een on deck, and that
the vessel had been left without anyone to look-out. I told him that
the captain had resolved to put to sea the next day. "Had he gone a
week ago the lives of some of us might have been saved, but it is too
late now," he answered with a groan.

Sick at heart, after attending to him, I returned to the cabin, to make
my report to the captain.

"What, all! everyone of them sick!" he exclaimed, sighing deeply. "Then
God have mercy upon us. You must not fall ill, Harry."

"Not if I can help it, sir," I replied.

"I must keep up," he said, and if I can get these Krumen on board we
will still put to sea. They are trustworthy fellows, and, Harry, you
must be my mate. You are somewhat young; but you have got a head on
your shoulders. You must keep your wits alive.

"I'll do my best, sir," I answered, feeling not a little proud of the
rank to which I thus was raised. I had, indeed, for some time past been
performing the duties of mate, supercargo, steward, and not unfrequently
helping the black cook, Sambo, and, indeed, lending a hand to everything
which required to be done. Now Sambo and I were literally the only two
people capable of working on board. The captain himself I feared
greatly had got the fever, notwithstanding his assertions to the
contrary. It was surprising that I, the youngest in the ship, and least
inured to the climate, should have escaped. I had always been very
healthy; had never done anything to hurt my constitution, and had
followed the captain's advice in keeping out of the sun, and was
inclined to feel somewhat self-satisfied on that account--not
considering that it was owing to God's mercy and loving-kindness that I
had been preserved.

The captain said he would go and see Raven; but having got up, after
moving a few paces, he sat down again with a groan, and a deadly pallor
came over his countenance. He felt that he, too, had got the fever. I
advised him to lie down again and rest, but to that he would not
consent. He was determined to carry on the trade as usual during the
day, and to get ready for sea as soon as the black seamen, whom he
expected every hour on board, arrived. He sent me up frequently to see
whether they were coming off, and now, when too late, he seemed as
anxious as anyone had been to get the vessel out of the river.

I was thankful when at length I found two canoes alongside with the
expected blacks. The Krumen were fine athletic fellow