"Prisoner," said the judge, "do you recollect having done this man a
severe and almost fatal harm in the late conflict?"

"I--I," said the young commander, somewhat confused in his mind from an
evident effort to recall some long-forgotten association.

"You will be so good as to answer the question put by the court,"
repeated the judge.

"The court will please remember that I hurt no one, and that I was not
even engaged in the action referred to. These good people are mistaken."

Now it was that the attention of all were drawn towards Leonard Hust,
who in turn seemed as much surprised and as much moved by some secret
cause as the prisoner had been. He hastily crossed the court room to
where the prisoner sat, and looking full into his eyes, seemed to be for
a moment entranced, while the court remained silent, observing these
singular manifestations, which they could not understand.

"Leonard--Leonard, I say!" repeated Captain Bramble, "what trick is
this?"

"Trick!" whispered the man; "trick, Captain Bramble! Tell me, sir, who
is that man?"

"Why, they call him Captain Will Ratlin, and we know him to be a
slaver."

The servant still hesitated, looking from the prisoner to his principal
accuser, the English officer, then at the court, and finally drawing his
master a little on one side, the man again went through the pantomime
described, and placing his mouth to his master's ear whispered something
which startled him as though a gun had been fired at his very ear. The
shock was like electricity, and made him stagger for support. Two or
three times he repeated "Impossible! impossible!" and finally begged the
court to stay the proceedings, as he was taken suddenly ill, and should
not be able to attend until to-morrow. Being the principal prosecutor
and witness, of course his presence was requisite to the progress of the
trial, and therefore as he made this request it was at once formally
granted, and the court adjourned for the time, while the prisoner was
remanded on ship-board for safe keeping until the next day.

That the reader may understand the singular conduct of both the young
commander and Leonard Hust, he must follow the latter worthy into his
master's private room in the government house, where they proceeded at
once after the occurrences described.

"In Heaven's name, Leonard, what do you mean by such an assertion?"
asked Captain Bramble, throwing himself into a chair, and wiping the
cold perspira