n these two weeks," was the calm reply.

"Not seeing your vessel, I presume she has gone to the windward, for
ivory."

"Or perhaps to leeward for other cargo," answered the other, somewhat
haughtily.

The hint was sufficient, and the English officer saw that, let his trade
be what it might, he had one to deal with who was master of his own
business, and who feared no one.

It was nearly night when Maud Leonardo reappeared, expressing profound
surprise at what had occurred, and feigning well-assumed grief and
regret, so honestly, too, as to deceive all parties who observed her.
But her secret chagrin could hardly be expressed. Indeed, her father,
who knew her better than any one else, saw that there was something
wrong in his daughter's spirit, that some event had seriously annoyed
and moved her. He knew the child possessed of much of her mother's wild,
revengeful disposition, and though even he never for a moment suspected
her unnatural treachery, yet he resolved to watch her.

The negroes she had joined in the attack were completely routed and
disheartened, and fearing the power and cunning of Don Leonardo,
retreated far inland and incorporated themselves with the tribes that
gather their wild and precarious living in the depths of the jungle.

CHAPTER X.

THE DUEL.

AFFAIRS in the immediate vicinity of Don Leonardo's residence began to
assume a singular and very peculiar aspect. In the first place, there
was within doors, and under his immediate roof, four new comers, nearly
each of which was actuated by some contrary purpose or design. Mrs.
Huntington was exceedingly desirous to obtain passage up the coast to
Sierra Leone, and thence home to England; her daughter secretly dreaded
the approach of the hour that was to separate her from one whom in her
unrevealed heart she devotedly loved. Captain Ratlin was, of course, all
impatience to have the English cruiser up anchor and leave the harbor,
her proximity to his own fleet clipper ship being altogether too close,
while, Captain Bramble felt in no haste to leave port for several
reasons. First, he had a suspicion that he should soon be able to trip
up the heels of his rival, as it regarded this business on the coast;
and secondly, he was very content to have Miss Huntington remain here,
because he knew if she was once landed at Sierra Leone, she would
directly sail for England.

Don Leonardo heartily wished them all at the bottom of the sea, or any
o