emove the things
afterwards."

I did as he told me: it was the first time in my life I had supped off
massive plate--but I was in strange company; however, it did not spoil
my appetite, and I did not forget to drink a goblet of wine by way of
washing down my repast.

"Thank you, sir," said I, rising, and then performing my office of
attendant.

At his order, I rang the bell for the negro, who assisted me in clearing
away, and then went out with the remains of the supper.

"Am I to stay or go?" said I, respectfully.

"You may go now. Find the man who came in just now--Jose he is called;
tell him to give you something to sleep upon."

"Good-night, sir," said I.

"Good-night, boy."

As I went forward looking for the negro servant, I was accosted more
than once very kindly by the negro seamen. At last I went up on the
forecastle, and they asked me to tell them how I was left on board the
schooner. I did so to those who spoke English, and one of them, who
could speak both languages, translated into Spanish for the benefit of
the others.

"You be first white he hab spared, I tell you," said the American negro,
who had translated into Spanish what I had told them, after the other
had left me with him.

"The captain says he wishes I were black," said I to the negro; "I wish
I was, too, while I am on board of this vessel--my colour makes him
angry, I see that. Could not I be stained black?"

"Well, I do think it will be a very safe thing for you, if it could be;
for you have not seen him sometimes in his moods; and if to-morrow
morning he was chased and hard pressed by the frigate, you would stand a
poor chance, suppose his eyes light upon you. I can't tink what make
him to let you off, only but cause you give him de spy-glass in dat hold
way. I tink I know a chap on board who understand dat--I go see--you
wait here till I come back."

The negro left me, and in a few minutes returned, with a sort of
half-Indian, half-negro-looking cut of fellow, with whom he conversed in
Spanish.

"He say he know how to make brown like himself but not dark same as me.
Suppose you wish he do it to-night--begin now?"

"Yes, I do wish it," replied I; and so I did sincerely, for I felt that
it might be the saving of my life; and I had a great aversion to be torn
to pieces by the sharks which followed the vessel, that being anything
but an agreeable mode of going out of the world.

The American black remained with me, and w