ke for the defence of his
ship.

We had only two guns--six-pounders--intended more for firing signals
than for defence; but there was an arm-chest, with a couple of dozen
muskets and some pistols and cutlasses, and a small amount of
ammunition.

The captain, having opened the chest, was about to distribute the arms
generally among the crew. "Stay, sir," exclaimed Mr Henley; "there are
some of the men cannot be trusted with arms. Let them be given to the
cabin passengers and officers, and to three or four of the men I will
call aft. Let them serve the guns, but don't trust them with other
firearms. They may be pointing them aft, depend on that, sir."

"What are you talking about, Mr Henley?--the crew not to be trusted?
We'll soon see what they dare to do when we've settled with these
slaving fellows."

"It's a fancy, sir, Mr Henley has taken into his head in consequence of
a cock and bull story of young Marsden's," put in Mr Waller. "If we
are not sharp about it, the boats will be alongside before the arms are
served out."

Without waiting for the captain's answer, and before Mr Henley could
interfere, he handed both muskets and pistols to Cobb and Clink, another
of the men who had tried to heave me overboard. Mr Henley, seeing
this, as quickly as he could, aided by me, served out the arms to the
passengers and to those of the crew he fancied he could trust. The
captain, however, had the sense to follow his advice, and to give only
three rounds of ammunition to each man. When this was done, I had time
to look towards the approaching boats. They were filled full of fellows
armed to the teeth, and dressed in every variety of costume. Some of
them were whites, but many were mulattoes and blacks. There could not
be a shadow of doubt as to their intentions being hostile, though it was
doubtful how far they might venture to proceed, when they saw us in a
way prepared to receive them. Some of the passengers were very full of
fight; others I saw skulking below, either not liking the look of
things, or going to secure about their persons any articles of value
they might possess. Some of the seamen handled their muskets as if they
were prepared to use them; but others, especially two or three who had
been lately ill-used by the captain and first mate, threw their weapons
down on the deck, and, folding their arms, declared that they would see
the ship sink before they would use them. The captain swore at and
ab