oundrel!" ejaculated the skipper hoarsely; "you shall
be made to bitterly account for this unprovoked outrage; clap him in
irons," turning to the master-at-arms, who happened to be close at hand.
"Poor Austin!" he continued. "Your suspicions, Hawkesley, have proved
only too correct; the craft is, unquestionably, a slaver--or worse. We
must have her thoroughly overhauled; possibly some documents of great
value to us may be found stowed away somewhere or other. I'll see to it
at once." And he forthwith dived below.

The prisoners having been secured, the dead and wounded were next
attended to, the former being lashed up in their hammocks ready for
burial, whilst the latter were carefully conveyed below to receive such
attention as the surgeon and his assistant could bestow. The brig's
loss was very severe, sixteen of her men having been killed and twenty-
two wounded--principally by our final broadside--out of a total of sixty
hands. Our own loss was light, considering the determination with which
the enemy had fought, amounting to only eleven wounded. As soon as a
sufficiency of hands could be spared for the purpose, the brig's square
canvas was furled, a prize crew was told off to take charge of her, and
the two craft then made sail in company--the brig under her fore-and-aft
canvas only--for the anchorage under Padron Point, where we brought up
about a couple of hours later. Captain Vernon then returned to the
_Daphne_ in the brig's gig, bringing with him a bundle of papers, and
leaving Smellie in charge of the prize; an anchor-watch was set, and all
hands then turned in, pretty well tired but highly elated at the result
of our evening's work.

At daybreak next morning both vessels weighed and returned to their
former berths in Banana Creek, the _Daphne_ picking up the cable which
she had slipped on the previous night. The dead were then buried on the
little island which lies on the east side of the creek; after which the
carpenter and boatswain with their mates were set to work upon the
necessary repairs to the brig. This craft now proved to be English
built, having been turned out of a Shoreham shipyard, and originally
registered under the name of the _Virginia_; but how she had come to get
into the hands of the individuals from whom we took her there was
nothing to show. She was completely fitted for carrying on the business
of a slaver; but from the nature of the goods discovered in her after
hold--whic