inst what the negroes
could do to us, as to prevent them from injuring themselves. Mr Talbot
had ordered about fifty to be brought on deck soon after daylight. He
had their irons knocked off, and water and brushes were given them that
they might clean themselves. No sooner, however, did two of them find
themselves free, than, before anybody could prevent them, they leaped
overboard. One poor fellow sunk at once, and disappeared from our
sight; the other seemed to repent of the act, and swam to regain the
schooner. I, with others, instantly leaped into one of the boats
alongside to go and pick him up. Just as we were shoving off, I saw a
black triangular fin sticking up above the surface dart from under the
counter. We shouted and splashed the oars as we pulled with all our
might towards the poor fellow. There was a terrible shriek; he gave one
imploring gaze at us as he threw up his arms and sank from view. We
could see him going rapidly down, with a large dark object below him,
while a red circle came up and filled the eddy he had made. "Jack Shark
musters pretty thick about here," observed the coxswain; "he knows well
enough when he's likely to have a feast." It was very dreadful, but, do
you know, it is extraordinary how little one feels those sort of things
at the time. When I got on board I looked about for the poor lad whose
mother had died. I found him still sitting by her body. That had to be
taken from him, and then he was left alone. He seemed not to know or to
care for any of the other blacks, but when I spoke to him he knelt down
and kissed my hand, and said some words which I thought meant--"You'll
be kind to me and take care of me. I know you will. I'll trust to
you." I do not know whether this was really what he said or not, but,
at all events, I determined to do my best, and to be a friend to him.
Slavers, when captured, are usually sent into Sierra Leone to be
condemned, when the slaves are set free, and the vessels are sold. On
examining our prize, however, it was discovered that she had but a short
allowance of water and farinha, or provisions of any sort; and as the
wind was fair for Rio de Janeiro, and contrary for Sierra Leone, the
captain decided on carrying her to the former place, or to some other
port on the Brazilian coast, where she might obtain a sufficient supply
of necessaries, which we could not afford to give her from the frigate.
Sommers was appointed to command the pri