ake a peep through the scuttle at the sea, but it was
bare as far as my eye could reach; so, as my state-room was to windward
as the _Francesca_ then lay, I came to the conclusion that the brig was
hove-to to leeward of us. The moment that our topsail was backed I
heard the creaking of davit blocks, and the other sounds of a boat being
lowered; and a few minutes later I heard the roll of the oars in the
rowlocks as she was pulled away from the ship. Then the hatches were
taken off fore and aft, and in about half-an-hour from the time of our
having hove-to I became aware that the first boat-load of slaves had
arrived alongside and were being driven down into the hold. The boats
now began to arrive in rapid succession, and there was a good deal of
bustle and confusion on deck, which lasted until close upon sunset, and
in the midst of it I laid down and went to sleep again, for want of
something better to do. When I awoke the dusk was thick upon the glass
of my scuttle, the steward was lighting the lamp in the main cabin, and
I could feel that we were once more under way again; concluding,
therefore, that the exchange had been completed, I rolled out of my bunk
and, slipping my feet into my shoes, left my state-room and went on
deck, where I found Mendouca in jubilant spirits, but rather
disconcerted, I thought, at my appearance.

"Hillo!" he exclaimed in English, "where the deuce did you come from,
and how long have you been on deck?"

"I came from my state-room, and have but this moment emerged from the
companion. Why do you ask?" said I.

"Because," he answered, "to tell you the truth you startled me, making
your appearance in that quiet manner. I thought you were going to stay
below until I called you?"

"It was _you_ who said that, not I," answered I. "And, to tell you the
truth, I felt tired of being below, and so--finding that you were under
way again--came on deck."

The brig was about five miles astern, and, as far as I could see in the
fast-gathering darkness, still hove-to, which struck me as being so
peculiar that I made some remark to that effect.

"Oh no; nothing strange about it at all," answered Mendouca carelessly.
"Her people are getting their supper, probably, and are too lazy to
start tack or sheet until they have finished their meal. Bless you, you
have no idea what lazy rascals the Portuguese are; their laziness is
absolutely phenomenal; they are positively too lazy to live long, and so