. "The landsmen, as you say, will want my
help, and I must go aboard the other."

While this was going on, I saw that Timbo had gone aloft. Presently he
came gliding down by a backstay on deck. "Quick! quick! Massa Andrew,"
he exclaimed. "No time to lose! De niggers coming off in de boat! If
we stop and fight, dey take away de rafts. If we sail off, dey come
aboard vessel, and stop and steal and get drunk, and we get away."

Kydd overheard him. "Shove off!" he cried out to his companions. They
obeyed him; and immediately the raft was clear of the vessel, he began
to hoist his sail.

"Stop! stop!" I cried out. "Take more of our party on board! Senhor
Silva and his servant will go with you!"

He paid no attention to my shouts, but continued hoisting his sail,
though I saw the gentlemen on board were expostulating with him.

"We must all go, then, on the one raft," I said. "I trust it will hold
us, although it was treacherous of the mate to go away, leaving the
party thus unequally divided."

"I am sorry our friends are under no better charge," said Stanley.
"But, Andrew, we are ready to place ourselves under your and Handspike's
guidance. Timbo, too, will be of no slight service; so that we need not
complain of what has occurred. We have no time to lose, though."

Jack and Timbo now going on to the raft, assisted the rest of the party
to descend. I was the last to leave the unfortunate brig. As I looked
round I did not see Natty. "Where can he be?" I exclaimed. I sprang
up the side. My young charge had fallen on the deck, and lay concealed
from those on the raft by the bulwarks in the fore part of the vessel.
"Hold on for a moment," I cried out; "I will bring him down to you." I
lifted the poor boy up in my arms. A falling block or spar, I
conjectured, had struck his head and stunned him. Had I not discovered
his absence, how dreadful would have been his fate left alone on board
the brig. To my great joy he soon recovered. Jack Handspike received
him in his arms as I lowered him down, and I following, without delay we
shoved off, and passed under the brig's stern. The blacks could not see
what was occurring, and would therefore, I hoped, not hurry themselves
in coming off, so that we might have a considerable start of them should
they pursue us. The raft was, as may be supposed, deeper in the water
than I could have wished; at the same time, in that smooth sea, it was
well capable of su