h of his hat, seated himself in
the stern-sheets of his boat, gave the word to his Krumen, and a few
minutes later was on the wharf, walking toward his factory, into the
open door of which he disappeared.

"Come," thought I, "there is something afoot already. The captain and
the first luff have, between them, evidently contrived to worm some
intelligence out of the Portuguese. I must go and tell Bates the news."

Before I could do so, however, the captain, who had been standing near
the gangway, listening to what was passing between Young and Lobo,
caught sight of me and said--

"Mr Dugdale, be good enough to find Mr Bates, and tell him that I
shall feel obliged if he will come to me for a few minutes in my cabin."

I touched my hat, dived down the hatchway, and gave the message,
whereupon the master stepped out of his cabin and made his way aft. He
was with the captain nearly half-an-hour; and when he re-appeared he
looked as pleased as Punch.

"I'll never attempt to judge a man's character by his face again," he
exclaimed, as he caught me by the arm, and walked me along the deck
beside him. "Who would have thought that a piratical-looking rascal
like that Portuguese would have been friendly disposed towards the
representatives of law and order? Yet he has not only given the captain
valuable information, but has actually consented to pilot the ship to
the spot which is to serve as our base of operations, although, as he
says, should the slavers get to know of his having done such a thing,
they would cut his throat without hesitation."

"Yes," said I, "I heard him make that remark to Mr Young just before
shoving off. And pray, Mr Bates--if the question be not indiscreet--
what is the nature of the expedition upon which we are to engage this
afternoon?"

"Well, I don't know why I shouldn't tell you," answered Bates, a little
doubtfully. "Our movements are of course to be conducted with all
possible secrecy, but if I tell you I don't suppose you'll go ashore and
hire the town-crier to make public our intentions; and all hands will
have to know--more or less--what we're after, very soon, so I suppose I
shall not be infringing any of the Articles of War if I tell you now;
but you needn't go and publish the news throughout the ship, d'ye see?
Let the skipper do that when he thinks fit."

"Certainly," I assented. "You may rely implicitly upon my discretion."

"Oh yes, of course," retorted the master ironical