we were up to her. She was a good sized brig, and
the ensign, with the stars and stripes, which flew out at her peak,
showed that she hailed from the United States. We had a signal of
distress flying, in addition to the British ensign.

"Hillo! what are you?" sung out a man in her main-rigging.

"A prize to His Britannic Majesty's brig of war _Opossum_," answered
Waller. "What are you?"

"The _Go-along_, from Baltimore, bound for Rio," answered a person on
board the brig, through a speaking-trumpet.

"Heave-to, if you please, sir, and I will pay you a visit--we are in
great distress," said Waller.

"Ay, ay, sir," was the reply from the brig, as she was speedily brought
up on a wind and hove-to.

So soon as we could get a boat in the water, leaving Jack in charge,
Waller and I went on board the brig. The master, a tall, thin, sallow
man, with a pointed beard, no whiskers, and a hooked nose, with a huge
cigar in his mouth, a straw hat on his head, loose nankeen trousers, and
a gingham swallow-tailed coat, received us at the gangway.

"Walk into the cabin, gentlemen, and let's liquor a bit," said he, as we
stepped on board, showing us the way before we had time to reply.

The cabin, to our eyes, looked luxuriously furnished, and not unwelcome
was the repast of cold beef and ham and fine biscuits which the steward
placed speedily before us, not forgetting a spirit-stand with four tall
bottles. We did ample justice to the good things placed before us.

"And now, what's your pleasure, Mr Lieutenant?" laid the master of the
brig.

Waller explained exactly what had occurred. "And now," he continued,
"we are in a sinking state; we have neither provisions nor water to last
us till we can reach a port; and the destruction of all these poor
people is sealed if you do not help us."

"What! take all them dirty niggers aboard my craft?" exclaimed the
skipper, with a look of ineffable disgust. "You Britishers have rum
notions, I calculate."

"No, pardon me," said Waller. "I only ask you to preserve from almost
certain destruction a number of our fellow-creatures; and any
remuneration which you may require will certainly be paid you."

"What! do you call them black niggers fellow-creatures, master? That's
a rum joke, I guess," exclaimed the skipper. "I should be happy to be
of service to you, but you are so unreasonable,--that you are."

"Scarcely unreasonable, sir," urged Waller, mildly. "Can you not name a