sails unbent and
sent down, and fresh ones bent in their place. The schooner also had
sent up and rigged a new topmast, set up the rigging, got the yards
across, and the topsail set, with topgallant-sail and royal all ready
for sheeting home. I therefore at once proceeded on board my own little
hooker and packed Master Jack off, bag and baggage, to take charge of
the prize, to that young gentleman's ineffable pride and delight. Then,
as soon as all was ready we made sail in company, and, carrying on day
and night, arrived at our destination without further adventure early in
the afternoon of the third day after our engagement with the slaver.

I had, of course, during the passage, made frequent enquiries each day
as to the progress of poor Fawcett, but the best news that they could
give me was that, while he seemed to be no worse, he was certainly no
better. As soon, therefore, as the anchors were down I went alongside
the brig, and having dispatched a messenger ashore in the schooner's gig
with a message to the hospital authorities, proceeded with the difficult
and delicate job of conveying the invalid ashore. To facilitate this
the carpenter of the brig had, under Hamilton's supervision, prepared a
light but strong framework, somewhat of the nature of a cot, with stout
rope slings attached thereto, and when all was ready for the patient's
removal this was placed on the cabin table, and six stout fellows then
entered the state-room, and, carefully lifting the wounded man, bed and
all, out of his bunk, gently carried him into the main cabin and laid
him, just as he was, on the cot or stretcher. This we fortunately
accomplished without seriously discomposing our patient, and the surgeon
then administered a soothing draught, the effect of which was to put the
sufferer to sleep in a few minutes. Hamilton having foreseen that it
would be practically impossible to convey the stretcher and its burden
up on deck by way of the companion ladder without injury to the patient,
had caused some planks to be removed from the fore bulkhead, thus making
a passage into the main hold, through which we now carried the
stretcher, laying it gently down on the slave-deck immediately beneath
the main hatch. Then the slings of the concern were hooked on to a
tackle which had been lowered down the hatchway, and our patient was
next not only hoisted up through the hatchway, but also slung over the
side and lowered down into the stern-she