ne man, monsieur,--as I
believe I have already mentioned,--and I would not listen to his
proposal. So I had you brought down below and placed in this spare
cabin, where I have attended to you ever since,--that was ten days
ago,--and now, behold, the fever has left you, your appetite has
returned, and in another week, please the good God we shall have you on
deck again, as well as ever you were."

"Thank you, monsieur," said I. "I am infinitely obliged to you for the
humanity that prompted you to pick me up--despite the dissuasions of
your mate, Francois--and also for the trouble you have taken in nursing
me through my illness. Fortunately, I am in a position to make
substantial recognition of my gratitude; and upon my return to Jamaica--
as to which I presume there will be no difficulty--it shall be my first
business to take such steps as shall insure you against all pecuniary
loss on my account."

"Ah, monsieur," exclaimed Lemaitre, "I beg that you will say no more on
that score; it hurts me that you should think it necessary to mention so
mercenary a word as that of `reward.' We are both sailors, and although
we have the misfortune to be enemies, that is no reason why one brave
man should not aid another in distress, without looking for a reward.
As to your return to Jamaica, no doubt that can be managed upon our
return voyage--"

"Your return voyage!" I interrupted. "Can you not manage it forthwith,
captain? I can make it quite worth your while to up helm and run me
back at once. It is of the utmost importance to me to return to Port
Royal with the least possible delay, and--"

"Alas, monsieur, it cannot be done," interrupted Lemaitre, in his turn.
"A cargo of slaves is even now awaiting me in the Cameroon River, and my
patrons in Havana are impatiently looking forward to their delivery. If
I were to disappoint them I should be ruined, for I have many
competitors in the trade to contend with, especially since all this talk
has arisen about making slave-trading illegal. No; I regret to be
obliged to refuse you, monsieur, but there is no help for it."

"At least," said I, "you will transfer me to a British man-o'-war,
should we chance to fall in with one?"

"And be myself captured, and lose my ship for my pains!" exclaimed
Lemaitre. "Oh no, monsieur; we will give your ships a wide berth, if we
fall in with them, and trust to our heels."

"Nonsense, monsieur," I returned. "Surely you cannot suppose I