e ground they had just passed, towards Don Leonardo's. There
being now no further cause for secrecy, they marched openly, and
enlivened the way with many a rude jest, which grated harshly upon the
ears of the wounded, who were borne upon litters made from branches of
the hard, dry leaves of the palm.

As they came upon the open spot where stand the barracoons and Don
Leonardo's dwelling, they found the entire family aroused and on the
watch, the heavy explosion of the "Sea Witch's" magazine having seemed
to them like an earthquake. Don Leonardo, who shrewdly suspected the
truth, seemed satisfied at a single glance as to the state of affairs,
and walking up to the young commander, and watching for a favorable
opportunity, when not overheard, he asked, significantly: "Treachery?"

"Yes."

"Whom?"

"It matters not," was the magnanimous reply; for Captain Ratlin was too
generous to betray the Quadroon to her father, though she had proved
thus treacherous to him.

As he now recognized himself to be a prisoner, and had been told by
Captain Bramble that he must go forthwith on board his ship as such, he
desired to say a few words to Mrs. Huntington and her daughter, a
request which his rival could hardly find grounds for refusing, and so
he took occasion to explain to them the state of affairs, and to advise
them to the best of his ability, touching their own best course in order
to safely reach England. They felt that his advice was good, as truly
disinterested, and both agreed to abide strictly by it; but doubted not
that as Captain Ratlin had not been engaged in any slave commerce, and
indeed had not been in the late action at all, that he would be very
soon liberated, and free to choose his own calling.

Captain Ratlin was conveyed on board the ship in the harbor, and Mrs.
Huntington and her daughter also, with Maud and some other witnesses
that Captain Bramble desired; and the vessel shaped her course along the
coast towards Sierra Leone, where there was sitting an English court of
admiralty, with extraordinary authority relative to such cases Captain
Bramble was now about to lay before them, and who would be only too much
gratified at the bringing before them of an offender to make an example
of him.

Captain Bramble of course offered to Mrs. Huntington and her daughter
his own cabin for their greater comfort, and strove to make their
position as comfortable as possible for them while they were on board;
but he