ed down water and
supplied a cup to each. They mostly received the water scarcely casting
a glance of gratitude towards us; but one man exhibited a marked
contrast to this behaviour, and, as I handed him the cup, he exclaimed
before drinking it--"Tankee, massa, tankee, massa," and then quaffed it
eagerly, showing how much his parched throat required the refreshing
fluid.

"Do you understand English?" I asked, thinking perhaps that these were
the only words he could speak.

"Yes, massa; him talky English, him serve board English ship."

I inquired his name. He told me it was Aboh. I found, however, that
although he might understand me, his vocabulary was very limited. I
should have liked to have given him another cup of water, but as I knew
that the rest of the slaves would consider themselves ill-treated if I
favoured one more than another, I refrained from doing so, but I
promised to remember him. I then begged that he would speak to his
companions, and advise them to be quiet, telling them that we would do
everything in our power for their benefit. I heard him shout out what
appeared to me to be perfect gibberish, but it had the desired effect,
and they at once became far more tranquil than they had hitherto been.

Night was now rapidly coming on; the frigate was hove to about half a
mile to windward, and, as Tubbs observed to me, both ships appeared to
be making very fine weather of it considering the heavy gale blowing.
The frigate showed signal lights, and the lieutenant ordered ours to be
hoisted in return. Captain Roderick had hitherto remained lashed to the
mast, but he could not, without cruelty, be left there all night, and it
was necessary to decide what should be done with him. Lieutenant
Hallton considered that it would be sufficient to shut him up in one of
the cabins and place a sentry over him. Charley suggested that his
wrists, at all events, should be placed in irons, as in his savage mood
it was impossible to say what he might do. The lieutenant was
obstinate.

"The man was only acting as he believed right in defending his own ship,
and I'm not one to tyrannise over a fallen enemy," he answered in
somewhat a scornful tone.

Charley could say no more. The lieutenant went below to look out for a
suitable cabin in which to place Captain Roderick--Tubbs, Harry, and I,
with three men, accompanied him. To our surprise, we found the pirate
quiet enough. His mad fit had apparently passed