." They, however, on taking an observation, found that they
were much farther from their destination than they were when at Cape
Coast Castle. At it again they went, however, but the wind fell, and
for several days they made but very little progress. Still they were
going in the way they wanted, and that was something. For about a week
they stood on thus, with the wind not only light but very scant. One
afternoon Wasser's sharp eye discovered a sail to windward. Murray went
aloft with his glass to have a look at her.

"What do you make her out?" asked Adair.

"A brig or brigantine; a two-masted vessel of some sort," answered
Murray. "She is standing this way. I do not altogether like her looks.
She has a widespread of white canvas, and so, if she is not a
man-of-war, she is a slaver, of that I have little doubt." The crew
heard what was said. Murray remained some time longer aloft. When he
came down he looked grave and determined. "My lads," he exclaimed,
after exchanging a few words with Adair, "I have very little doubt that
the craft in sight is a slaver or pirate, and that at all events she
will treat us with scant ceremony. We must beat her off. I know that
you all will do your best to do so."

"That we will, sir, never fear," answered Needham, in the name of the
rest.

"I know that, my men; there's no time to be lost in getting ready
though," said Murray. "Hand up the arms, and we'll try to give the
fellows, whoever they may be, a warm reception if they attempt to molest
us." All hands were instantly employed in getting ready for the enemy.
The gun was loaded, and several shot placed in a rack near it; the
muskets and pistols were also loaded, and cutlasses were buckled on.
They had no boarding-nettings, and their only hope of victory was by
showing so bold a front at first, that the enemy might be driven off
without coming to close quarters. As the stranger drew near she was
seen to be a most wicked, rakish-looking brigantine, and neither Murray
nor Adair had any longer the slightest doubt in their minds that she was
a slaver. They hoisted the English ensign, but she showed no colours in
return.

"We shall have to fight for it," observed Murray to Adair; "but though
the odds are fearfully against us, I have a strange feeling of
satisfaction in contemplating such a contest. I cannot help trusting
that we shall come off victorious, in spite of the apparent strength of
our enemy."

"I am su