" I
added, "that my black companion will be allowed to accompany me."

"As to that I can make no promise," he answered. "The captain will
decide the matter; but, I have no doubt, that if we fall in with an
English trader you will be allowed to go on board her."

A bright look-out was kept from the mast-head, and twice the schooner
altered her course to avoid a sail seen in the distance. At length we
came off the mouth of a river. A signal was made from the shore. With
a fair breeze we ran in, and proceeding up some distance, dropped anchor
in a creek, where the schooner lay concealed by the tall trees which
grew on its banks.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

I WITNESS THE EMBARKATION OF SLAVES COLLECTED AT THE BARRACOONS, AND THE
CRUEL WAY IN WHICH THEY ARE TREATED AND PACKED IN THE HOLD OF THE
SLAVER.--UNWILLING TO DESERT PAUL, I REMAIN ON BOARD, AND THE SLAVER
PUTS TO SEA.--PAUL IS THREATENED FOR ATTEMPTING TO COMFORT THE SLAVES
WITH THE GOSPEL NEWS.--THE SCHOONER RECEIVES MORE SLAVES ON BOARD ALONG
THE COAST.--SOME ARE DROWNED COMING OFF--THE SLAVER GETS ON SHORE JUST
AS A MAN-OF-WAR IS SEEN IN THE OFFING.--A FOG COMES ON, AND THE
SCHOONER'S CREW MAKING DESPERATE EFFORTS TO GET HER OFF, SHE ESCAPES, TO
MY BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT, FROM THE MAN-OF-WAR'S BOATS, ALONG THE COAST.

I found myself once more exposed to the pestilential air of an African
river. I in vain tried to sleep. All night long I heard the sound of
the carpenters at work fitting the slave decks, and fixing the bars
across them, to which the captive negroes were to be secured. The crew
were employed most of their time in hoisting water casks, and a further
supply of farinha, on board.

At length when morning broke I went on deck to breathe the air, which I
hoped would be somewhat cooler than that of the calm. Through an
opening in the trees I saw several long low sheds with cottages and huts
scattered round them, while a number of people were moving about. The
door in the end of one of the sheds was thrown open, and there issued
forth a long line of black figures, walking two and two, and secured
together by iron shackles round their wrists.

They staggered along with unwilling steps, looking round on the trees
and distant blue hills, which they were destined never again to see, and
even now it seemed to me that could they have wrenched their hands from
those iron bonds they would have attempted to strike a blow for freedom,
and make their escape int