"
replied Charpentier, wringing his hands.

"Do you mean to say that you know _nothing whatever_ about navigation!"
demanded I.

"Alas, no, monsieur! nothing whatever," was the reply.

"And is there no one else among you who can navigate the schooner?"
asked I.

The men looked at each other, shaking their heads and muttering, "Not
I"; and finally Charpentier exclaimed, "You see, monsieur, there is not
one of us who can navigate. What is to be done? _You_, monsieur, are
an officer--at least so I understood Francois to say; perhaps you
could--"

"Well," demanded I, seeing that the fellow hesitated, "perhaps I could--
what?"

"Pardon, monsieur," exclaimed he, "I was in hopes that, considering the
difficulty we are placed in by this most lamentable tragedy, you would
kindly take command and navigate the schooner."

"I see," remarked I. "Well," I continued, "if such is the wish of you
all, I have no objection to do as you wish. But--understand me--I will
only consent to navigate the schooner back to the West Indies; I will
not undertake the trouble and responsibility of carrying the ship to her
destination and shipping a cargo. I disapprove, on principle, of slave-
trading, which I consider an iniquitous traffic, and I will have nothing
to do with it; but, if you are willing, I will navigate the ship back to
Port Royal,--guaranteeing you immunity from capture upon our arrival, in
consideration of the rescue and succour that you have afforded me,--and,
when there, you will have no difficulty in procuring someone who will
navigate the schooner from thence to Havana or any other port that you
may choose to go to. Just talk it over among yourselves, and let me
know what you decide on doing."

I could see that my proposal was not at all to Charpentier's liking, or,
indeed, to the liking of any of the crew; but I cared not for that. I
was quite determined to have nothing whatever to do with the kidnapping
of any unfortunate blacks; and in the end they were obliged to give way,
although Charpentier tried hard to dissuade me from my resolution; the
result being, that immediately after I had ascertained our position at
noon, we wore round and shaped a course for Martinique, that island
being in a direct line with Jamaica. At first I was rather apprehensive
that the disappointment of the men at so unprofitable a result of the
voyage would cause them to be troublesome; but it did not. The question
of turning back ha