loating for an instant on the
surface, but when they looked again they had disappeared. Not a cry,
not a sound of any sort had been heard. At that instant probably some
four or five hundred human beings chained in the hold of the slave-ship,
with their white captors, had been carried into eternity.

Next morning the _Tudor_ spoke the _Supplejack_, which, however, had
seen nothing of the chase. No manner of doubt remained that she had
been capsized, and that the _Tudor_ had run over her during the night.

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

AN AMERICAN SKIPPER GIVES IMPORTANT INFORMATION--JACK LEADS A BOAT
ATTACK ON A SLAVER IN THE RIO FRIO--CAPTURE--SLAVER BLOWN UP--THE
SUPPLEJACK EXPOSED TO A HOT FIRE--THE CORVETTE AND BRIG IN THE HARBOUR
OF PARANAGUA--SLAVERS ATTACKED--SEVERAL PRIZES MADE--FIRED AT FROM THE
SHORE--ENGAGEMENT WITH A FORT--PRIZES DESTROYED--CARRY ONE OFF--A MAN
OVERBOARD--PICKED UP--HIS HAIR TURNS WHITE.

The corvette and brig had been cruising for some days in company, having
chased several vessels, some of which got away, while others were found
to be honest traders. They were some way to the southward of Cape Frio,
when land just being in sight, a brig was made out, standing towards
them. She hoisted American colours, and as she approached, passing
close to the corvette, a man, who appeared to be her skipper, standing
on the poop-deck, hailed.

"If you will heave to I will come aboard you, as I have information to
give."

The corvette was immediately brought to the wind, her foretopsail
backed, the brig performing the same movement, when a boat was lowered,
and a stout florid man, a Yankee in appearance from truck to kelson,
dressed in Quaker costume, came alongside in her. Quickly climbing on
deck, without making the usual salutation performed by visitors to a
man-of-war, he advanced towards Murray, and introduced himself as
Captain Aaron Sturge, of the brig _Good Hope_ bound for Boston.

"This ship, I guess, friend, is one of the cruisers engaged in putting
down the slave-trade," he said.

Murray replied in the affirmative, and inquired what information he had
to give.

"It is this, friend; I have just come out of the Rio Frio, where I left
a wicked-looking craft, called the _Rival_, nearly ready for sea, which
will carry, I guess, six hundred slaves at least. She is a vessel I
heard that the British cruisers have been long looking after; so if thou
dost wish to catch her, now is thy time, a