o as we're friends?"

"Yes, friends; all friends," cried a harsh voice, as the great,
perfectly nude, black sprang up out of the hatchway, and threw down his
heavy wooden bar, an example followed by the other, while, as the moon
now shone full upon their convulsed and excited faces, Tom Fillot burst
into a roar of laughter, rushed forward, and slapped first one and then
the other on the bare shoulder, yelling out,--

"Here's a game, mates; why, it's old Soup and Taters. Why, my
black-mugged messmates, we thought you was both on you drowned. What's
become of your _tog-a-ree_?"

The blacks' faces relaxed into a broad smile, as, led by Mark, the men
crowded round to shake hands warmly, while the crowd of slaves set up a
peculiar cry, and danced about them, waving their arms, ending by going
down upon their knees about Mark and laying their foreheads on the deck,
while the women in the background set up a strangely wild wail.

"Then you two escaped," cried Mark, as soon as the excitement had
subsided a little; and the big black tried to explain, but could only
get out the words, "All right, messmate," and then spoke volubly in his
own tongue.

"Never mind, sir; they did get off," cried Tom Fillot. "They must have
been chucked below along with the rest, and then kep' prisoners."

"And a good job for us, Tom," said Mark.

"Ay, ay, sir, and no mistake, for we couldn't have took the schooner
again without them."

"There, silence!" cried Mark. "These men must keep the blacks in order,
while you, my lads, get the arms together. We must have a strong watch
kept. The scoundrels may try to retake the schooner."

"They'd better, sir," growled Tom, who was in the act of restoring his
cutlass to its sheath. "I didn't use this," he muttered, "but if they
came again I'm sorry for the chap as hits at me."

The watch was set, and when Mark could extricate himself from the crowd
of blacks who pressed about him, he looked round for Soup and Taters,
even going so far as to ask for them, rather unwillingly, by these
names, but they were missing.

He forgot all about them directly in the business and excitement which
followed, for there was much to be done. One of his first tasks was to
have the schooner's boat run up to the davits, and Mr Russell carefully
lifted out, and borne down into the Yankee skipper's comfortable cabin.
Then he found out more and more how multitudinous are the demands made
upon an officer. In this