operation formed until he availed himself of Maud's proposal.

"Why, bless me, my child, you look as though you had been crying," said
the mother, now, catching a glance at her daughter's face.

"Do I, mother?" she answered, vacantly.

This was just after she had returned from the meeting with Captain
Ratlin as already described, and whether, she had been crying or not,
the reader will probably know what feelings moved her heart.





CHAPTER XII.

THE CONFLICT.




CAPTAIN BRAMBLE knew very well that he had desperate men to deal with in
the taking of a slaver on the coast, but he had gathered his evidence
and witnesses in such a strong array that he felt warranted in going to
any length in securing possession of a clipper craft which had been so
fully described to him. He was not wanting in personal courage, and
therefore, with a well-selected body of sailors and marines, and one or
two officers, he quietly pulled away from the ship's side, under cover
of the night, and landed at the proposed spot. Here he found Maud