nd, in a few
moments more, they had discovered that the ship was a slaver.

Turning to the youthful captain, one of the committee said:

"You, sir, are engaged in illegal traffic. You must suffer for this,
and must come with us at once to the city to answer an indictment
drawn up against you."

Surcouf smiled benignly.

"I am at your service," said he, with a polite bow. "But do not go--I
pray thee--until you have given me the great pleasure of partaking of
the breakfast which my cook has hastily prepared."

The Committee-men smiled.

"You are very kind," said one. "We accept with pleasure."

The hasty efforts of the cook proved to be most attractive. And, as
the Commissioners smacked their lips over the good Madeira wine, the
mate of the _Creole_ dismissed the boat which had brought the stolid
Commissioners to the side.

"The tender of our brig will take your people ashore," said he to the
coxswain.

No sooner had this tender neared the shore, than the cable of the
_Creole_ was slipped; she left her anchorage; and quickly drew out to
sea in a fresh sou'westerly breeze.

The unaccustomed rallying soon warned the Commissioners that the
vessel was no longer at anchor, and, rushing to the deck, they
saw--with dismay--that a full half mile of foam-flecked ocean lay
between them and the island.

"Ye Gods!" cried one, turning to Surcouf. "What mean you by this,
sir?"

The crafty Captain was smiling like the Cheshire cat.

"You are now in my power," said he--very slowly and deliberately. "I
am going to take you to the coast of Africa among your friends--the
negroes. You seem to prefer them to the whites, so why not, pray?
Meanwhile,--my kind sirs,--come below and take my orders."

The Commissioners were flabbergasted.

"Pirate!" cried one.

"Thief!" cried another.

"Scamp!" shouted the third.

But they went below,--mumbling many an imprecation upon the head of
the crafty Robert Surcouf.

That night the wind freshened, the waves rose, and the good ship
_Creole_ pitched and tossed upon them, like a leaf. The Committee-men
were very ill, for they were landsmen, and Surcouf's smile expanded.

"Take us ashore! Take us ashore!" cried one. "We _must_ get upon
land."

Surcouf even laughed. Everything was as he wished.

"I will land you upon one condition only," said he. "Destroy the
indictment against me and my ship. Write a document to the effect that
you have found no traces of slaves upon my staunch c