ight, sir."

"I'll go below and see if Mr Russell can understand me this morning. I
should like his advice at a time like this."

"Course you would, sir; and if he could give it, he'd say go in and
win."

Mark went below, to find his officer lying perfectly still, with his
eyes closed, and breathing easily, but there was no response to his
words, and, hesitating still, and excited, he went back on deck, to find
the schooner still gliding on her course, and the stranger well out now
from the point.

"What did Mr Russell say, sir?" asked Tom.

Mark shook his head, and raising his glass, carefully inspected the
distant vessel.

"Yes," he said at last; "she looks too smart fer a trader."

"She do, sir."

"And I don't like to run any risks, Tom Fillot."

"Oh Mr Vandean, sir!"

"But we're out here to deal a deathblow at the slavery traffic."

"To be sure we are, sir," cried Tom Fillot, excitedly.

"And it would be cowardly to give up such a chance."

"Cowardly--begging your pardon, sir--ain't half bad enough word for it,
Mr Vandean? sir."

"One moment I feel that I ought not to risk it, and the next I feel that
I ought, Tom," said Mark, slowly. "Safe and sure is the motto to go
upon, but--Oh, I can't, as I am officer in command, stand still here and
see that vessel go away, perhaps loaded with slaves, Tom Fillot. Wrong
or right, I must do it."

"Three cheers for you, sir!" cried Tom, excitedly; "and there ain't no
wrong in it, for if you made a mess of it you would still be doing
right. Then now, sir, shall I have a little more canvas shook out, and
alter her course, sir?"

"No," cried Mark, firmly.

"You won't try and take her, sir?" said the sailor, despondently.

"Indeed, but I will, Tom Fillot," cried Mark; "but if we begin to chase
her, she'll be off, and sail perhaps as quickly as we do. We must trap
her, Tom, by pretending to take no notice, and then be ready to go
aboard."

"Why, of course, sir. My, what a dunder-headed beetle of a fellow I am.
Cunning's the word."

"Yes," said Mark, decisively now. "Now, my lads, quick. Off with those
duck frocks, all of you, and make yourselves untidy-looking. Tom
Fillot, get that American flag ready to hoist if she signals us, and
send the blacks below, all but our two and their gang. Let them lie
down on the deck."

The blacks looked surprised at being sent down into the stifling hold,
but Soup seemed to have some inkling of what was intended