Part 20 (2/2)

”Yes, we should have done ood then But if they had no slaves on board, why did they run? Oh!”

The midshi+pman uttered an ejaculation expressive of the utter disgust which he felt as they neared the schooner's side

”What is it? What's the ed ”Back water!” he exclaimed, as he turned away his head ”How horrible!”

Then, altering his order, he cried, ”Ro, my lads--pull!”

For from so out in smothered tones a piteous cry of despair

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

IN THE SCHOONER'S HOLD

It was undoubtedly a terrible cry of despair frolishmen sent to answer such a call for aid, the boat was rushed through the water, the coxswain hooked on, and setting at defiance that which had horrified and disgusted them, the two officers, followed by all theiron board the beautifully clean, tri schooner, where the remains of the broken spar, axes that had been hastily thron, and a tangle of cordage and canvas cumbered the deck

”What is it?” cried Mark, excitedly ”Is so killed?”

”Some dozens,” cried Russell, fiercely, as the cry was repeated fro sound roans ”The wretches have battened down the hatches, and the poor creatures below are suffocating”

As he spoke, he caught up one of the axes from where it lay, an exas which held down the hatches close by where they stood

The horrible sounds ceased at the first blow of the axe, and a deathly silence succeeded, followed by a low, deep,roar

”Stop!” cried Mr Russell ”Stand by, lads, and be prepared The poor wretches may not know friends from foes”

The next minute the hatch was thrown up, and there was a fearful rush, not that for which they had prepared, but one perhaps worse The wretched blacks crowded down in the stifling hold were too much cowed by the brutality from which they had suffered to dare then to raise a hand; and, instead ofa dash for liberty as anticipated, they waited in expectation of death being the portion of the

The boat's crew shrank away from the hatch, driven back by the rush of poisonous air of so fearful an odour that the lieutenant turned ghastly as he cried,--”Oh, horror! how can the poor creatures exist?” How indeed? Relief had only come in time The captain of the schooner had probably intended to pretend that he had no slaves on board, but had altered his mind and fled after the poor wretches had been shut down; and, without doubt, if they had been unable to break out to the deck, in less than an hour not a soul would have been left alive

”Here, Vandean,” cried Mr Russell, ”weus, and have them on deck How are we to make them understand? Hi! below there! Come up into the fresh air”

But there was no reply, save a stifled moan or two

”Volunteers,” cried the lieutenant ”Twoone of the poor wretches up We can show him that we mean well, and then he can act as interpreter”

For a few moments no one spoke, and Mr Russell cried:--”I know it's a terrible task, my lads Who'll come with me?”

”No, with me,” said Mark, quickly; and he stepped to the o with you, Mr Vandean, sir,” cried Tom Fillot; and without a word Mark drew a deep breath, stepped in on the ladder, and descended, the light being shut out directly by the sailor

The heat ful, and after holding his breath till he reached the bottoiddy and sick; butto pierce the darkness around--black darkness to one who had just co sunshi+ne--and made a snatch at the arm of the man nearest to him in the crowd

He only held on for a moment, and then the arently the while The led so fiercely, that Mark was fain to let go

”We ently as you can, and let's pull hiuish in the herd of poor cowering wretches, but this one, too, filled the foul air with his piercing yells, and fought so hard to free hio, and stepped back below the hatch