ous; and that those spars
which appeared so light and elegant, are of unexpected dimensions. In
the centre of the vessel, between the fore and main masts, there is a
long brass thirty-two pounder, fixed upon a carriage revolving in a
circle, and so arranged that in bad weather it can be lowered down and
housed; while on each side of the deck were mounted guns of smaller
calibre.

This vessel was fashioned, at the will of avarice, for the aid of
cruelty and injustice; it was an African slaver--the schooner Panda. She
was commanded by Don Pedro Gilbert, a native of Catalonia, in Spain, and
son of a grandee; a man thirty-six years of age, and exceeding handsome,
having a round face, pearly teeth, round forehead, and full black eyes,
with beautiful raven hair, and a great favorite with the ladies. He
united great energy, coolness and decision, with superior knowledge in
mercantile transactions, and the Guinea trade; having made several
voyages after slaves. The mate and owner of the Panda was Don Bernardo
De Soto, a native of Corunna, Spain, and son, of Isidore De Soto,
manager of the royal revenue in said city; he was now twenty-five years
of age, and from the time he was fourteen had cultivated the art of
navigation, and at the age of twenty-two had obtained the degree of
captain in the India service. After a regular examination the
correspondent diploma was awarded him. He was married to Donna Petrona
Pereyra, daughter of Don Benito Pereyra, a merchant of Corunna. She was
at this time just fifteen, and ripening into that slight fullness of
form, and roundness of limb, which in that climate mark the early
passing from girl into woman. Her complexion was the dark olive tinge of
Spain; her eyes jet black, large and lustrous. She had great sweetness
of disposition and ingenuousness.

To the strictest discipline De Soto united the practical knowledge of a
thorough seaman. But "the master spirit of the whole," was Francisco
Ruiz, the carpenter of the Panda. This individual was of the middle
size, but muscular, with a short neck. His hair was black and abundant,
and projected from his forehead, so that he appeared to look out from
under it, like a bonnet. His eyes were dark chestnut, but always
restless; his features were well defined; his eye-lashes, jet black. He
was familiar with all the out-of-the-way places of the Havana, and
entered into any of the dark abodes without ceremony. From report his
had been a wild and lawles