end to this mutiny?"

"By putting an end to all wine. Suppose I go shore after they all
drunk, I spile the casks in three or four places, and in the morning all
wine gone--den dey ab get sober, and beg pardon--we take dem on board,
put away all arms 'cept yours and mine, and I like to see the mutiny
after dat. Blood and 'ounds--but I settle um, anyhow."

"The idea is very good, Mesty--why should we not do so?"

"Because I not like run de risk to go ashore--all for what? to go back,
boil de kettle for all gentlemans--I very happy here, Massa," replied
Mesty carelessly.

"And I am very miserable," replied Jack; "but, however, I am completely
in your power, Mesty, and I must, I suppose, submit."

"What you say, Massa Easy--submit to me?--no, sar, when you are on board
_Harpy_ as officer, you talk with me as a friend, and not treat me as
negro servant. Massa Easy, I feel--I feel what I am," continued Mesty,
striking his bosom, "I feel it here--for all first time since I leave my
country, I feel dat I am someting; but, Massa Easy, I love my friend as
much as I hate my enemy--and you neber submit to me--I too proud to
allow dat, 'cause, Massa Easy--I am a man--and once I was a prince."

Although Mesty did not perhaps explain by words half so well as he did
by his countenance, the full tide of feeling which was overflowing in
his heart, Jack fully understood and felt it. He extended his hand to
Mesty, and said:

"Mesty--that you have been a prince, I care little about, although I
doubt it not, because you are incapable of a lie; but you are a man, and
I respect you, nay, I love you as a friend--and with my will we never
part again."

Mesty took the hand offered by Jack. It was the first peace-offering
ever extended to him, since, he had been torn away from his native
land--the first compliment, the first tribute, the first acknowledgment,
perhaps, that he was not an inferior being; he pressed it in silence,
for he could not speak; but could the feelings which were suffocating
the negro but have been laid before sceptics, they must have
acknowledged that at that moment they were all and only such as could do
honour, not only to the prince, but even to the Christian. So much was
Mesty affected with what had happened, that when he dropped the hand of
our hero, he went down into the cabin, finding it impossible to continue
the conversation, which was not renewed until the next morning.

"What is your opinion, Mes