thought it might fetch a better price in the Bermudas than at home. We
can trade it for potatoes."

"Well, I wish you success," added the officer, pausing at the ladder,
and touching his cap to Gary and the mates. "Pardon whatever
inconvenience we may have occasioned."

He went down the side, the boat pulled back to the cruiser, and the
latter steamed away westward.

The Curlew, holding east, soon helped to place her dangerous neighbor
hull down, when Captain Gary gave the order for all hands to be
summoned aft. The crew came tumbling back into the waist, a swarthy,
brawny, reckless looking set of men. Two of them brought Ralph up and
set him down on a coil of rope.

The warm meal, the sight of human faces, the sounds of life and light,
had already renewed his strength and spirits. He was no longer so ill,
and the bright sunlight and the heaving waves sent a sort of thrill
through him. The sea was not all terrible after all.

"Now, men," began the captain, when all had assumed a decorous silence,
"what do you think that war ship supposed we were?"

There was no reply to this, though the men looked at each other, then
turned to their commander, as if expecting an answer. The captain
broke into a harsh laugh.

"Why," he continued, "they thought this ship was the famous slaver, the
Wanderer. I guess you've all heard of the Wanderer."