AFRICAN TRADING. 31

caught in that fashion, and if we were to sight a
suspicious looking sail, as the “ Chieftain” has got
a fast pair of heels of her own, we should do our
best to keep out of her way. You see when once
fellows take to slaving they go from bad to worse.
I have known something of the trade in my time,
and it made my heart turn sick to see the way in
which they crowd hundreds of their fellow-crea-
tures down on the slave decks of their vessels,
packed as close together as herrings in a cask, for
their run across the Atlantic to the Brazils or Cuba.
It may be, before we leave this coast, you will
have the opportunity of seeing for yourself, so I
need not tell you more about it now.’

After this I was as vigilant as anyone on board
in looking out for suspicious craft,—for I had no
fancy to be caught by a piratical slaver, and be
made to walk the plank, and have our gallant little
‘Chieftain’ sent to the bottom.

We continued cruising along the’ coast for
some weeks, slowly exchanging our cargo for
African products.

At length Captain Willis got tired of this style
of doing business. ‘I am going to run up the
river Bonny, Harry, where we are certain in time