ngth astern of the outermost American vessel. One of her
quarter-boats was lowered down, and Gascoigne and our hero pulled
alongside, and, lying on their oars, hailed, and asked the name of the
vessel.

"So help me Gad, just now I forget her name," replied a negro, looking
over the gangway.

"Who's the captain?"

"So help me Gad, he gone on shore."

"Is the mate on board?"

"No, so help me Gad--he gone shore too."

"Who is aboard then?"

"So help me Gad, nobody on board but Pompey--and dat me."

"Good ship-keepers, at all events," said Jack. "A ship in the outer
roads with only a black fellow on board! I say, Pompey, do they always
leave you in charge of the vessel?"

"No, sar; but to-night great pleasure on shore. Eberybody dance and
sing, get drunk, kick up bobbery, and all dat."

"What, is it a festival?"

"So help me Gad, I no know, sar."

"Is there any one on board of the other vessels?"

"Eberybody gone on shore. Suppose they have black man, he stay on
board."

"Good-night, Pompey."

"Good-night, sar. Who I say call when captain come on board?"

"Captain Easy."

"Captain He-see, very well, sar."

Our hero pulled to another ship, and found it equally deserted; but at
the third he found the second mate, with his arm in a sling, and from
him they gained the information that it was a great festival, being the
last day of the carnival; and that every one was thinking of nothing but
amusement.

"I've a notion," said the mate, in reply, "that you're American."

"You've guessed right," replied Jack.

"What ship, and from what port?"

"Rhode Island, the _Susan and Mary_," replied Gascoigne.

"I thought you were north. We're of New York. What news do you bring?"

"Nothing," replied he, "we are from Liverpool last."

A succession of questions was now put by the American mate, and answered
very skilfully by Gascoigne, who then inquired how the market was?

It was necessary to make and reply to all these inquiries before they
could ask apparently indifferent questions of American traders; at last
Gascoigne inquired:

"Do you think they would allow us to go on shore? the pratique boat has
not been on board."

"They'll never find you out if you are off before daylight; I doubt if
they know that you are anchored. Besides, from Liverpool you would have
a clean bill of health, and if they found it out, they would not say
much; they're not over-particular, I've a notion."

"What are t