preceded him; the other dropped like a cannon-ball on the deck.

The nigger caught it up and carried it forward to the captain.

Harris held up his hand. We were still before we had fairly found
our tongues. His words did run together a little, but he was not
drunk.

"Men and women," said he, "what I told that poor devil is Gospel
truth; but I didn't tell him we'd no chance of saving our lives,
did I? Not me, because we have! Keep your heads and listen to me.
There's two good boats on the davits amidships; the chief will take
one, the second officer the other; and there ain't no reason why
every blessed one of you shouldn't sleep in Ascension to-morrow
night. As for me, let me see every soul off of my ship and perhaps
I may follow; but by the God that made you, look alive! Mr. Arnott
- Mr. McClellan - man them boats and lower away. You can't get quit
o' the ship too soon, an' I don't mind tellin' you why. I'll tell
you the worst, an' then you'll know. There's been a lot o' gossip
goin', gossip about my cargo. I give out as I'd none but ship's
stores and ballast, an' I give out a lie. I don't mind tellin' you
now. I give out a cussed lie, but I give it out for the good o' the
ship! What was the use o' frightenin' folks? But where's the sense
in keepin' it back now? We have a bit of a cargo," shouted Harris;
"and it's gunpowder - every damned ton of it!"

The effect of this announcement may be imagined; my hand has not
the cunning to reproduce it on paper; and if it had, it would shrink
from the task. Mild men became brutes, brutal men, devils, women
- God help them! - shrieking beldams for the most part. Never shall