sum for which you could land all the people I have on board at Bahia, or
the nearest port we can make."

"No, sir; I guess no sum would pay me to defile my vessel in the way you
propose," said the Yankee. "I'll take you and your own crew with
pleasure; but the niggers are out of the question."

"What! would you leave the poor wretches to perish in the most horrible
way, with thirst and starvation?" exclaimed Waller, shuddering at the
thought.

"They are niggers," said the Yankee, coolly puffing forth a cloud of
smoke, and leaning back in his chair with a self-satisfied look.

"Hear me, sir!" exclaimed Waller, rising, a flush mantling on his brow.
"I have six thousand pounds of my own in this world. That sum I will
make over to you, by every legal means you can devise, if you will take
these poor people on board your brig, and land them in a place of
safety. This shall be over and above what my Government may award you.
I entreat you, as you hope for mercy here and hereafter, to do as I
ask."

"Not if you were to go down on your knees and pray till to-morrow
morning," replied the Yankee, slowly. "Niggers are niggers, and they
can't be otherwise. If you and your people like to come aboard, you are
welcome. You've got my answer, Sir."

"Then, sir," exclaimed Waller, rising from his seat, "I'll trust to the
negroes' God, to mine, and to yours, for that help which you deny them.
May you never be in the same strait and seek in vain for help. Good
day, sir."

The Yankee looked at us with an expression more of surprise than anger
as we left the brig's deck.

"Stay! you are not a bad chap, I guess. Here, just take these things;
you are welcome to them."

Saying this he ordered a cask of water, some beef and biscuits, and a
few little luxuries, to be put into the boat. We were not in a position
to decline the gift; and, to do the Yankee full justice, he would
receive no remuneration. We thanked him sincerely; and assured him that
we regretted deeply our opinions on the nature of negroes did not
coincide; at which he shrugged his shoulders, and we pulled back to the
schooner.

We again made sail for the westward.

When I told Jack Stretcher what had occurred, he slapped his hand on his
thigh, and exclaimed:

"Mr Waller was right, sir, that he was, not to think of deserting the
poor niggers; and there isn't a man of us but would gladly stick by him
to the last."

I told Waller what Jack had said, and he