The Sea-Witch - Or, the African Quadroon : a Story of the Slave Coast by Maturin Murray Ballou
page 72 of 215 (33%)
page 72 of 215 (33%)
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a heavy square-rig rounding the point and standing in for an anchorage;
we shall find civilized help." "That is lucky," growled the Spaniard, as he coolly shot down a negro; "our powder is fast giving out." The inhabitants of the stockade sadly needed assistance at this critical juncture, for the infuriated savages had become desperate and reckless in their attack, and must soon have carried the building by storm. But there soon pulled to the beach a half-dozen boats, with a detachment of marines and seamen, led on at full speed by an officer, before whose approach the angry negroes retired exhausted, leaving many dead upon the ground, and many too severely wounded to effect their retreat to the jungle. The fight had been a very sanguinary one to the half witted creatures outside the stockade. The new comers were an officer and part of the crew of a man-of-war that was cruising upon the coast, and which had been attracted to the harbor by the firing of the heavy swivel. They were admitted within the stockade. That they were English was at once observable, by the flag that floated from the graceful craft that had now rounded to and come to an anchor within blank cartridge shot of the factory or barracoons. The officer felt authorized to interfere, as we have seen, but his power of search and of interference in the peculiar trade of the coast ceased the moment he touched the land. His jurisdiction did not extend over any residents on their property, unless it was afloat; over the coast and rivers he claimed jurisdiction only. The new comers were hospitably entertained by Don Leonardo, white the officer who had led them, and whose insignia of rank betrayed his |
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