the bowl between us, quickly disappeared up the
hatchway. The only light we had was from a bull's-eye overhead, which
enabled us, as Tubbs said, "barely to see the way to our mouths;" we
could not, at all events, distinguish each other's features. Although
we could not see, we felt the claws of numerous visitors crawling over
us, and smelt them too, and now and then were sensible that a big rat
was nibbling at our toes, although, by kicking and stamping, at the risk
of hitting each other's shins, we kept them at bay. Notwithstanding
this, we managed to sleep pretty soundly at intervals.

Tubbs assured us that the ship was gliding on, although it might be some
time before she reached the bar, as it was impossible to judge at what
rate she was sailing. Now and then we felt her heel over slightly to
starboard, showing that the wind was more abeam, or rather that we were
passing along a reach running to the southward; then, when she came up
again on an even keel, we knew that we were standing directly to the
westward. At last we felt her bows lift, then down she glided, to rise
again almost immediately afterwards, while the increased sound of the
water dashing on her sides showed us that we were crossing the bar.

"There is some sea on, I guess, and I know what it is with these African
rivers. Should the wind suddenly shift southward, we may be driven on a
rock or sandbank, and we and all on board will have a squeak for life,"
observed Tubbs.

"I hope not, although anything might be better than being carried into
slavery," observed Harry. "But we ought not to despair. I have been
thinking and praying over the matter, and know that God can deliver us
if He thinks fit. We must trust Him; I'm sure that's the only thing to
be done. In all the troubles and trials of life. At all times we must
do our duty, and, as I say, trust Him; even when bound hand and foot as
we are at present, all we can do is still to trust Him."

I heartily responded to Harry's remark, and so I believe did Tubbs, who,
although nothing of a theologian, not even knowing the meaning of the
word, was a pious man in his rough way.

"Ay, ay, sir," he said. "I know that God made us, and He has a right to
our service; and if we don't run away from Him and hide ourselves, He'll
look after us a precious deal better than we can look after ourselves.
That's my religion, and it's my opinion it's the sum total of all the
parsons can tell us."

"Not q