ed Jack, as they got almost alongside, "I do believe
that is my old acquaintance Don Diogo. He'll do us a mischief if he
can."

"Be ready, lads, to spring on board the moment the boat touches her
side," cried Hemming. Just before this three or four other men came up
from below rubbing their eyes as if lately awoke out of sleep. The
bowman the next instant hooked on, and the British sailors, led by their
officers, sprang on board. The slaver's people ran forward and aft to
get out of their way, except the man at first seen, whom Jack had no
doubt was no other than the old pirate, Don Diogo, as he called himself.

"Good morning, gentlemen," said he, quite coolly, making the politest of
bows to the lieutenant. "May I request to know what brings you on board
here at this early hour in the morning?"

"You are known to be a slaver, and we have come to capture you,"
answered Hemming, bluntly.

"Ho, ho, ho," cried the Don; "there may be two opinions about that. You
British officers don't go upon surmises. You want proofs, and you are
welcome to all you can discover."

The Don's coolness rather staggered Hemming and the two midshipmen.
Jack was certain that he had seen the slaves carried on board in
Elephant Bay, and he had no doubt as to the felucca being the same
vessel he had seen in Elephant Bay. To settle this point, they lifted
off the hatches.

"Don't disturb my poor men. Some of them are asleep below," said the
Don, in an ordinary tone of voice.

Hemming, however, paid very little attention to his remarks, but ordered
Jack and Adair to keep a sharp lookout on his movements on deck while he
descended below. Hemming looked round the dark hold of the supposed
slaver, but there was no sign of a slave-deck, nor, after a careful
search, could he find anything to warrant him in detaining her. In the
fore-peak a rather numerous crew for the size of the vessel were asleep,
or pretending to be asleep, for some lifted up their heads even to have
a look at the intruders. At length Hemming returned on deck.

"I told you so, gentlemen," said the Don, making another excessively
polite bow. "Suspicions, as I remarked, are not proofs. I might now
ask by what authority you ventured on board this craft and nearly
frightened some of my poor men out of their wits; but we are honest,
peaceably disposed people, and have no desire to quarrel with
strangers."

"Do you mean to say that you hadn't your vessel full of black