HOME AGAIN.
AFTER Ramon and Maria got home that night they told Paulina about their
visit to the quarters, and their talk with the little domino player.
Paulina knew him well, and said he was a very bright and good boy.
"Some of those little negroes are too lazy," she declared, "but Pedro
is always busy. I wish he could go to school, for he will make a smart
man."
She went on to tell more of the old days. There was one story of which
she was very fond. It was of a cargo of slaves who were being brought
to Cuba. They outwitted their masters. This was the way they did it.
After the ship had been sailing for many days, it began to leak badly.
The water poured in so fast that all hands were kept busy pumping it
out. It seemed, after a while, to rush in faster than the men could
get it out. The ship's carpenter went around the vessel, and hunted in
every part, but could not find a single leak.
"It is the work of the evil one," cried the captain.
The slaves wrung their hands, and wailed, while the crew worked at the
pumps till they were quite worn out. When it seemed as though the ship
must soon sink, an island came in sight. The Spaniards quickly lowered
provisions and water into the small boats, and rowed away, leaving the
slaves to die, as they supposed.
But they had no sooner got well out of reach than the ship began to
rise out of the water. The black people could be seen dancing about on
the deck in delight. The sails were set to the wind, and away sped the
vessel.
How was it possible? This was the whole story. The prisoners had gotten
hold of some knives, with which they cut through the outer planking of
the vessel. Of course, it began to leak sadly. But when the carpenter
searched for these leaks the slaves had cleverly filled the holes with
plugs packed with oakum, and he could not find them.
In this way the whole cargo of negroes succeeded in getting out of the
clutches of the Spaniards. Old Paulina chuckled as she told the story
and thought of the cleverness of her people.