p was giving
signs of breaking up. No time was to be lost. The larger boats
anchored, as before, outside the rollers, and, by means of the smaller
ones, communication by ropes being established, the negroes were, a few
at a time, hauled through the surf. Many were more dead than alive, and
several died before they reached the corvette. Some were brought up by
their companions dead, and many were the heartrending scenes where
fathers and mothers found that they had lost their children, husbands
their wives, or children their parents. Orlo had held out bravely all
the night, but his strength, towards the morning, gave way, and
Lieutenant --, seeing his condition, directed that he should be carried
back to the corvette, which he reached in an almost unconscious state.

This living cargo was composed of all ages. There were strong men and
youths, little boys, women, young girls, and children, and several
mothers with infants at their breasts. How fondly and tenderly the poor
creatures pressed them there, and endeavoured to shelter them from the
salt spray and cold! Fully two hundred were carried on board the
corvette during the morning, and it was found that the immortal spirits
of nearly fifty of those who had been left on board during the night had
passed away. The last poor wretch being rescued, the wreck was set on
fire, both fore and aft; the flames burst quickly forth, surrounding the
masts, from which still floated that flag which, professing to be the
flag of freedom, has so often protected that traffic which has carried
thousands upon thousands of the human race into hopeless and abject
slavery. The seamen instinctively gave a cheer as they saw it disappear
among the devouring flames.

The labours of Captain Fisher and his brave crew were not over. They
had to provide food and shelter for fully four hundred of the rescued
negroes. Rice, as before, was boiled, and cocoa was given them, and
those who most required care were clothed and carried to the galley fire
to warm. Among the last rescued was a young woman with a little boy, on
whom all her care was lavished. Though herself almost perished, before
she would touch food she fed him, and when some clothing was given her
she wrapped it round him. She had been found in the fore part of the
ship in an almost fainting condition, where she had remained unnoticed,
apparently in a state of stupor, with her little boy pressed to her
heart. Orlo had been pl