s. But this was
not to be, for we had hardly ordered our meal, when the rush of the
water past the vessel caught my ear, and I knew in a moment that we
were once more in motion. At this moment Tailtackle appeared at the
cabin door, and announced that the wind had sprung up again, and that
the strange vessel was bearing down upon us. I immediately rushed on
deck, and sure enough, there was the slaver, some two miles from us,
his deck crowded with men, and evidently prepared for action. As soon
as I saw the state of affairs, I busied myself in putting every thing
in order, on board our vessel, for a fight. Wagtail and Gelid had
followed me on deck, and were now assisting their servants in putting
the muskets in order. Bangs alone remained in the cabin, and when I
went down, I found him swallowing the last morsel of his meal. He had
on his fork some very respectable pieces of cheese. Before I left the
deck, I saw clearly enough that a combat was inevitable, and as the
disparity between the two vessels was very great, I confess that I
had serious misgivings as to its probable result. That I felt excited
and uneasy at the prospect before me, I cannot deny; it was the first
time I had commanded a vessel, and on the result of this action rested
all my hopes of promotion. God bless me! I was but a boy, not more
than one-and-twenty years of age. A strange and indescribable feeling
came over me at this moment--an irresistible desire to open my heart
to the excellent man I saw before me. I sat down.

"Halloa, captain," cried Bangs, putting down his coffee cup, "what's
the matter with you? You look infernally pale, my dear fellow."

"I was up all night," replied I, somewhat embarrassed, "and have been
running about all day. I am very tired."

As I pronounced these words, a shudder ran through my frame, and a
strong emotion, which I could not account for, kept my tongue tied.

"Master Bangs," said I, at length, "you are the only friend in whom at
this moment I can confide. You know my circumstances in life, and I
feel that I can with confidence ask you to do the son of my father a
favor."

"What is it you wish, my dear fellow--speak out."

"I will speak. In the first place, I am very much worried that I have
exposed you and your friends to so much danger, but I could not
foresee it; on that score my conscience is easy; the only thing I ask
of you all is to remain below and not expose yourselves unnecessarily.
If I should fall