and even Jack, with drooping head, had to support himself against the
bulwarks, and little would any of those who saw him have supposed the
gallant deeds of which his brawny arm was capable. Our lack-lustre eyes
and parched lips showed what we most needed, and at last some of the
crew brought us some water in a bowl, which speedily revived us, while
others came with a mixture of soup and beans. I never ate anything I
thought so delicious, in spite of its being redolent of garlic, and
containing no small quantity of grease. While we were being fed, the
boat was hoisted in, the schooner put before the wind, and the
studding-sails again set. She was a powerful vessel, and, from several
unmistakeable signs, I perceived that she was full of slaves. I had
done eating, and was beginning to look about me, when a little, dark,
one-eyed man, who by his dress I saw was an officer, came up to me, and
taking me by one of my uniform buttons, asked--

"What for this?"

"It's the button of my coat," said I, in a simple tone.

"I know. You officer, then?" asked my friend. "English ship?"

"I have that honour," I replied.

"What ship, then?" he inquired.

I told him.

"How came you, then, there?" he asked, pointing to the wreck, which we
were fast leaving astern.

I told him the truth.

"What say you, then, if we cut your throats, and heave you overboard?"
he asked; and as I looked at the twinkle of his one eye, and the
expression of his lips, I thought that he was capable of any act of
atrocity; but I determined to put a good face on the matter.

"I do not see why you should murder us," I replied, calmly. "We neither
wish to harm you, nor can we; and as you have just preserved our lives,
it would be something like destroying your own work."

"We will see about that," he remarked. "You might find us sometimes in
a humour when there would not be much doubt about the matter. Your men
are safe enough, as they will doubtless join us, and three stout hands
will be welcome. You may think yourself fortunate, if you ever set foot
ashore alive."

I saw Jack, who was listening, put his tongue in his cheek, as much as
to say, "Do not reckon on my joining your villainous crew." I had
remarked that the captain of the slaver, for such I guessed the little
man to be, improved in his way of speaking English as he proceeded, and
I therefore warned Jack and the others to be careful what they said,
lest they should offend him.