t liberty. It would be a fearful
subject of thought if we were to leave them to perish," observed
Charley. "There is a hatch, I know, which leads from the main cabin to
the slave-deck, although it is kept closed."

"Ay, ay, sir! But we can't do it without the instruments," said Tubbs.
Hunting about, he discovered some irons used for the purpose, with which
we each supplied ourselves. With this means we soon opened the hatch.

There was great risk in the merciful task we were about to perform, but
Charley, setting the example, we quickly knocked off the manacles of
Aboh and the slaves nearest to us, and, with the assistance of the
former, made them understand that they were to perform the same
operation to their fellow-captives. Some obeyed, but others rushed
immediately on deck. However, we persevered, and, faster than I could
have believed it possible, we contrived to set all the slaves free.
Many of the poor wretches enjoyed their liberty but for a few seconds,
for they were quickly washed off the deck, or were drowned in a vain
attempt to reach the shore by swimming. All the time the sea was
striking with terrific force against the sides of the ship. The loud
crashing sound overhead showed us that her bowsprit and bulwarks and
everything on deck was being rapidly carried away.

While we were thus engaged daylight appeared, and when we reached the
deck we saw that the wind had greatly gone down. Although there were
rocks on either side of us, there was a clear piece of sand, on which,
could a raft be formed, those who could not swim might land. The blacks
were mostly clustered aft, the part least exposed to the fury of the
seas. Several persons were in the water, some swimming, others floating
apparently lifeless. The greater portion of the crew had disappeared;
many had been crushed by the falling masts, others washed overboard, and
a few on pieces of wreck were trying to reach the beach One thing was
certain, there was no time to be lost, as the ship could not long hold
together, lashed as she was by the fury of the seas which rolled in from
the ocean. The surviving blacks recognised us when we appeared as the
persons who had set them at liberty and we made them understand that if
they would remain quiet, we would endeavour to provide the means for
enabling them to reach the shore. I thought that among the people
clinging to pieces of wreck I saw Captain Trunnion, but I was not
certain. The mate had