ils of mooring hawser, the other ends of
which were secured, as I had noticed earlier in the day, to a couple of
tree-trunks on shore.

I next proceeded leisurely forward, noting on my way the fact that the
schooner mounted a battery of four brass nine-pounders on her starboard
side--and of course her port battery would be the same. The main
hatchway was securely covered in with a grating, up through which arose
the unmistakable odour which betrays the presence of slaves in a ship's
hold. All was quiet, however, below--the poor wretches down there
having probably obtained in sleep a temporary forgetfulness of their
miserable condition. On reaching the galley I found that the door on
the port side was closed; but on applying my ear to the chink I fancied
I could detect, through the steady _swish_ of the rain, the sounds of
regular breathing, as of a slumbering man. Forward of the galley was
the foremast, and on clearing this a faint gleam of light indicated the
position of the fore-scuttle; and whilst I was still glancing round in
an endeavour to discover the presence of a possible anchor-watch the
light was suddenly obscured by the interposition of the second
lieutenant's body, as he cautiously peered down into the forecastle. I
advanced to his side and laid my hand upon his arm, at the same time
mentioning his name to apprise him of my presence.

"Well," he whispered, first drawing me away from the open scuttle, "what
have you discovered?"

I told him, adding that I thought the anchor-watch must have taken
refuge in the galley from the rain, and there have fallen asleep.

"Yes," whispered Smellie; "he is safe enough there, and sound asleep,
for I accidentally touched him without disturbing his slumber."

I thought the time had now arrived for the propounding of my brilliant
idea.

"What is to prevent our _seizing the schooner_, sir?" I asked.

"Nothing whatever," was the reply. "I have been thinking of such a
thing myself. She is already virtually in our possession, and a very
little labour and patience would make her actually so. I think we are
men enough to get her under canvas and to handle her afterwards, for she
is only a very small craft. The great--and indeed only--danger
connected with the affair consists in the possibility of their firing a
pistol into the powder-magazine when they discover that they are
prisoners, and so sending the ship and all hands sky-high together."

"They _might_ poss