Part 35 (2/2)

The blacks' faces relaxed into a broad smile, as, led by Mark, the men crowded round to shake hands warmly, while the crowd of slaves set up a peculiar cry, and danced about the down upon their knees about Mark and laying their foreheads on the deck, while the woely ail

”Then you two escaped,” cried Mark, as soon as the excite black tried to explain, but could only get out the words, ”All right, ue

”Never et off,” cried To with the rest, and then kep' prisoners”

”And a good job for us, Tom,” said Mark

”Ay, ay, sir, and no ain without them”

”There, silence!” cried Mark ”These et the ar watch kept The scoundrels rowled To his cutlass to its sheath ”I didn't use this,” he ain I'm sorry for the chap as hits at me”

The watch was set, and when Mark could extricate himself from the crowd of blacks who pressed about hi so far as to ask for the

He forgot all about them directly in the business and excitement which followed, for there was much to be done One of his first tasks was to have the schooner's boat run up to the davits, and Mr Russell carefully lifted out, and borne down into the Yankee skipper's comfortable cabin

Then he found out more and more how multitudinous are the demands made upon an officer In this case he had to play the part of surgeon as well, forfroh fortunately no one seeht was a great aid in his endeavour to restore so like order on board

”I want those two fellows,” cried Mark at last, angrily; ”they could be of sothe blacks”

”Here they are, sir,” cried one of thebelow--getting at the provisions?”

He asked no , in their neat white arments, which had been confiscated by the slaver captain when he turned them below into the hold with the rest of the blacks, little thinking that by this act he was contriving thethem all to liberty

”Hah! that's better!” cried Mark s to serve out so for them to eat and drink”

With the help of a little pantomime he made them readily understand, and they went forward to the blacks, who at once sat down quietly on the deck and waited

At the words eating and drinking, Toone below, and by the time his officer was ready to show the way to the stores, biscuit and water were being served out and eagerly attacked by all

”And now I think it's our turn,” said Mark, who had become conscious of a peculiar sensation of faintness

”I've put so ready for you in the cabin, sir,” whispered Tom Fillot

But Mark was too sensible of his responsibility to go below to eat and rest, and his refreshment consisted of the same food as was partaken of by the rest--to wit, biscuit moistened ater

For there was the watch to visit, the tide to be exae, and a score of other littleMr Russell's condition froh water?” asked Mark at last, after wearily watching the constant flow

”Must be soon, sir,” said Tom Fillot, who seemed to have dropped into the position of first lieutenant ”Beg pardon, sir, you mean to sail with the ebb?”

”Certainly We must not stay here That scoundrel may return with help”