rolling out sounds that were intended to say,--

"Boat, ahoy!"

The answer was quick, short, and nautical; but it was rendered in a low
and cautious tone. The individual, with whom Wilder had been holding such
equivocating parlance, seemed embarrassed by the sudden interruption, and
a little at a loss to know how to conduct himself. He had already made a
motion towards leading his visiter to the cabin, when the sounds of oars
were heard clattering in a boat along side of the ship, announcing that he
was too late. Bidding the other remain where he was, he sprang to the
gangway, in order to receive those who had just arrived.

By this sudden desertion, Wilder found himself in entire possession of
that part of the vessel where he stood. It gave him a better opportunity
to renew his examination, and to cast a scrutinizing eye also over the new
comers.

Some five or six athletic-looking seamen ascended from the boat, in
profound silence. A short and whispered conference took place between them
and their officer, who appeared both to receive a report, and to
communicate an order. When these preliminary matters were ended, a line
was lowered, from a whip on the main-yard, the end evidently dropping into
the newly-arrived boat. In a moment, the burthen it was intended to
transfer to the ship was seen swinging in the air, midway between the
water and the spar. It then slowly descended, inclining inboard until it
was safely, and somewhat carefully, landed on the decks of the vessel.

During the whole of this process, which in itself had nothing
extraordinary or out of the dail