the block; it tightened, and with a cheery "Yo-ho!" they ran up what
seemed to be the dead body of a big negro, whose head and arms hung down
inert as he was hoisted on high; the spar to which the block was
fastened swung round, the rope slackened, and the poor wretch plumped
down on the deck, to lie motionless all of a heap.

"Not in very good fettle," said the slave captain, curtly; "but he'll
come round."

The rope was cast loose from the negro's chest, lowered down again, and
I gazed from the poor wretch lying half or quite dead on the deck, to my
father, and back again, noting that he was very pale, biting his lower
lip, and frowning in a way that I knew of old meant a storm.

"Now then, up with him!" shouted the captain.

"Ay, ay, but look out, or he'll be overboard. He's lively as an eel,"
came from below.

"Right!" said the captain; and he took up a small line and held it ready
in both hands.

The rope tightened; there was a cheery "Yo-ho!" and up came a black,
impish-looking boy of about my own age, kicking, struggling, and tearing
at the rope round his chest.

But it was all in vain; he was swung round, held suspended with his feet
just clear of the deck, and his wrists were caught in a loop of the line
bound together, his ankles were served the same, and the lad was dropped
on the deck to lie writhing like some wild animal, showing his teeth,
and watching us all in turn with his rolling eyes.

"Come," said the slave captain, laughingly turning to Colonel Preston;
"he's lively enough to make up for the other. Better have 'em. I'll
throw them in for next to nothing."

"No," said our neighbour, coldly. "That man is dying, and the boy would
be of no use to me."

"The man is not dying," said the slave captain roughly, "but he soon
will be if you don't have him. As for this shaver, he's about as near
being an imp as we can find. Keep away, my lad, or he may bite you."

This was to me, as I approached the boy, who showed his teeth at me like
a vicious dog.

"Going to have 'em, colonel?"

"No; once more, no," said the colonel, sternly. "I am only waiting for
my boat."

"All right, sir, I don't go begging. What do you say?" he continued,
turning to my father. "Will you buy those two?"

"I?" cried my father, angrily; "buy my fellow-creatures for slaves?"

"Oh, no, of course not," said the slave captain. And then to himself,
but I heard him, "Too good a man, I suppose.--Sorry you won't hav