r.

"The nigger won't let go, sir," shouted the master-at-arms, Ned Lizard,
"unless we cut off his hands and feet--might as well try to haul a
cuttle-fish from a rock without leaving its feelers behind it."

"Let him alone, then," said Murray; and, turning to the pilot, he
intimated that he must take his man himself if he wanted him, but that
he must, in the meantime, look out not to run the ship on shore.

The pilot accordingly continued at his post, every now and then glaring
savagely at the poor negro, and uttering a growl signifying that he
would very soon have him in his power. Blackie still clung fast to the
gun, casting a piteous look at the good-natured countenances of the
seamen, imploring them to help him, which it was evident they would be
very ready to do.

At length the ship was in the open sea, and the pilot, who had received
his payment, was in a hurry to return. Approaching his slave, he
ordered him to get into the boat; the latter only replied by piteous
shrieks and cries, clinging as tightly as before to the gun with arms
and legs, while he seized the tackle in his jaws.

"Tell the pilot, Hamed, that he must carry off the gun and all, if he
wants the man; but take him by force he must not," said Adair.

No sooner had Hamed interpreted this than the pilot, drawing his dagger,
would have plunged it into the back of the miserable slave, had not the
master-at-arms seized his arm, exclaiming, "No, no, my fine fellow;
we'll have none of that sort of thing on board here. If you want the
man, as the lieutenant says, you must take him by fair means; and, if
not, you must let him stay. Tell him, Hamed, if he tries that trick
again, he'll be run up to the fore-yardarm there before he is many hours
older."

The pilot stamped and swore all sorts of Mohammedan oaths, which might
have shocked even the ears of the prophet, and appealed to the
commander, who intimated, in return, that if the slave sought the
protection of the British flag, it would be granted him, and that it was
very evident he had no desire to go back to Mozambique. At last
Mustapha saw that he must make up his mind to lose his slave, and,
casting a last ferocious look at him, as much as to say, "If I ever
catch you on shore, my fine fellow, your skin and bones will part
company," he lowered himself down into the boat.

Blackie peered through the port till he saw that she had actually let go
and was dropping astern, when he jumped up, a