too crank for my liking, and pitches too much in
a swell. If she's not kept in plenty o' ballast, I won't wonder to see
them masts walk overboard one of these days."

"You won't be offended at me, Ben; all this you've told me before--it is
not what I wish to know."

"An what the old scratch do you want to know? Be hanged, my lad, if you
don't puzzle me."

"Answer me, Ben; tell me the truth. Is she a merchant vessel."

"Oho! that's what you're driving at! Well, that depends upon what you
may call a merchant vessel. There be many sorts o' goods that comes
under the name o' merchandise. Some ships carry one sort, and some
another."

"What sort does the _Pandora_ carry?" asked I, interrupting him.

As I put the question, I laid my hand gently upon the arm of the sailor,
and looked earnestly in his face as I awaited his reply.

He hesitated for a moment, until he saw that he could not well evade
giving me an answer, and then answered with the simple word--"Niggers."

"It 'ud be no use playin' hide and seek about it, lad. You must 'a
found it out in time--the _Pandora's_ no merchantman--she be a trader--a
regular slaver."

"Oh, Ben," I said, appealingly, "is it not a terrible life to lead?"

"Well, it's not the life for you, my boy, and I'm sorry you've got into
such hands. I saw you when you first comed aboard, and would have put a
word in your ears, if I had got a chance; but the old shark nailed you
afore I could get speaking to you. He wanted a boy and was determined
to have you. When you comed the second time, I was below in my bunk,
and in course you were brought off with us. No, little Will, it's not
the life for you, lad."

"And for you, Ben?"

"Avast there, my youngster! Well, I won't be angry with you, it's but
nat'ral you should think so. Maybe I'm not so bad as you think me."

"I don't think you bad, Ben; quite the contrary. It is for that reason
I spoke as I did. I think you very different from the others. I--"

"Maybe you're right, boy; maybe not. I warn't always bad. I was once
like yourself and didn't care for such as these; but there are tyrants
in the world as makes men bad, and they've made me."

Here the sailor paused and uttered a sigh, while an expression of
extreme bitterness passed over his face; some harsh recollection was
stirring within him.

"How, Ben?" I ventured to ask. "I cannot believe it. They may have
made you unhappy, but not wicked. I know you are no