aud, with a curling lip.

"No, I presume not," he answered. "I merely ask from ordinary
precaution. But what do you propose to reveal to me? Something touching
this Captain Ratlin?"

"Ay," said the girl quickly. "It is of him I would speak. You are an
English officer, agent of your government, and sent here to suppress
this vile traffic?"

"True."

"And have you suspected nothing since your vessel has been here?"

"I suspect that this Captain Ratlin is in some way connected with the
trade."

"He is, and but now awaits the gathering of a cargo in my father's
barracoons, to sail with them to the West Indies. It is not his first
voyage, either."

"But where is his vessel? he cannot go to sea without one," said the
Englishman.

"That is what I would reveal to you. I will discover to you his ship if
you swear to arrest him, seize the vessel, and if possible hang him!"

"You are bitter indeed," said the officer, almost startled at the
fiendish expression of the Quadroon's countenance as she emphasized
those two expressive words.

"I have reason to be," answered Maud, calming her feelings by an effort.

"Has he wronged you?"

"Yes, he loves the white woman whom he brought to my father's house."

"Thus far, at all events, my good girl, we have mutual cause for hate,
and we will work heartily together. You know where his vessel lies?"

"I do."

"Is it far from here?"

"Less than a league."

"Indeed! These fellows are cunning," mused the officer. "When will you
guide me and a party of my people thither?"

"To-night."

"It is well. I will be prepared. Where shall we meet?"

"At the end of the cape, where you and he met a few days since."

"Where we met?" asked the other, in surprise. "How knew you of that?"

"I saw it."

"The duel?"

"Yes."

"It is strange. I thought none but ourselves were to be there."

"He has moved in no direction since this woman has been here that I have
not followed. There I hoped to see him fall; but he was strangely
preserved."

"You are a singular girl, Maud," replied the officer. "Take this and
wear it for my sake," he added, unloosing a fine gold chain from his
watch and tossing it around her neck, "and be punctual at that spot
to-night after the last ray of twilight."

"I will," answered the Quadroon, as she regarded the fine workmanship of
the chain for a moment with idle and childlike pleasure, then turning
from the spot, they both returned, though by different