62 THE AFRICAN TRADER.

find our way to Sierra Leone, but the black boat-
swain refused to leave the harbour without an
officer capable of taking charge of the brigantine.
We were compelled, therefore, to wait till Captain
Willis should recover sufficiently, or till the
arrival of another English vessel which could

 

 

 

 

spare one of her mates to take charge of the
‘ Chieftain.’

Before many days were over Captain Willis,
and Sambo, the black cook, and I, were the only
persons of those who had come into the river, still
alive on board. Had the Krumen been badly dis-
posed, they might, without difficulty, have taken
possession of the vessel, and made off with her
rich cargo; but they appeared, as far I could
judge, to intend to act faithfully, and perform their
various duties as well as if the captain’s eye had
been constantly upon them. About Paul I had no
doubt. Little as I knew of vital religion myself,
I was sure that he was a true man, and that he
acted according to his professions. - Nothing could
exceed his attention to the captain; he or I were
constantly at his bedside; and Paul showed con-
siderable skill in treating the disease. I believe
that it was mainly owing to him, through God’s