erything that was said
to him.

The _Sea Sprite_ was a very fast sailing corvette, and had already, by
her speed and the sagacity with which her cruising-ground was selected,
made more captures than any other craft of the squadron. Her success
continued after Orlo had become one of her crew. He always got leave to
go on board the prizes when they were taken possession of, and his
services were soon found of value as interpreter. His object was
naturally to inquire about news from his own part of the country. He
was not likely to obtain any satisfactory information. Some time
passed--another capture was made. He returned on board the corvette
very depressed in spirits, and was often seen in tears. Captain Fisher
asked him the cause of his sorrows. He had learned that at length his
own village had been surprised during the night by the slave-hunters of
the King of Dahomey, that not one of the inhabitants had escaped, and
that all had been carried off into captivity. They had been sold to
different dealers, and had been transported to the baracoons on
different parts of the coast, ready for embarkation. Where Era had been
carried he could not ascertain; only one thing was certain--she and her
child had been seen in the hands of the Dahomian soldiers, on their way
to the capital. His beloved Era was then a slave; and he by this time
full well knew what slavery meant. He had seen several slave ships
captured, and the horrors, the barbarities, and indignities to which the
captives on board were exposed. He pictured to himself the terrible
journey from the interior, the lash of the brutal driver descending on
her shoulders as she tottered on with her infant in her arms, her knees
bending from weakness, her feet torn with thorns and hard rocks--she who
had been so tenderly cared for--whom he loved so dearly;--the thought
was more than he could bear. He looked over the side of the ship, and
gazed at the blue waters, and said to himself, "I shall find rest
beneath them; in the world of spirits I shall meet my own Era, and be
happy."

One of the officers of the ship, a Christian man, had watched him. He
had before observed his melancholy manner, so different to what he had
at first exhibited. Lieutenant L-- called him, and asked him the cause
of his sorrow.

Orlo narrated his simple history.

"And no one has thought all this time of imparting any knowledge of
Gospel truth to this poor African," said the lieute