me by Brace
the barque was a "crank" vessel, and carried sail badly under a wind;
though, in fair weather, or with a light breeze, she was one of the
fastest sailers on the sea. It was for this quality she had been chosen
for the peculiar trade in which she was employed--for swiftness, not
stowage, are the points of advantage in a slave-ship. The poor negro is
usually packed as closely as any other species of merchandise, and a
large cargo of them can be stowed in a small space--for it is rare that
the slightest consideration of humanity enters the thoughts of their
inhuman stevedore.

The barque then had been built for fast sailing--but more especially in
light winds, such as those denominated "trade-winds," and others that
are usually encountered between the tropics and the "line."

The cutter, also, sailed well in a light wind, but equally well in a
stiff breeze--when under the stronger impetus of a gale--and as it had
now freshened almost to a gale the latter vessel was having the
advantage. Even under such a wind she still continued to carry most of
her sail--her main and second jibs above being hauled down, along with
her gaff-topsail while her storm, spitfire, and third jibs were still
kept bent to the breeze.

The barque, on the other hand, had to haul down both royals and
topgallant-sails, and close-reef her topsails. She was thus far from
going at her fastest, but it blew so freshly it would have been
dangerous for her to have spread another inch of canvas, and her people
well knew it.

Under these circumstances the cutter was evidently gaining upon her; and
if the breeze should continue at the same rate for two hours more the
_Pandora_ must certainly be overhauled and captured.

As soon as her crew became convinced of this, they set to work to hide
all the implements of their nefarious trade. The manacles and shackles
were put into a cask and headed up. The hatch-gratings, which the
carpenter had been so long in making, were broken up and disfigured--so
that their purpose could not be recognised--and the muskets, pistols,
and cutlasses were stowed away in some secret part of the hold. There
was no intention of making use of these, and showing fight against such
an adversary. Small as was the cutter in comparison with the barque,
the crew of the latter knew very well that that of the former would far
outnumber them, and that any attempt at resistance to such a well-armed,
sharp-toothed little sh