ed-hut
thatched with palm-leaves usually standing in one corner of the plot,
with a tethered goat close by, a few fowls, or other traces of its being
inhabited. Of the human inhabitants themselves, however, strangely
enough, nothing was to be seen. But it was clear that we were nearing
our goal; and word was passed along the deck for the men to hold
themselves prepared for instant action.

There were several memoranda jotted down upon the chart for our
guidance, and among these was an intimation to look out for a clump of
exceptionally tall trees on the southern bank of the creek, under the
broad shadow of which the slave barracoons were stated to be built. A
few minutes after passing the branch creek already referred to we
arrived at a bend, and as the schooner glided round it, and entered a
new reach, these trees swept into view; there could be no mistaking
them, for they lifted their majestic heads--there were five of them--
fully fifty feet clear above those of their brethren. Moreover, they
stood quite close to the margin of the creek, thus confirming the
statement made upon the sketch-chart. But had there been any lurking
doubt in our minds about the matter they would have been quickly
dispelled, for as we glided forward, a small sandy beach--also referred
to in the chart--was made out projecting from the southern bank, at
which some twenty or thirty large canoes lay with their bows hauled
sufficiently out of the water to prevent their going adrift. That a
vigilant watch was being kept upon the waters of the creek became
quickly apparent, for we had scarcely made out the canoes when we saw
several negroes rush down to one of them, launch it, and paddle swiftly
away up the creek and round another bend, while, as we advanced, a crowd
of naked blacks, armed with spears, shields, and muskets, gathered upon
the beach, and, from their actions, seemed fully prepared to forcibly
resist any attempt on our part to effect a landing.

Still advancing up the creek, we gradually opened the vista of the reach
beyond--that in which the canoe had a few minutes previously vanished--
and at length, when only a short half-mile intervened between us and the
beach--which projected boldly nearly half-way across the channel--the
main-mast of a schooner crept into view beyond the concealment of the
hitherto intervening bush and trees; and bringing our glasses to bear
upon her, we detected signs of great bustle and confusion on boar