Part 24 (2/2)

”He evidently means that the man ounded by his fellow-slave,” said Mr Russell

The black sailor watched the officer, and then thrust his hand behind the slave to take a short, flat piece of wood from the poor wretch's waistband--a piece of heavy wood, shaped so like aleaf

”The weapon evidently,” said Mr Russell; ”but I don't see why he should wound his fellow-sufferer”

But the black sailor had not done with his explanation He looked to see that the officers atching him, and then placed the weapon in its owner's hand, which he raised, and said a feords to his fellow black with the blood-stained garb

This man waited a moment to assist in the pantoht down the weapon towards his own head, he rushed up between theered away as if very , reeled and fell down beside the woundedto him as he half rose, and then at the stains upon his own shi+rt

”Well, what do you make of it?” said Mr Russell

”I know, sir,” cried Bob Howlett; ”he wants you to understand that if we take them and make sailors of them, they'll kill all the slavers”

”Thank you, Mr Howlett Now, then, Mr Vandean, what do you say?”

”I see now,” cried Mark, eagerly ”What happened below helps ht our man Taters was an enemy, and he tried to cut him down, but this poor fello better, rushed between and received the blow”

”I'ht,” said Mr Russell ”Ah, here co these poor wretches up

Perhaps they'll coht, for the task was easy The blacks on deck, apathetic as they were, gradually comprehended that they had fallen into hands where they would be well treated, and after a few gestures and orders given by Mark, the two black sailors turned to the slaves and spoke The result was that the big, fierce-looking black as answerable for the injury done to his fellow-prisoner went down on his knees before Soup, and touched the deck with his forehead before rising with so to the hatch, descended in a half-crippled way, and they heard his voice directly after

By this ti about with an air of the h!” he ejaculated; ”how horrible! And no disinfectants Hallo!

woundedelse in the interest he took in his fresh case, while now, slowly and shrinkingly, the slaves began to co from the dreadful air that they had been forced to breathe They were a terrible crowd to gaze upon Men, woether like cattle, and flinching ahenever a sailor went near, as if expecting a blow

There were nearly a hundred when all were on deck, and the first thing done was to distribute food and water The next, to arrange about their being rowed on board the _Nautilus_, while the schooner was burned

”And the best thing too,” said the doctor ”Faugh! the vessel's loathso”

”But we have to try first if we can get her off,” said the lieutenant

”Then all I can say is I hope you will not,” said the doctor

”But if we get her off,” said Mark, s, ”it means that the slaves will stay on board here”

”Eh? Does it? Oh, well then, I hope you will,” cried the doctor

”Now, Russell, have et well”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

MARK'S REST IS DISTURBED