"O, I hardly know, dear mother. I was thinking over our strange fortune
since we left Calcutta, the wreck, the nights in the boat, and our
fortunate rescue."

"Fortunate, my dear? I don't exactly know about that. Here we have been
confined at this slave factory, little better than the slaves
themselves, these four weeks."

"Well, mother, Captain Bramble says he shall sail soon, and then we can
go round to Sierra Leone, and from thence take passage direct for
England."

"For my part I can't understand why Capt. Bramble insists upon staying
here so long. He don't seem to be doing anything, and he came into the
harbor by chance."

"He says that business and duty, which he cannot explain, detain him
here, but that he will soon leave, of which he will give us due notice."

"Heaven hasten the period!" said the mother, impatiently; "for I am most
heartily tired and worn out with the strange life we lead here."

This conversation will explain to the reader in part, the reason why
Mrs. Huntington and her daughter, English subjects and in distress upon
the coast, had not at once gone on board the vessel of their sovereign
which lay in the harbor, and been carried upon their destination. From
the outset Captain Bramble had resolved not to let his rival slip
through his fingers by leaving port himself, and thus he had still
remained to the present time, though without any definite plan of