r sex, to
point out to the adventurous and generous-hearted commander the fearful
responsibility of the course he was pursuing.

Perhaps no other agent would have accomplished so much as she
did--indeed, no other could for a moment have gained his ear, and the
result even to herself was very apparent, very satisfactory. He, all
unconsciously yielded every argument to her, was only too ready and
willing to grant her the fullest accordance in what she asked or argued,
for though he dared not to say so, yet he felt that already he loved the
mild yet eloquent and lovely girl with a devotion that caused all other
interests to fade in importance. It was a novel idea to him to realize
that so fair and gentle a creature could entertain such sufficient
interest in him, a rough sailor, to strive and mould his conduct for
good.

On her part, it would be difficult for us to define the exact state of
feelings which actuated the beautiful girl whom we first introduced to
the reader in India. She felt an interest in the commander of the slaver
that she was afraid to acknowledge not only to her mother, but indeed to
herself. The tones of his voice came over her heart like the memory of
music that we have heard at some distant time, and in some forgotten
place; his eyes betrayed to her the love he dared not speak, and when
she did pause to consider their relation towards each other, she half
shuddered, and said to herself, "Would to heaved this man was a poor
mechanic, anything but a slaver! How can I give my confidence to him,
and yet how can I withhold it, for he wins from me my very thoughts!"

One evening just after sunset, Miss Huntington and her mother had been
tarrying on the quarter deck for a long while, watching the conversation
going on between the ship and the shore by means of flags, and observing
that the "Sea Witch" had run in closer than usual, the mother asked:

"Shall we not land before long, Captain Ratlin? We have been in the
vicinity of the shore so long, that I begin to feel quite impatient."

"To-night, madam, we shall be on shore. I cannot offer you very good
quarters at first, but you shall find conveyance to Sierra Leone
shortly, from whence you can sail for England."

"We have to thank you for much kindness, sir," she continued,
gratefully.

"Nay, madam, necessity and duty to my owners has rendered it imperative
for me to approach the coast cautiously, and hence a delay I could not
avoid."

"You are