sped to himself. "It's simply awful. I never had
very much liking for niggers--as niggers, but such as this is enough to
bring God's punishment on every one of us that have helped to bring it
about. Jeemineddy! I wouldn't care much if that ship did overhaul us.
Want water, do you?"

This last remark was brought out by Ralph's noticing several of the
negroes make signs to him as of drinking from their hands. Ralph
walked straight to Captain Gary and saluted.

"May I give those people below some water, sir?" he asked. "They seem
to want some."

"No!" shouted Gary, not sorry to vent his spleen on so inviting an
object as Ralph. "We'll all be wanting water if that fellow there
drives us from the coast without another chance to fill the butts. Get
forward there and don't let me hear from you till you're spoken to.
D'ye understand?"

Ralph retreated, and Gary, after another unsuccessful trial at the
cruiser's masts, gave orders to cease firing.

The wind was now a stiff breeze, and the Adams was holding her own.
With the rising of the sea it was probable that the larger vessel would
gain on the smaller one.

The cruiser also stopped firing, as the increased rolling of the ship
rendered a long range shot too ineffective.

For an hour or more the relative positions of the two vessels remained
comparatively unchanged. If there was any advantage it was on the side
of the cruiser, though the Wanderer behaved beautifully.

But the wind steadily rose, and by the time eight bells was struck, and
Neb announced dinner, the Adams was perceptibly gaining.

"Send that boy aft," ordered Gary, and when Ralph appeared the captain
said sneeringly: "You seem to think so much of those black brutes
below, I guess you can help deal out their rations. Go to Long Tom."

That worthy was buckling a brace of revolvers about his person, and had
in his hand a sharp rawhide. Two sailors bore a great basket of corn
bread and ship's hard bread. To Ralph was given a smaller one,
containing meat minutely divided into about two ounce slices.

"'Ere we go," remarked the boatswain, heading for the lower gangway
door.

At this place an armed sentinel stood day and night. As the four
entered, a howl arose not unlike that of caged wild beasts. But it was
more for water than for food.

"Eat first; drink afterwards," said Bludson, striking lightly right and
left to restrain their eagerness. "That's the law aboard here. Mind,
Ralph; o