s had command
of the other. I jumped into his boat, as if it were a matter of course;
and away we pulled toward the schooner. "I guess that you have pretty
considerably outmanoeuvred us, gentlemen, but still I don't know, by
what right you, or any other men alive, venture on board a free and
independent merchantman of the United States of America," said a man who
met us at the gangway. "You come on board at your peril!"

"We are well aware of that, friend," answered our lieutenant; "but we
must be satisfied that you are an American before we let you go."

Saying this, he led the way on board. By the light of the lanterns we
carried, we could see a very ill-looking crew scowling at us, and
evidently wishing to heave us overboard. It was lucky that we were all
well armed. I daresay that you will fancy I could not have done much,
but I could fire off a pistol at all events, which was as likely to kill
as that of a bigger fellow--that was one comfort. The man who had
hailed us, and pretended to be the captain, had said that the vessel was
American. Mr Talbot was only a short time in the cabin when he came
out again, and telling us that he had no doubt she was a Portuguese or
Brazilian, ordered the hatches, which were closed, to be lifted off.
This took us some little time to do. Never shall I forget the horrible
stench--the shrieks and cries and groans which ascended from the hold as
the hatches were got off. We lowered our lanterns and looked down.
There, arranged in rows along the deck, and chained two and two,
squatting on their hams, were several hundreds of blacks--men, women,
and children. I cannot describe the dreadful faces of despair and
horror and suffering which met our view as the light of our lanterns
fell on them, while they looked up with their white eyes and black
visages imploringly at us. I fancy that they thought we were going to
shoot them all; for the Portuguese crew had told them so, in the hopes,
should we free them, that they might set upon us and throw us overboard.
This amiable intention was frustrated, because Mr Talbot had been on
the coast of Africa and was well up to the tricks of the slavers. He
consequently would not allow any of the poor wretches to be liberated
till all necessary precautions had been taken to prevent them from doing
any harm. Our first care was to secure the slaver's crew. They seemed
as if inclined to make some resistance; but we pointed to the frigate,
whi