at piece of wood from the poor wretch's
waistband--a piece of heavy wood, shaped something like a willow leaf.

"The weapon evidently," said Mr Russell; "but I don't see why he should
wound his fellow-sufferer."

But the black sailor had not done with his explanation. He looked to
see that the officers were watching him, and then placed the weapon in
its owner's hand, which he raised, and said a few words to his fellow
black with the blood-stained garb.

This man waited a moment to assist in the pantomimic explanation, and
then, as his companion brought down the weapon towards his own head, he
rushed up between them and received the blow, staggered away as if very
much hurt, and, still acting, reeled and fell down beside the wounded
man, pointing to him as he half rose, and then at the stains upon his
own shirt.

"Well, what do you make of it?" said Mr Russell.

"I know, sir," cried Bob Howlett; "he wants you to understand that if we
take them and make sailors of them, they'll kill all the slavers."

"Thank you, Mr Howlett. Now, then, Mr Vandean, what do you say?"

"I see now," cried Mark, eagerly. "What happened below helps me. That
big fellow thought our man Taters was an enemy, and he tried to cut him
down, but this poor fellow knew better, rushed between and received the
blow."

"I'm inclined to think you are right," said Mr Russell. "Ah, here
comes the doctor. Now, then, about getting these poor wretches up.
Perhaps they'll come now."

He was right, for the task was easy. The blacks on deck, apathetic as
they were, gradually comprehended that they had fallen into hands where
they would be well treated, and after a few gestures and orders given by
Mark, the two black sailors turned to the slaves and spoke. The result
was that the big, fierce-looking black who was answerable for the injury
done to his fellow-prisoner went down on his knees before Soup, and
touched the deck with his forehead before rising with some show of
animation, and then going to the hatch, descended in a half-crippled
way, and they heard his voice directly after.

By this time the doctor was on board, sniffing about with an air of the
most intense disgust.

"Faugh!" he ejaculated; "how horrible! And no disinfectants. Hallo!
wounded man, eh? Humph!"

He forgot everything else in the interest he took in his fresh case,
while now, slowly and shrinkingly, the slaves began to come up from
below, foul, weak from injuries, and