p and take their meals, a few only being
allowed on deck at a time. Stephen contrived to make himself known to
the Captain, who listened with interest to the account of his adventures
in Africa, and allowed him more liberty than the rest. The _Surge_ had
not made much progress when she encountered another gale, in which she
received much damage. A heavy sea came sweeping over her deck.

"Hold on for your lives," shouted the Captain. When the sea had passed,
the second mate and two other men had disappeared; they were seen for an
instant struggling in the waves astern. There was no hope of saving
them; indeed, it seemed but too likely that the _Surge_ herself would
ere long founder. The pumps were manned, but the crew were soon knocked
up. Stephen proposed to the Captain to liberate the slaves, in order to
get them to work the pumps, and explain to them that unless they did so,
the vessel would sink, and they would lose their lives. To this they
agreed, Stephen setting them the example. Many of them, who had
suffered greatly from the voyage, were unequal to the task, and sank
down exhausted. The crew, who had no intention again of working the
pumps themselves, endeavoured to stir them up. Several declared their
inability to labour, and proved it by dying shortly afterwards on the
deck where they lay. Stephen, however, urged the stronger ones to
persevere explaining to them that they were working for the common good.
The leak continued, and though by keeping the pumps going the water did
not gain on the ship, it was found impossible to discover it, and it was
evident that only by the greatest exertions they could hope to reach
their port. A fever, however, of a malignant character broke out among
the unhappy passengers as soon as they got into warm latitudes. No
surgeon had been sent on board. First one died, then another, and
another. Stephen suggested to Captain Hawkins various means for
remedying the malady by fumigating the vessel. Nothing seemed to have
the slightest effect on those once stricken. Before long two of the
crew were attacked, and died. The weather again became calm, and the
leak with considerable exertion was kept under, but the fever did not
abate. The death-ship sailed on, losing sometimes three or four of her
crew or passengers daily. The Captain had asked Stephen to take charge
of a watch, and he now enjoyed perfect liberty, and took possession of
the cabin of the second mate, wh