disappeared, and had, I concluded, been washed
overboard, and, as far as we could learn, Mr Hallton had shared the
same fate. We had reason to be thankful that we had been below, or we
also might have lost our lives. We immediately set about forming the
raft from some spars which still remained lashed to ring bolts on the
deck and from fragments of the bulwarks. Every instant the wind was
going down, rendering our task less difficult. The tide too was
falling, and as it did so rocks rose out of the water, which further
protected us from the fury of the breakers. When the blacks saw what we
were about, some of the more intelligent among them offered to assist
us. At length a raft capable of holding a dozen people at one time was
constructed. We also obtained a rope of sufficient length to reach the
shore, so that we might haul it backwards and forwards. This we made
the blacks understand that we intended to do, and that we could only
take off a certain number at a time. The head men, who had all along
held an authority over the rest of their fellow-slaves, now came forward
to maintain discipline. By this means only the number which the raft
could carry were allowed to descend at a time. As soon as we had a
cargo we commenced our passage to the shore, and happily landed all
those we had taken on board, who at once squatted down on the beach
waiting for their companions. We immediately put back and took in
another cargo, and thus we continued going backwards and forwards until
we had placed the whole of the slaves on shore.

"We must look out for ourselves now," observed Charley. "I saw some
firearms in the cabin; we must secure them, as well as some ammunition,
clothes, and provisions. It will not do to trust those black fellows
when they at once find themselves at liberty."

Of course we all agreed to Charley's proposal, and climbing up the side,
made our way into the cabin. We each got a fowling-piece or musket, a
brace of pistols, and a good supply of ammunition. We also found some
dollars, which we stowed away in our pockets.

"The money may not be of much use while we are among the savages, but it
will come in very handy when we get into a more civilised region," said
Charley. "Hurrah! here are some things which will be of immediate use,"
and he produced a boxful of strings of beads of various colours.

We each stowed away as many of them as we could carry. Under the
circumstances in which we we