things, such as I understand Captain Willis is going to trade for."

"You will not forget Cheebo though, Massa Harry," said Mammy, in a low
voice. The idea that I might meet her son was evidently taking strong
possession of her mind.

"That I will not," I answered. "I'll ask his name of every black fellow
I meet, and if I find him I'll tell him that I know his mother Mammy,
and ask him to come with me to see you."

"Oh, but he not know dat name," exclaimed Mammy. "Me called Ambah in
Africa; him fader called Quamino. You no forget dat."

"I hope not; but I'll put them in my pocketbook," I said, writing down
the names, though I confess that I did so without any serious thoughts
about the matter, but merely for the sake of pleasing old Mammy. When I
told Captain Willis afterwards, he was highly amused with the notion,
and said that I might just as well try to find a needle in a bundle of
hay as to look for the old woman's son on the coast of Africa.

The day of parting from my poor sisters and our noble-hearted nurse
arrived. I did not expect to feel it so much as I did, and I could then
understand how much grief it caused them.

"Cheer up, Harry," said Captain Willis, as the "Chieftain," under all
sail, was standing down the Mersey. "You must not let thoughts of home
get the better of you. We shall soon be in blue water, and you must
turn to and learn to be a sailor. By the time you have made another
voyage or so I expect to have you as one of my mates, and, perhaps,
before you are many years older, you will become the commander of a fine
craft like this."

I followed the captain's advice, and by the time we had crossed the line
I could take my trick at the helm, and was as active aloft as many of
the elder seamen on board.

CHAPTER TWO.

THE "CHIEFTAIN" ARRIVES OFF THE COAST OF AFRICA, AND WE CARRY ON A BRISK
TRADE WITH THE NATIVES, WHO COME OFF TO US THROUGH THE SURF.--AT LENGTH
CAPTAIN WILLIS PROPOSES TO RUN UP THE RIVER BONNY TO COMPLETE OUR CARGO.
NOT FORGETFUL OF MY PROMISE TO MAMMY, I MAKE INQUIRIES FOR HER SON
CHEEBO.

It was my morning watch. I was indulging in the pleasure particularly
enjoyable after sweltering in the close hot atmosphere of the cabin, of
paddling about with bare feet on the wet deck, over which I and some of
the men were heaving buckets of water, while others were lustily using
holy-stones and scrubbing brushes, under the superintendence of Mr
Wesbey, the first mate