too honest and manly a spirit, sir," said the mother, frankly,
"to be engaged in such a trade. Ah, sir, why not turn your talents to a
more fitting purpose? The field of commerce is extensive, and such as
you need not look for command."

"Madam, your daughter has already caused me to behold my position in a
very different light from what I did when I cleared my ship from the
last port."

"I rejoice, Captain Ratlin, to hear you say so," was the frank rejoinder
of the mother, as she extended her hand to him, and which he pressed
respectfully.

"She is thus frank and open with me," reasoned the young commander to
himself, "because she has no reason for restraint; but were I to tell
her that I loved her child, that she was already so dear to me that I
would relinquish all things for her, that face, so friendly in its
expression now, would be suffused with disdain and scorn. No, no! such a
fate is not in store for me; a sailor should know but one mistress, and
she should be his ship. But the heart is a stubborn thing. I would not
have believed that ouch a change could come over me."

"Stand by to let go the starboard bow anchor," he shouted, as the vessel
gradually crept shoreward with the oncoming of night, and, assumed the
position in which he desired to place her.

Her sails were gradually furled, and as she drew to her anchorage
ground, a quarter-boat a was lowered from the davits, while the chain
cable rang its loud report as it ran out at the hawser hole, and the
ship swung gradually with the set of the current, leaving her stern
towards the shore. But a few moments elapsed before Capt. Ratlin and his
two passengers, with such articles as they had brought on board, were
skimming over the short space between the ship and the shore, propelled
by a half-dozen stout rowers. It had already been explained to them that
at first it would be necessary to land them and offer them shelter at
Don Leonardo's slave factory, until a mode of conveyance could be
procured for them to reach Sierra Leone, so they were not surprised, but
placing full confidence in Captain Ratlin, were satisfied.

At the house of Don Leonardo, they were hospitably received, and found
the proprietor to be a rough Spaniard, with a dark quadroon daughter,
whose mulatto mother was dead. The household, though primitive, in many
particulars, was yet profusely supplied with every necessity, and even
many luxuries. In the rear of the house was a spacious barr