at, killing two men in its descent. Four boats had been
sent from the ship in order to capture the slaver, and the three that
remained pulled eagerly forward to avenge their first check. The crew
of the disabled boat were struggling in the water as their comrades came
near, and, as is too often the case, the sailors could not swim, and
were therefore in great risk of being drowned. The boats, therefore,
were checked in their advance, in consequence of stopping to take up
their comrades.

Whilst thus delayed, their position could be distinctly seen from the
slaver, because of the phosphorescence of the water, which gave a line
of brilliant light following the boat like a comet's tail in the skies.
The captain of the slaver saw his opportunity, and directing his men to
fire at the boats, he set the example by discharging both barrels of his
fowling-piece at the leading boat; and then waiting a short time,
followed this by a shot from each of the double barrels of his pistol.
His men, being all well-armed and desperadoes, knowing that their lives
would be sacrificed if they were captured, and believing in their
present superiority of numbers, fired with a deadly aim at the boats,
and immediately afterwards dropped behind the bulwarks, where they were
comparatively secure from the irregular discharge delivered from the
boats.

The English sailors did not, however, retreat, though fully half their
number were already either killed or wounded. Having aided their
companions to get into the boats, they pulled on to the slaver, and were
preparing to board her, when the slaver crew, having reloaded, poured
another shower of bullets on to their assailants with almost as fatal an
effect as before. To attempt a further assault would have been merely a
reckless throwing away of life, and this the commander seeing, he
ordered an immediate retreat, which seemed the signal for a general
discharge of fire-arms from the crew of the slaver.

Hans' heart beat rapidly as this tumult went on, whilst all the slaves
had uttered groans and savage yells. The hold of the vessel seemed more
like a den of infuriated beasts than a prison filled with human beings.
The slaves all seemed to comprehend that those who were attacking their
vessel were their friends, and that they had been defeated; and their
groans and yells were therefore redoubled when the boats pulled away
from them. The noise they made caused the infuriated crew to come
among