o was generally an advocate for desperate measures. "But
how was it the little fellow got away from Sam? How was it, Billy?"

"I ran up, and leave Sam down dere," answered Billy.

"Has anybody seen Sam since then?" asked Abel Bush.

On comparing notes, it was discovered that no one had seen the black
since the commencement of the battle. It was agreed, therefore, that
instant search should be made for him. Paul having procured a lantern
from the master-at-arms, the messmates went below with Billy. They
reached the spot where the child said he had left him, but no Sam was
there. They shouted his name through the hold, but no reply was made.
They hunted about in every direction.

"He must have gone on deck and stowed himself away somewhere," observed
Paul Pringle.

Just then Abel Bush said he heard a groan. Going towards the spot,
there, coiled up, not far from one of the hatchways, was poor Sam.
After calling to him several times and shaking him, he lifted up his
head.

"Who dere? Oh dear, oh dear! What de matter?" he moaned out.

"How was it you let little Billy True Blue run away and nearly get
killed, Sam?" asked Paul.

"Billy killed! Oh dear, oh dear! Den kill me!" cried poor Sam,
trembling all over.

"But he isn't killed, and we don't want to kill you," answered Paul.
"Get up, though, or we shall fancy you're in a fright or drunk."

"But I can't get up--'deed I can't!" cried Sam. "Leg shot away. I no
walkee."

On hearing this, Paul and his companions lifted up the poor black, and
sure enough a leg, but it was his wooden one, was shattered to
fragments, and the stump to which it was secured considerably bruised.
It then came out that Sam had really attempted to follow little True
Blue when he ran on deck, but that, just as he was getting up the
hatchway on the lower-deck, a shot had come through a port, and,
striking his wooden leg, had tumbled him down again, when by some means
or other he had rolled down into the hold, and there, suffering from
pain and fear, he had ever since lain, unwilling and unable to rise,
dreading lest harm should happen to his little charge, and fearing not a
little, should such have been the case, the consequences to himself. He
was half starved, too, for he had had nothing to eat all day, and was
altogether in a very wretched plight. When, however, he was brought on
deck, with some food put into his inside and the assistance of the
carpenter, he was once more