122 THE AFRICAN TRADER.

me was excessive, for he had been afraid that the
slavers would have thrown me overboard as they
had him, and as I had not been picked up thought
my life had been sacrificed. As my cousin Jack
did not know me I had time to talk to Paul.

‘Oh Massa Harry we must praise God for all
His mercy and goodness to us, what we think
going to be very bad for us He make turn out for
the best. The captain of the corvette, my old
friend, he good Christian man, he say he take me
to England with him, and then I see my dear
moder, and learn more of the Bible, and then
come back and preach the gospel to my poor
countrymen.’

The hatches, which had hitherto been kept
battened down, were now taken off. The five
hundred human beings crowded below were evi-
dence of the character of the vessel, and enabled
the lieutenant at once to claim her as a prize to
Her Majesty’s ship ‘ Triton.’

I do not wish to dwell on the fearful sight
which met our eyes as we looked down below on
the mass of humanity jammed, pressed, and huddled
together. And oh, the horrible odour which arose
from that foul hold! It seemed impossible that