e that distance from the river's mouth, at
which point we had arrived at midnight; having made our way thither in
consequence of "information received," which led us to believe that a
large ship was at that moment in the river taking on board a full cargo
of blacks. We had drifted down to the position which we then occupied
under the impulse of the last of the land-breeze, which had died out and
left us becalmed some two miles short of the precise spot for which we
were aiming. Still, we were near enough for all practical purposes, or
believed that we were; for we thought that if a thoroughly smart look-
out were maintained--and we had grown to be adepts at that sort of
thing--it would be impossible for a slaver to attempt to slip out of the
river without our becoming cognisant of the fact. And now, to return to
my story.

Having first stolen forward and warned the watch that a craft of some
sort was within hearing distance of us, and that they were therefore
carefully to avoid crying out, or making any other sound that might
betray our presence, I returned aft, in the same cautious manner, and
was on the point of descending the companion ladder to call the captain,
when _ting-ting_ came the soft chiming of a ship's bell, mellowed by
distance, from somewhere in the offing, evidencing--or so it seemed to
me--the fact that the stranger had not as yet discovered our proximity.

The skipper, accustomed to being disturbed at all hours of the night,
awoke at the first touch of my knuckles upon his cabin door.

"Yes!" he called; "what is it?"

"There is a strange craft not far from us, sir," I answered; "and Mr
Perry considered that you should be apprised of the fact. We know
nothing whatever about her, except that she is there; for the night is
so intensely dark that we have been unable to catch the faintest glimpse
of her, but we have just heard them strike two bells aboard her. We
have not struck our own bell, sir, thinking--"

"Yes, of course, quite right," interrupted the skipper, as he landed
with a soft thud on the floor of his state-room. "Tell Mr Perry that
I'll be on deck in a brace of shakes."

He followed close at my heels up the companion ladder, having paused
only long enough to slip into his nether garments, and came groping
blindly out on deck.

"Phew!" he muttered, as he emerged from the companion; "it's as dark as
the inside of a cow. Where are you, Mr Perry?"

"Here I am, sir; close alongside