rom the anchorage, and could not see the
lower masts of the slaver, which still remained where we had left her.

Satisfied that we were secure, I then went down to the captain, and,
as he lay in bed, made him acquainted with all that had passed. He
appeared as if awakened from a dream, rose without making any reply,
and hastened on deck. When he found out that we were under weigh, and
so far from the land, he exclaimed:

"It must all be true; but how shall we be able to take the ship home
with so few hands?"

I replied, that I had no fears on that score, and that I would answer
for bringing the vessel safe to Liverpool.

"But," he said at last, "how is it that I was not informed of all
this? I might have made some arrangements with the men."

"Yes, Sir," I replied, "but if you had attempted to do so, the vessel
would have been taken immediately."

"But why was I not acquainted with it, I want to know?" he said again.

I had by this time made up my mind to the answer I should give him; so
I said: "Because it would have placed a serious responsibility on your
shoulders if, as captain of this vessel, you had sailed to England
with such a valuable cargo and so few hands. The governor and I,
therefore, thought it better that you should not be placed in such an
awkward position, and therefore we considered it right not to say a
word to you about it. Now, if any thing goes wrong, it will be my
fault, and not yours, and the owner cannot blame you." When I had said
this, the captain was silent for a minute or two, and then said:

"Well, I believe it is all for the best, and I thank you and the
governor too."

Having got over this little difficulty, I did not care. We made all
sail, and steered homewards, and, after a rapid passage, during which
we were on deck day and night, we arrived, very much fatigued, at
Liverpool. Of course the captain communicated what had occurred to the
owner, who immediately sent for me, and having heard my version of the
story, expressed his acknowledgment for the preservation of the
vessel; and to prove his sincerity, he presented me with fifty guineas
for myself, and ten for each of the men. The cargo was soon landed,
and I was again at liberty. I found Captain Levee in port; he had just
returned from another cruise, and had taken a rich prize. He met me
with the same cordiality as before; and having asked me for a recital
of what had occurred at Senegal, of which he had heard something fr