e 'em,
colonel.--Heave 'em down."

The men on deck advanced to the insensible negro, and were in the act of
stooping to pass the rope once more about his chest, when my father, who
could bear the scene no longer, said quietly--

"Do you not see that man is dying?"

"Yes, sir. Altered your mind? You can have the two a bargain."

"Bah!" exclaimed my father, fiercely. "Man, have you no heart, no
feeling?"

"Not that I know of, sir. This trade would take it out of any one."

"But the poor creature's lips are dried up. He wants water."

"He'll have plenty to-night, sir," said the slave captain, with a laugh.
"Down with him, my lads."

"Ay, ay, sir," said the men; the rope was passed round the negro, and
the men seized the end to haul.

"I can't bear it," I heard my father say in a whisper; and then
aloud--"Stop!"

"Eh? What for?"

"I will buy the man," said my father.

"And the boy?"

"N--"

"Yes, yes," I shouted, excitedly.

My father turned upon me with an angry look, but he seemed to read mine,
and his face changed.

"Yes," he said, quietly.

"Right, and a good riddance," said the captain, laughing, as he held out
his hand for the money my father began to count out. "I don't mind
telling you now, sir; if you hadn't bought him, he'd have been dead
enough to-night; but you get him ashore and take care of him, and he'll
come round--he will indeed; I'm not tricking you. It's wonderful what a
deal these niggers will bear. There, I like to deal square," he added,
as he thrust the money in his pocket. "Smithers, shove a chain on that
boy's legs, and another on the man's."

"Ay, ay, sir."

"No, no, for Heaven's sake, no," cried my father.

"Oh, just as you like," said the slave captain. "I was going to give
you the shackles; only I warn you, if you don't have them on, that man
as soon as you revive him will make for the river and drown himself, and
the boy will be off into the woods."

"Do what is best," said my father, and the shackles were put on.

"Shall we hoist them into the boat for you?"

"If you please," said my father, coldly.

"Heave ahead, my lads," cried the slave captain; "and below there, get
those brimstone-pans going at once."

"Ay, ay," came from below, and I saw a lighted lanthorn passed down as
my father's two slaves were hoisted over the side, and lowered into the
boat, where Morgan stood ready with a grim smile upon his lip.

"You'll get yours home first, Bruton,