s or pipes, sucked oranges, and
sipped their grog, many a yarn of bygone days was told. Snatchblock and
Tim Brady took their part. On such expeditions as these, steady men are
permitted a familiarity not allowable on board. Higson had already told
two or three stories, and had just described an amusing scene on the
coast of Africa, when Ben Snatchblock chimed in.

"Do you mind, Mr Higson, when we were aboard the _Corsair_ together on
the coast? We saw many curious sights among the niggers; they seem
altogether a different sort of people to those over here. You know,
young gentlemen, we always ship a dozen or more black fellows aboard, to
do the hard work, wooding, and watering, and such like, which would
pretty nigh kill white men if they were to attempt it in the hot sun of
the coast. The blacks we got were called Kroomen; they altogether beat
any other niggers I have ever fallen in with in these parts--fine, big,
active fellows, and strong as any Englishman, and stronger than most,
and as brave as need be; in fact, we could not get on without them. The
slavers never come near the Kroomen's country. In the first place they
are very hard to catch, as they fight desperately, and not one of them
would ever consent to be turned into a slave. Most of those along the
coast, who have served on board men-of-war or merchantmen, speak a
little English; some speak it pretty well. They are neat and clean in
their persons, and their houses are far better furnished than those of
the blacks in general, with chairs, tables, looking-glasses, and china,
and all sorts of things, just like civilised Christians. When a gang is
engaged for a ship they always have a head man, with a mate under him,
who is called his favourite man. You will remember, Mr Higson, sir,
the fellow we had aboard the _Corsair_, who was called Dan Ropeyarn; a
great big fellow he was, too--stood six feet six without his shoes,
seeing he never wore such things. He could lift up me and Tim Brady
here--and we are not chickens--one in each hand. Dan was a good-natured
fellow, which was fortunate, for it would not have done to offend him.
He was not what is called a beauty though; he had a mouth so wide that
we used to declare he somehow or other managed to shift his ears farther
back when he had a mind to grin, and show his white teeth. Dan's mate
or favourite man was called Tom Saucepan. He was a pretty strong
fellow, but he was not equal to Dan, and in p