, and had
fallen in with a black ruler, who had never yet treated with the
English; but only with the Spaniards, for slaves. That his English
commodities were quite new to the natives, and that, in consequence, he
had made a most fortunate traffic with them, and had loaded a vessel
with ivory, wax, and gold-dust to the amount of 1000 pounds, and that he
had sent the Chester Lass, remaining himself to continue the barter
before it was known to the other ships on the coast, which it would soon
be. He continued, that he had not sufficient of the articles which were
most valued by the natives, and requested that Mr Trevannion would
immediately despatch another vessel with various goods enumerated, and
that then he should be able to fill his own vessel as well as the one
that he had despatched home; that the river was in such a latitude, and
the mouth difficult to discover; that he sent a little sketch of the
coast, which would facilitate the discovery--but that no time was to be
lost, as the sickly season was coming on, and it was very unhealthy at
that time.

As I folded up the letter, Mr Trevannion said:

"Now, here is an invoice of the whole cargo sent home by the Chester
Lass. I reckon it worth about 7000 pounds."

I looked over the invoice, and agreed with Mr Trevannion that it was
well worth that, if not more.

"This is most important, you will acknowledge, Musgrave," said Mr
Trevannion; "but before I go any further, I trust that, now the only
difficulty is got over, you will not refuse to be my partner; the only
difference I intend to make, is, that I now offer you one-fourth instead
of one-eighth. Silence gives consent," continued Mr Trevannion, as I
did not immediately reply.

"I was so astonished at your munificent offer, Sir, that I could not
well speak."

"Then it's agreed; so say no more about it," said Mr Trevannion, taking
me by the hand, and pressing it warmly--"and now to business. My idea
is, to send out the Sparrow-Hawk, being so fast a sailer. Of course, as
a privateer, she has done her work; and as the government wish the
complement of the Arrow to be increased, I think we cannot do better
than to fill her up with some of the Sparrow-Hawk's men, leaving about
twenty-five on board of her, and sending her out as soon as possible to
the coast, with the articles which Captain Irving requests."

"I agree with you, Sir, that it will be the best plan."

"But whom to send is the difficulty," sai