expression now, would be suffused with disdain and scorn. No, no! such a
fate is not in store for me; a sailor should know but one mistress, and
she should be his ship. But the heart is a stubborn thing. I would not
have believed that ouch a change could come over me."

"Stand by to let go the starboard bow anchor," he shouted, as the vessel
gradually crept shoreward with the oncoming of night, and, assumed the
position in which he desired to place her.

Her sails were gradually furled, and as she drew to her anchorage
ground, a quarter-boat a was lowered from the davits, while the chain
cable rang its loud report as it ran out at the hawser hole, and the
ship swung gradually with the set of the current, leaving her stern
towards the shore. But a few moments elapsed before Capt. Ratlin and his
two passengers, with such articles as they had brought on board, were
skimming over the short space between the ship and the shore, propelled
by a half-dozen stout rowers. It had already been explained to them that
at first it would be necessary to land them and offer them shelter at
Don Leonardo's slave factory, until a mode of conveyance could be
procured for them to reach Sierra Leone, so they were not surprised, but
placing full confidence in Captain Ratlin, were satisfied.

At the house of Don Leonardo, they were hospitably received, and found
the proprietor to be a rough Spaniard, with a dark quadroon daughter,
whose mulatto mother was dead. The household, though primitive, in many
particulars, was yet profusely supplied with every necessity, and even
many luxuries. In the rear of the house was a spacious barracoon, where
the slaves were collected and kept for shipment, and where they were
plentifully supplied with rice and vegetables, with salt meats, and the
means of doing their own cooking. All these things the new corners noted