rds us. At all events it seemed probable that having
seen the burning vessel those on board, in common humanity, would sail
over the spot where she had been, on the chance of picking up any of her
crew who might have escaped. Paul, however, did not seem to wish this
as much as I did. I saw him narrowly watching the vessel, then he shook
his head as if he did not like her looks.

The sun rose high in the sky, and beat down on our heads. My thirst
became intolerable, and whatever might be the character of the stranger,
I could not help longing that she would pick us up. The breeze came at
last, her sails filled. How eagerly I watched her.

"She is standing towards us," I cried out, "we must soon be seen." I
stood up on a thwart and waved a handkerchief.

"Better not Massa Harry," said Paul, but I did not heed him.

The schooner came on rapidly. Again I waved my handkerchief, and held
it between my two hands, so that it might flutter in the breeze. The
stranger approached. She was a fine large square topsail schooner, with
a black hull and taunt raking masts. She rounded to close to us, so
that she could drop down to where our boat lay.

A rope was hove to us, and I clambered up her side, Paul following me.
We were both so weak when we reached her deck that we could scarcely
stand. I pointed to my mouth, just able to murmur, "water! water!"

"Si, si, aqua aqua," said a man, who appeared to be an officer; when one
of the men dipped a mug into a cask on deck, and brought it to us. I
took part of the contents then handed it to Paul; but the seaman signed
to me to drain it myself, casting, I thought, a contemptuous glance at
my negro companion. However, he brought another cup full, and even
though I emptied it to the bottom, still my thirst was scarcely
quenched.

An officer now appeared from below, and addressing me in English, asked
me how I came to be in the boat. I told him exactly what had occurred.

"It is fortunate for you that we picked you up, for another vessel might
not pass this way for days to come," he observed. "But what a pity so
rich a cargo should have been lost."

The unhappy fate of the poor captain did not seem to concern him much.

I could not make out the character of the vessel.

She was Spanish, I guessed, and her officers and crew appeared smart
active fellows; and though she looked in some respects like a
man-of-war, she certainly was not one. Her hatches were off, and as