t in the offing.

Every effort was made to get the schooner off, but she stuck fast. One
of the officers had gone aloft with a spy-glass. On his return I
observed a look of consternation in the countenance of the captain and
his mates. After talking eagerly together one of them went aloft. He
remained for sometime with his spy-glass turned towards the stranger,
which, in a short time, could be seen clearly from the deck, and from
the expressions I heard them utter, I found that she was supposed to be
a British man-of-war. I endeavoured to conceal my satisfaction, for I
hoped that the unfortunate slaves would be rescued, and that Paul and I
might be taken on board her.

It shortly, however, fell perfectly calm, and the spirits of the
slaver's crew revived. The tide was rising, anchors were carried out,
and desperate efforts were made to heave the vessel off. A report now
came from aloft that several boats were approaching from the direction
of the cruiser. The Spaniards, on hearing this, began to stamp about
the deck, grinding their teeth and shaking their fists towards where the
boats were supposed to be, working themselves into a perfect fury. Arms
were got up on deck, and the two guns the vessel carried were loaded and
run out. The savage cries and oaths, and fierce gestures of the crew,
made them look more like demons than men.

I looked anxiously for Paul, fearing that in their fury they might
injure him, but he had wisely taken shelter in the berth forward so as
to be out of their sight. I had thought of hiding in the cabin where I
slept, but felt too anxious to watch the issue of events to do so. Of
one thing I felt very sure, that though the Spaniards might fight, the
British seamen would soon be in possession of the slaver.

The day was drawing to a close, however, and I began to fear that the
boats might not reach the schooner before darkness set in. In a short
time too, I observed a thick mist gathering over the land, which rose
higher and higher, and came moving towards us. We were soon completely
enveloped in it. This seemed to give the slaver's crew great
satisfaction, and they again began to talk and laugh in their usual
tone, while all the time they continued their exertions to get the
vessel off. Lazy as the Spaniards are they can work as hard as any one
when they have a sufficient motive to arouse them.

I observed the captain frequently wetting his finger and holding it up,
and soo