dies of the current, came
sweeping past the boat, proving that Adair's shot had not failed to take
effect. Well content to get thus easily rid of their unpleasant
antagonist, the men shaved the boat on rapidly down the creek. They had
not quite come in sight of the slave schooner when a shout reached their
ears. It was repeated. It sounded like a cry for help.

"It is Murray's voice, sir," exclaimed Adair; "he is shouting to us; he
is attacked, depend on it."

So Mr Hemming thought. The boat was got round, the men sprang into
their seats, and, getting out their oars, dashed away down the stream.
The sound of several pistol-shots reached their ears and increased their
eagerness to get on. They soon came in sight of the schooner. Murray
and his two companions were on her deck, and keeping at bay a dozen
Spaniards and blacks, who were attempting to force their way across the
platform. Several other people were coming up, and in another instant
Murray and the two seamen would have been overpowered. Even when united
the Englishmen were far outnumbered by the Spaniards and blacks. Murray
heard the shout of his friends as they drew near, and it encouraged him
to persevere in his hitherto almost hopeless defence of the prize. In
another instant the boat dashed alongside. The crew quickly scrambled
on board, and, whirling their cutlasses round their heads, with loud
shouts they charged the enemy, and drove them off the platform.

They next set to work to cut it away. They were not long about it. Not
a moment was to be lost. More people were coming up, blacks and whites,
armed with muskets. The warps which moored the vessel to the shore were
speedily cut. Three hands jumped into the boat, and the end of a hawser
being heaved to them, they towed round the schooner's head--the current
caught it and helped them. Meantime the topsails were loosed and the
jib run up; a puff of wind also came down the creek. Away glided the
schooner--the boat dropped alongside. The slave-dealers, now mustering
strong, began firing at them. They fired in return, so as to drive the
villains to seek shelter behind the trees. It might well have enraged
the Spaniards to see their vessel carried away from before their very
eyes. They did their best to revenge themselves by trying to pick off
the Englishmen; but though two of the latter were slightly wounded, no
one was disabled, and the schooner held her course unimpeded down the
str