example."

So I felt, especially when I saw the diabolical-looking little villain
soon after appear on deck. I promised the informer that I would not
forget him, and would be on my guard, though I did not give him any
credit for disinterested motives in mentioning what had occurred. I had
no difficulty by daylight in recognising my friend the captain, nor
shall I again forget his ugly mug in a hurry. He also saw that he was
known, and had the impudence to claim me as an old acquaintance.

Everything being put to rights on board the schooner, I handed her over
to a mate and the crew, who were to take her to Sierra Leone. Before
leaving her, however, I had all the slaves up on deck, a third at a
time, and had them washed and cleaned, as also the hold, as well as
circumstances would allow. A great number of the poor wretches died
before they reached their port; not on account of bad weather, or the
length of the voyage, but from their having been a long time confined in
the barracoons previously to their being embarked. The little captain
and most of his crew, however, we sent on board the _Gadfly_, as it
would not have been prudent to trust him in the schooner.

With a flowing sheet our first prize stood away for Sierra Leone, and
three hearty cheers accompanied her on her course.

"We've not made a bad night's work of it, master," said I, as I sat down
to breakfast with him.

"No," he answered, "if the prize ever reaches her port."

"Why should you think she will not?" I asked.

"It's better not to be too sanguine. There's many a slip between the
cup and the lip," was the reply.

"Too true an adage," I felt. "I'm sure I've found it so in my course
through life."

We, meantime, stood in-shore to look for our boats. The night closed in
without our meeting with them, till at length we became seriously
alarmed for their safety. The next day, when just off the mouth of the
Sherbro, two black objects were descried from the mast-head. We made
towards them, and with no little satisfaction welcomed our shipmates on
board. They had had hard work of it, with damp fogs or rain nearly half
the time, and without having enjoyed any other shelter than such as the
boats and a sail could afford. Poor Jenkins was ill with fever, as were
several of the people, and they were for some time on the doctor's list.
We now shaped a course for Sierra Leone, to assist in the condemnation
of our prize. We found her arrived th