o further questions were asked about who set free
the blacks. Indeed, there was no opportunity to talk any more upon the
matter, for at this crisis the attention of every one upon the raft had
become earnestly fixed upon that dark, red cloud that clustered along
the side of the vessel.

Strange to say the negroes had been for some minutes in this position--
with every appearance of a purpose to leap outward into the water and
swim towards the raft--and yet, not one of them had sprung forth! They
seemed like men determined to do a thing, but who waited for a signal
from some leader. Either that, or some one to take the lead himself and
set the example--just like a mob of soldiers crowded together on the
field of battle--as soldiers always are at such times--prepared to
charge forward and rush even upon death itself, if some bold spirit will
only give the word and go forward in advance of them. So stood the
crowd of blacks, threatening to plunge into the sea and yet hesitating
to do so.

We wondered at their hesitation. What could they mean by holding back?
The raft appeared the only chance for their lives--though a poor respite
it would be. Nevertheless, men who are about to be burned or drowned
will cling to a less hope than that. Why, then, did they not jump
overboard and swim after, as all expected them to have done before this?
Could they swim? or could they not? These were the questions that now
passed rapidly from mouth to mouth on board the raft, and were answered
with equal rapidity, though the answers were but guesses, and did not
correspond. They were both negative and affirmative. Some alleged that
they could not. If this were true, then the position of affairs could
be explained at once: the hesitation of the blacks to take to the water
would, upon this hypothesis, be easily understood. However, there were
but few who held this opinion. It was quite improbable that it could be
the true one--quite improbable that in all that crowd there was not any
one who could swim--for even one would have taken to the sea in hopes of
finding refuge upon the raft--forlorn as the hope may have been. No,
the negative supposition was not to be entertained for a moment. It is
well-known that most of the natives of Africa not only swim but are most
excellent swimmers. Their mode of life renders the art a necessity
among them. Living on the banks of great rivers, by the shores of those
immense lakes in which Cent