ermined attempt. They did
not hurry this, but seemed to pause and take refreshments and rest for a
couple of hours, when once more the onslaught commenced, and the
inhabitants of the stockade found it a desperate fight, and one even of
doubtful result, if long continued as it began.

"Keep the black imps clear, don, for a short half-hour longer, and it
will be all up with them," shouted Captain Ratlin, from the rear. "I see
a heavy square-rig rounding the point and standing in for an anchorage;
we shall find civilized help."

"That is lucky," growled the Spaniard, as he coolly shot down a negro;
"our powder is fast giving out."

The inhabitants of the stockade sadly needed assistance at this critical
juncture, for the infuriated savages had become desperate and reckless
in their attack, and must soon have carried the building by storm. But
there soon pulled to the beach a half-dozen boats, with a detachment of
marines and seamen, led on at full speed by an officer, before whose
approach the angry negroes retired exhausted, leaving many dead upon the
ground, and many too severely wounded to effect their retreat to the
jungle. The fight had been a very sanguinary one to the half witted
creatures outside the stockade.

The new comers were an officer and part of the crew of a man-of-war that
was cruising upon the coast, and which had been attracted to the harbor
by the firing of the heavy swivel. They were admitted within the
stockade. That they were English was at once observable, by the flag
that floated from the graceful craft that had now rounded to and come to
an anchor within blank cartridge shot of the factory or barracoons. The
officer felt authorized to interfere, as we have seen, but his power of
search and of interference in the peculiar trade of the coast ceased the
moment he touched the land. His jurisdiction did not extend over any
residents on their property, unless it was afloat; over the coast and
rivers he claimed jurisdiction only.

The new comers were hospitably entertained by Don Leonardo, white the
officer who had led them, and whose insignia of rank betrayed his
station as captain, was introduced into the more private apartments of
the place, where were the ladies and Captain Ratlin, the latter trying
to re-assure them, and to quiet their fears on account of the late
fearful business of the fight. He was thus engaged when the English
captain entered, and was not a little astonished to hear the mu