"Ay," said the girl quickly. "It is of him I would speak. You are an
English officer, agent of your government, and sent here to suppress
this vile traffic?"

"True."

"And have you suspected nothing since your vessel has been here?"

"I suspect that this Captain Ratlin is in some way connected with the
trade."

"He is, and but now awaits the gathering of a cargo in my father's
barracoons, to sail with them to the West Indies. It is not his first
voyage, either."

"But where is his vessel? he cannot go to sea without one," said the
Englishman.

"That is what I would reveal to you. I will discover to you his ship if
you swear to arrest him, seize the vessel, and if possible hang him!"

"You are bitter indeed," said the officer, almost startled at the
fiendish expression of the Quadroon's countenance as she emphasized
those two expressive words.

"I have reason to be," answered Maud, calming her feelings by an effort.

"Has he wronged you?"

"Yes, he loves the white woman whom he brought to my father's house."