nto the river. Oh! it seemed a horrible fate--thus to be sold
into worse than captivity--a slavery worse than death, to live the slave
of a barbarous monster, with no hope of deliverance, for whence could
deliverance come? Oh! it seemed a horrible fate! and I was almost
frantic.

My cries and gestures only drew laughter from the crowd of blacks that
still lingered upon the bank, and some of them mocked and taunted me in
their native gibberish. Even the men in the boat did not care much
about the matter.

Brace alone felt and sympathised with me, but what could he do? I saw
from his manner that he felt powerless to protect me. They would have
mastered and punished him, had he opposed their wishes.

I wondered, however, that he kept so cool and quiet. I fancied he might
have shown more feeling; but I was wronging him. He felt keenly, and I
soon learnt the cause of his being so silent. He had been busy all the
while--busy with his thoughts--busy in maturing a plan for my escape.

As soon as the captain and king had gone back from the bank, my
companion shifted a little nearer; and in a low, muttering voice that
could not be heard by the rest, thus addressed me:--

"No help for't, my lad--sold you for six blacks. Go along wi' king--
pretend to go willin', or they'll tie you. Don't be obstropelous an'
get tied--be patient and keep sharp look out till `_Pandy_' trips
anchor, then gie 'em the slip--easy enough in the dark--keep down the
bank o' the river--near the mouth take to water--swim straight for
barque--I'll be on the look out and throw ye a rope's end. Don't fear
to come on--old Mugs won't mind your getting aboard--only too glad to
get you back an' play Dingo Bingo a trick. Mind an' do as I've told
you. Avast, hush--yonder they come."

Delivered as this speech was, half in whisper, and half in interrupted
mutterings, I comprehended its reasonable design, and had just time to
promise obedience to its directions when I perceived the captain
returning to the boat.

He was not alone. The king was waddling by his side, and just behind
them were six large negroes, chained two and two, and driven forward by
as many armed myrmidons of their own colour.

It was for the first six I was to be "swopped," or rather had already
been, for the bargain was concluded and the blacks were being delivered
over to form part of the slaver's cargo.

These new "bultos" were not slaves--at least, they had not been such t