jects and in distress upon
the coast, had not at once gone on board the vessel of their sovereign
which lay in the harbor, and been carried upon their destination. From
the outset Captain Bramble had resolved not to let his rival slip
through his fingers by leaving port himself, and thus he had still
remained to the present time, though without any definite plan of
operation formed until he availed himself of Maud's proposal.

"Why, bless me, my child, you look as though you had been crying," said
the mother, now, catching a glance at her daughter's face.

"Do I, mother?" she answered, vacantly.

This was just after she had returned from the meeting with Captain
Ratlin as already described, and whether, she had been crying or not,
the reader will probably know what feelings moved her heart.

CHAPTER XII.

THE CONFLICT.

CAPTAIN BRAMBLE knew very well that he had desperate men to deal with in
the taking of a slaver on the coast, but he had gathered his evidence
and witnesses in such a strong array that he felt warranted in going to
any length in securing possession of a clipper craft which had been so
fully described to him. He was not wanting in personal courage, and
therefore, with a well-selected body of sailors and marines, and one or
two officers, he quietly pulled away from the ship's side, under cover
of the night, and landed at the proposed spot. Here he found Maud
patiently awaiting his coming, and ready to lead him to the hiding-place
of the "Sea Witch" and her crew. The men were all well armed, and
instructed how to act in any possible emergency that was to be met with
in the business which brought them on shore.

On the whole body pressed in silence, through a tangled and narrow path,
being more than once startled by the growl of some wild animal, whose
haunts they disturbed. It was weary struggling by this path through the
wood, but it was the only way to approach the desired point by land.
Maud hesitated not, but stole or glided through the tangled undergrowth,
as though she had passed her whole life-time in the deep, tangled ways
of the jungle. As they went on, the moon gradually rose and lifted up
the dark path by little gleamings which stole in through the thick
leaves and close-turning branches of the lofty vegetation.

On, on they press; and now they pause at a sign from Maud, and listen to
the sound of voices, which have a strange and echo-like sound in that
wild and tangled spot. Har