CORRECTS TOM'S LATIN--THE OPAL ORDERED TO SEYCHELLES--
DISEMBARKATION OF THE SLAVES.

The corvette did not sail so soon as Murray had at first intended, it
being necessary to allow the captured slaves a longer time in harbour to
recruit their exhausted strength, glad as all hands would have been to
get them out of the ship. Poor wretches! their unclean habits made them
far from pleasant visitors. They were housed under awnings rigged over
the deck, which it was necessary to wash down frequently with abundance
of water; but even then the sickly odour which pervaded the ship was not
only unpleasant, but calculated to produce sickness among the crew.
Notwithstanding this, the officers made themselves as happy as
circumstances would allow. The midshipmen of the corvette invited those
of the brig to a dinner on board, and Tom Rogers, with several
companions, arrived at the appointed hour.

"Satisfactory enough to capture slavers, but I don't envy you fellows
having to look after the poor slaves now you've got them," observed Tom,
as he glanced his eye over the long rows of negroes seated on the deck,
the men on one side, the women and young children on the other, all
looking pictures of stolid misery, and scarcely yet comprehending that
they were free. All they could think of was that they had been torn
from their homes and families, and were to be carried to a strange land,
where they must of necessity toil hard to support themselves. They
could not yet understand the real benefit they were to derive from the
change, that from henceforth they would live in peace, able to enjoy the
proceeds of their labour without any further expectation of attacks from
foes, and having their dwellings plundered and burned, and themselves
murdered; and, above all things, that they would be instructed in
Christianity and civilisation.

Archie had been looking into the subject. "You see, Tom," he observed,
"until the slave-trade can be altogether abolished on shore, we do all
we can to put a stop to it afloat. The atrocious Arabs are the cause of
all the misery and suffering the slaves endure. It is impossible to
return them to their homes; indeed, in most instances, those homes have
been utterly destroyed; but if they were not, the poor creatures would
run the risk of being again captured; so we do our best to place them in
a far better position than they before enjoyed; and though I'm afraid
that a large number are carried into per