e're all agreed, we may as
well go to dinner.'"

"The scoundrel shall pay for this," cried I.

"Hush, Sir, hush, I pray; say nothing, but wait patiently and see what
turns up. We are not yet at Rio, and when we are, we may be able to do
something, but every thing depends upon keeping quiet, for if the men
become alarmed, they may be persuaded to kill you to save themselves."

"That is very true, Ingram," replied I. "Leave me now for half an
hour, I wish to be alone."

You may imagine, my dear Madam, my agitation at hearing this
intelligence. I who had thought that I was within a few days' sail of
Liverpool, to be there received by my cherished Amy, to find myself in
the hands of pirates, and close to the Brazils with a cargo of slaves;
which they, or rather Olivarez, had taken in the vessel to Rio that he
might not be discovered, for he might have found a better mart for his
live cargo. And then what would be the anxiety of Amy and her father
when I was not heard of? It would be supposed that the schooner was
upset in a squall, and all hands had perished. Excited and angry as I
was, I felt the truth of what Ingram said, and that it was necessary
to be quiet. Perhaps I might by that means not only preserve my life,
but again find myself in my own country. When Ingram returned, I asked
him if Olivarez knew that I was better, and had recovered my reason.
He replied that he did, but that he had told him I was so weak that I
could hardly recover.

"That is well," said I; "keep him in that belief as long as you can."

He now offered me more gruel, which I took, and I believe that he put
an opiate in it, for shortly after I had taken it, I again felt
drowsy, and was soon fast asleep. I awoke sooner than before, for it
was night, and I heard the voice of Olivarez on deck; from what I
gathered, land was in sight, and I heard him order the schooner to be
hove to. In the morning Ingram came down in the cabin, bringing me
some breakfast, which I ate heartily, for I was recovering fast, and
had become quite ravenous.

"Land is in sight," said I.

"Yes, Sir, it is; but we are many miles to the northward of Rio, I
understand, for Olivarez knows the coast well. We shall not be in
to-day, if we are to-morrow."

"I feel quite strong now," replied I, "and I want to get up."

"Do so, Sir," said he; "but if you hear any one coming down the
ladder, get into bed again."

With Ingram's assistance I dressed myself, and went into t