, and
in a subsequent fever, many negroes had died; that also, by
similar casualties, all the sea officers and the greatest part of
the crew had died.

* * * * *

[_And so the deposition goes on, circumstantially recounting the
fictitious story dictated to the deponent by Babo, and through the
deponent imposed upon Captain Delano; and also recounting the
friendly offers of Captain Delano, with other things, but all of
which is here omitted. After the fictitious story, etc. the
deposition proceeds_:]

* * * * *

--that the generous Captain Amasa Delano remained on board all the
day, till he left the ship anchored at six o'clock in the evening,
deponent speaking to him always of his pretended misfortunes,
under the fore-mentioned principles, without having had it in his
power to tell a single word, or give him the least hint, that he
might know the truth and state of things; because the negro Babo,
performing the office of an officious servant with all the
appearance of submission of the humble slave, did not leave the
deponent one moment; that this was in order to observe the
deponent's actions and words, for the negro Babo understands well
the Spanish; and besides, there were thereabout some others who
were constantly on the watch, and likewise understood the Spanish;
* * * that upon one occasion, while deponent was standing on the
deck conversing with Amasa Delano, by a secret sign the negro Babo
drew him (the deponent) aside, the act appearing as if originating
with the deponent; that then, he being drawn aside, the negro Babo
proposed to him to gain from Amasa Delano full particulars about
his ship, and crew, and arms; that the deponent asked "For what?"
that the negro Babo answered he might conceive; that, grieved at
the prospect of what might overtake the generous Captain Amasa
Delano, the deponent at first refused to ask the desired
questions, and used every argument to induce the negro Babo to
give up this new design; that the negro Babo showed the point of
his dagger; that, after the information had been obtained the
negro Babo again drew him aside, telling him that that very night
he (the deponent) would be captain of two ships, instead of one,
for that, great part of the American's ship's crew being to