nding to
the unfortunate blacks, and by allowing a few to come on deck at a time,
he managed to keep them alive. At length when he was about a week's run
from Bahia, he feel in with an American brig. He having hoisted a
signal of distress, the American hove to, and he went on board her. He
explained his condition to the master, who seemed to be a well-disposed,
kind-hearted man.

"`Well, I have no objection to receive you and your white crew on board
my vessel,' said the master, `but as to the blacks, I can have nothing
to do with them, they must sink or swim if they can.'

"What! you don't suppose that I would desert the unfortunate wretches?"
exclaimed Wasey indignantly.

"`Well, they are but negroes, and it is a fate which befalls many of
them. They seem born to it,' answered the master coolly.

"`I am much obliged to you for your offer to receive me and my people,
though I cannot accept it. If we are lost, our deaths will be at your
door; that won't be a pleasant recollection for you,' said Wasey.

"`Cannot help it, Mister Lieutenant,' answered the skipper. `The
blacks, as I say, must take their chance; and it seems to me that if you
and your men refuse to come aboard my brig, when I offer to receive you,
that your deaths will be at your own door.'

"`I would rather die than desert the unhappy blacks, and I believe that
my men will stick by me,' answered Wasey. `Now, captain, I'll tell you
what I will do. I have a fortune of 7000 pounds, and on the word of a
British officer--and you will take that I hope--I will put it in black
and white, that I will pay over every farthing, if you will receive the
blacks on board, and carry them to the nearest port you can make. Come,
that is a better freight than you have every day for your brig, I
suspect?'

"The skipper thought a minute, then shook his head. `No, if you were to
give me 20,000 pounds down on the nail, I could not take the negroes
aboard my brig. They would pollute her, we should probably have a fever
break out, or if we escaped that every man of my crew would leave her
directly we entered port.'

"In vain Wasey endeavoured to persuade the skipper to alter his
resolution; he was determined not to take the negroes on board.

"At length Wasey saw there was no use in pressing him further. Perhaps
the skipper thought that he might never touch the 7000 pounds, but I can
answer for it, and so would every one who knew Wasey, that he would have
reli