countrymen," he said, for he spoke English well. "The
schooner is, I understand, a Portuguese man-of-war, and you will be
kindly treated on board."

"We are indeed fortunate," said Stanley.

"Oh! say rather that God has been very merciful to us," said Kate,
looking out towards the beautiful vessel which rose and fell on the fast
increasing seas at no great distance from us.

"The officer desires to know whether you would like to be towed on board
or would prefer getting into the boat," said Senhor Silva.

I was naturally anxious to preserve the raft, and begged that we might
be towed; but Stanley requested that his sisters and the boys, at all
events, should be taken into the boat. Senhor Silva joined them. We
now proceeded rapidly towards the vessel. I saw Timbo and Jack eyeing
her narrowly.

"She seems to be a fine man-of-war schooner," I observed, "and a craft
of which the slavers must have no little dread. We thought the _Osprey_
a clipper, but yonder schooner, I suspect, could easily have walked
round her."

"Not know 'xactly," observed Timbo. "She may be man-of-war schooner,
but she very like some slavers I have seen."

"Senhor Silva surely must know," I observed, "and he told us positively
that she was a man-of-war."

When we got near the schooner the boat cast-off, Senhor Silva saying
that he would go on board, and send her back for us.

"I wish I had gone with them," observed Stanley on hearing this. "I do
not like their appearing on board a strange vessel without David or me
to protect them."

"Oh, but Leo will do that," said David. "He is quite escort enough for
them till we can get alongside."

As we approached still nearer the schooner we hauled down our sail. In
a short time the boat returned and towed us alongside. The crew of the
stranger were looking out eagerly at us over the bulwarks, and ropes
were now thrown to assist us in getting on deck. An officer stood at
the gangway and politely welcomed Stanley, Senhor Silva who stood by
interpreting for him. Kate was seated on a chair, with Bella by her
side.

"Oh, they are very kind and polite," she said to her brother as soon as
he went up to her. "This is indeed a fine man-of-war."

She was certainly a remarkably fine vessel, and I saw that she mounted
six broadside guns and a long gun forward; but as I had not been on
board many English men-of-war, and never any foreigners, I was not well
able to judge of her. She had a nu