asked.

"No, my lad; I wish I could. I am getting anxious."

"The men are keeping a very sharp lookout, sir."

"Oh yes; I am not afraid of that, my lad. My anxiety is for the
_Seafowl_. It is so long since I have heard her guns, and then they
were apparently a long distance away."

"Yes, sir," said Murray cheerfully; "but then it is a long while since
we heard the slaver's guns, and that seems to mean that the captain has
silenced and perhaps--"

"Perhaps what, Mr Murray?"

"I was going to say sunk the schooner, sir; but I hope he has not done
that, for the men's sake."

"What, on account of prize money?" replied the lieutenant. "Oh, by the
way, Mr Murray, I suppose you still believe in that black fellow,
Caesar?"

"Oh yes, sir, thoroughly. I'm sure he saved my life."

"Humph! Well, I want to have faith in him, but it is hard work to trust
in people sometimes. Then I get thinking a great deal about that Mr
Allen. I suppose he is sincere."

"Oh, I feel sure he is, sir. The thorough reverence the black Caesar
has for him is sufficient to prove that his master is good to his
people."

"Well, after the ill these slave-owners have done the poor creatures
they owe them something in the way of recompense. Humph! How strange!
We begin talking of the black, and here he is. He wants to speak to
you, seemingly. Call him up."

Caesar had come peering in at one of the doors, and as soon as Murray
signed to him he hurried eagerly into the room, when the lieutenant
looked at him searchingly and said--

"What about your master, my man? Where do you think he is now?"

Caesar started violently, and his lips quivered as he said huskily--

"Caesar don't know, sah. Berry much frighten."

"What, about the slavers and their schooners?"

"No, massa. Caesar 'fraid Massa Huggin take um and kill um."

"What for? Why should he kill one who is his master?"

"Bad man, massa. 'Fraid Massa Allen talk to Bri'sh cap'en and set all a
black free. 'Fraid Massa Huggin kill um."

"Not so bad as that, I hope," said the lieutenant.

"Caesar berry much 'fraid Massa Allen no let Caesar kill Massa Huggin."

"I should think not!" said the lieutenant; and Caesar looked at him
curiously.

"Massa Huggin bad man, sah. Caesar kill, sua. Him take away and kill
um. Caesar t'ink so first time. T'ink so now."

"Where would he take them?"

"Caesar know, sah. Show Bri'sh officer where. Oder side island where
slabe bar