y deserve punishment, have a chance for
their lives," he said.

Several boats putting off from the shore picked up most of the swimmers,
though some were seen to go down before they were rescued.

The ship was a remarkably fine one, called the _Andorinha_. On
examining her she was found to be American built, while the flag of the
United States was discovered on board. Another discovery was also made.
Her stern was covered by a piece of painted canvas, on ripping off
which there appeared the name of the _Mary Jane_, of Greenport, in large
letters, and as she carried two whale-boats on her quarters, the most
vigilant of British cruisers might have passed her without the slightest
suspicion of her real character.

Leaving the crew of one of the boats on board the ship under the command
of Tom, who was vastly proud of the confidence placed in him, Jack
pulled on for the other large Brazilian ship. The captain received him
on board with a smiling countenance, for the fellow well knew that
though evidently a slaver, she could not be touched. All the slave
fittings had been landed, and lay abreast of her along the shore. The
American brig, which was next boarded, was as clearly intended for the
same nefarious traffic, but as she had not yet been fitted up with
slave-decks, though they also were discovered close to her ready to be
shipped, with her leaguers and other fittings.

The day's work was not yet over; a brigantine lay temptingly near,
inviting a visit. The boats soon surrounded her, she was found to be
the _Stella_, a vessel which had long eluded the vigilance of British
cruisers.

Though some of her fittings had been landed, a sufficient quantity
remained to condemn her. Jack, however, having to secure his other
prizes, was obliged to leave her, intending to visit her the next day;
he therefore pulled back to the brigs, and commenced towing and warping
them towards the corvette.

The channel through which they had to pass was excessively narrow, and,
unfortunately, Jack, forgetting that the boats might pass in a direct
line where the vessels could not follow, they both took the ground. Now
came the task of hauling them off; it was accomplished, however, and
they were brought at length to an anchor between the two men-of-war. He
next pulled back to the ship, and reached her just as darkness came on.
He found Tom and his crew on the alert; he had seen a number of boats
coming off from the shore, with the