ay thank you for his life, Vandean," said the second lieutenant,
"for we should never have seen him. Now I wonder whether that scoundrel
will try the same game over again."

"Safe to, Russell," said the first lieutenant, gruffly. "Here, my lads,
get the black below; give him a place to lie down. He'll be all right
in the morning, and a free man at any rate."

"I say, Van," said Bob Howlett, "aren't we all making a precious lot of
fuss about a nigger? Wonder whether you'd all make as much about me."

"Go overboard and try," said Mark.

"Eh? Thankye. Well, not to-night. I say, can't that schooner sail?"

"So can we--and faster. What a rate we're going at. Shan't capsize,
shall we?"

"Hope not, because if we did that schooner would escape. Why don't they
fire?"

"Waste of powder and shot, my boy," said a voice behind them; and,
looking sharply round, there stood the first lieutenant with his glass
to his eyes, watching the flying boat. "Ha! we're moving now. Better
get on a lifebelt, Mr Vandean, if you feel afraid."

He walked away, leaving the lad flushed and indignant. "Needn't catch a
fellow up like that," he muttered. "Who said anything about being
afraid?"

Bob Howlett laughed, and then turned his eyes in the direction of the
schooner.

CHAPTER FOUR.

IN GREAT JEOPARDY.

Meanwhile everything possible was being tried to get another half knot
of speed out of the _Nautilus_, which glided along under her cloud of
sail, sending the water foaming in an ever-widening double line of
sparkling water on either side. The hose was got to work, and the sails
wetted, sheets were hauled more tightly home, and the captain and
officers walked the decks burning with impatience as they scanned the
distant schooner.

"If I was the skipper I'd be ready for him this time," said Mark to his
companion.

"How? What would you do?"

"Have the boat's crew ready to drop down the moment the slaver captain
pitched another poor fellow overboard. No, no," he added, quickly;
"he'll never be such a wretch as to do that again."

"Oh, won't he just?" cried Bob, nodding his head, a great many times;
"he'll go on chucking the whole cargo out one by one, just like the man
did his gloves and things to the bear, for it to stop and smell them
while he escaped. Here, I mean to go and save the next black chap, and
then perhaps I shall look as cocky as you do. Oh, what a wonderful chap
you are, Van!"

Mark made a qui