this instance, nor had we given any promise to do so.
Before we left the ship, we found that the crew were preparing her for
the reception of slaves. Some were hoisting up her cargo and placing it
either on deck or in the after-cabin ready for trade, and others were
fixing in a slave-deck fore and aft, while casks of water and bags of
farina were being brought on board in large quantities. I was thankful
to see Tom Tubbs in the boat which was to convey the wounded men on
shore. He gave us a wink as we went down the side, and I saw that he
took the stroke oar, so that he would have an opportunity of speaking to
us. The ship was some distance off the bank, for there was not
sufficient depth of water to enable her to come nearer. It took us,
therefore, nearly ten minutes to reach the spot. "I'll lend a hand to
carry one of these poor fellows," observed Tom, giving me a meaning look
as he pulled away. "I suppose Mr Bracewell will help us?"

I turned to Harry, and of course he said "yes." Two of the men were
able to walk, but the other three were still too weak to help
themselves. The crew of the boat, therefore, took two of the latter up
on their shoulders, and Tubbs, Harry, and I lifted the third. Harry
carried the man's feet; Tubbs and I supported him by our arms and
shoulders.

"We shall be here for more than a week, I suspect," said Tubbs as we
walked along. "I must come on shore to see how these poor fellows are
getting on, and may be you may fancy a walk into the country, either up
the river or down the river, as you wish."

The habitation selected for the accommodation of the wounded was far
superior to what I expected to find. It was, indeed, the house of a
white slave-dealer and general trader, who, with his clerks, was now
away, and Captain Roderick had thought fit to take possession of it. A
large airy room in which eight hammocks were slung, afforded quarters
for our five patients and to Harry and me.

"I wish that you could occupy the other," I said to Tubbs; "we should be
glad to have your assistance. Couldn't you ask the captain's leave, and
say that we want you to help us to look after the wounded?"

The boatswain shook his head. "Not much chance of his granting it; he
would suspect that there was something in the wind; but I'll keep my
weather eye open, and if I have a chance I'll come on shore. If you
determine to try and make your escape, it must be just before the
`Vulture' sails, or