leaning against the bulwarks, and all we
could do was to imitate his example. I was not sorry, however, when the
mulatto mate intimated to us that we were to get into the boat and go on
shore, as I thought that we should then probably be more out of the way
of our irascible-looking friends. We were ordered into one boat with
Mr Gale, while the captain was carried away in another. This seriously
excited our apprehension, as we could not tell what evil might be
intended him. He, however, though very grave, seemed to be under no
apprehension, but stepped into the boat as if he was going on shore on
his own business.

As soon as we landed, we were marched up to one of the store-like
buildings; and a ladder being shown us, up which we went through a trap
which closed behind us, we found ourselves in a large airy loft. The
furniture consisted of some heaps of the straw or leaves of Indian corn.
It looked clean, and was, therefore, more suited to our wants than
would have been any number of pieces of the handsomest furniture--such
as marble tables, mahogany sideboards, satin-wood wardrobes, or gold and
china vases. As Peter observed, when he threw himself on one of the
heaps: "Never mind, my lads, we're rich if we've got what we want. If
our friends below would send us up a dish of turtle and rice, or some of
their ollas, we, at any rate, shall have no reason to complain of our
lot. We shall get out of this one of these days; so, in the meantime,
let us make ourselves comfortable." Peter's good temper kept up the
spirits of the rest of our party. I have often found the advantage of
having a person like Peter among a number of people placed in
circumstances like ours, either in prison, or cast away, or detained in
some disagreeable place; and I have, therefore, always endeavoured to
imitate him in that respect, as well as in others, by keeping up my own
spirits, and by cheering my companions in misfortune. Mr Gale, under
most circumstances, would have contributed to support us; but on the
present occasion he was evidently too much weighed down with grave
apprehensions as to what was likely to befall us all, to act as he would
otherwise have done. Not having anything else to do, and being very
tired, we all went to sleep.

After some hours, for the sun was low by that time, we were awoke.
Hearing a bolt being withdrawn, and looking up, I saw the trap lifted,
and a negro appeared. On his head he carried a large bowl