the schooner.

"The English and Americans call me John Hawk, and my craft the _Foam_,"
he answered. "Captain John Hawk, remember. The name is not amiss; so
you may use it, for want of a better."

"Are you neither an Englishman nor an American?" I asked.

"No, youngster, I belong to no nation," he replied; and I observed a
deep frown on his brow as he spoke. "Neither Spain, France, Portugal,
England, nor even this free and enlightened country, owns me. Are you
afraid of sailing with me, in consequence of my telling you this? If
you are, you may be off your bargain."

"No," I answered, "no; I merely asked for curiosity, and I hope you
won't consider me impertinent."

"Not if you don't insist on an answer," he replied. "And now go and get
your outfit."

As I walked along, I meditated on his odd expressions; but I had no
misgivings on the subject. I did not like the first shop I reached, so
I went on to another, with the master of which I was more pleased. I
there, at a fair price, very soon got the things I wanted, and, going
into a back room, rigged myself out in them; while my hunting costume I
did up in a bundle, to carry with me, for I was unwilling to part from
so old and tried a friend.

As I was paying for the things, the whole of which cost somewhere about
fifteen dollars, a stout, good-looking, elderly man came into the shop.
I at once recognised him as the master of an American brig on board of
which I had been in the Liverpool docks. I felt as if he was an old
friend, and could not help speaking to him. He was very good-natured,
though he did not remember me, which was not surprising. I asked him if
he had met the _Mary_.

"I left her at the Havanah, for which place I sail to-morrow," he
answered.

"So does Captain Hawk, of the _Foam_," I observed. "I have just shipped
on board her."

"Youngster," he said, looking grave, "you do not know the character of
that vessel, I am sure, or you would not willingly set foot on her deck.
She is a noted slaver, if not something worse; and as you put
confidence in me, I will return the compliment, and would strongly
advise you to have nothing to do with her."

"But I have engaged to sail with Captain Hawk, and he seems a
fair-spoken man," I urged.

"If you choose to trust to his fair speeches more than to my blunt
warnings, I cannot help it," he answered. "I have done my best to open
your eyes for you to his true character. If you persist in fo