The living freight was at length all taken aboard and stowed away
between decks, the grated hatches were fastened down, and a ruffian
sentry with musket and bayonet stood by each, ready to use his weapon
upon any of the poor wretches who might try to get on deck.
The captain only waited for the report of the Kroomen.
This came at length, and proved favourable, as the slaver had expected.
The cutter had failed to beat in to the shore. She had given up, and
cast anchor at about two miles' distance from the river's mouth, there
to await a change in the wind, or the light of another day. It was the
very course that the slave-captain had desired her to take, and which he
had expected. From the position which the cutter occupied, and which
had been faithfully described by the boatmen, he had no doubt of being
able to get past her in the night. He was once more in high spirits,
and sanguine of success. Both he and his majesty were in a big humour,
and the rum-glass went merrily round.
This final carouse occurred upon shore, and in the quarters of his
majesty, whose "treat" it was. The mate, with a boat, had gone down the
river to have a good view of the anchored enemy and become perfectly
acquainted with her position, with the object of making correct
calculations about passing her.
Meanwhile, the captain remained on shore, to enjoy the parting glass and
talk over future prospects with King Dingo Bingo. Some of the crew were
there as well, among whom were Brace and myself--our purpose being to
man the captain's gig and row him aboard as soon as he should take leave
of his majesty and suite.
It still wanted about half an hour of sunset when the mate returned from
his reconnoissance and reported that the cutter was anchored just as the
Kroomen had described; and as the wind was still in the same quarter,
blowing directly from the shore, there was every probability that the
_Pandora_ would make her escape. Both mate and captain knew the coast
well, and knew that they could run out by keeping well to the south of
where the cutter lay. On that side the water was deep and open, and if
the wind held fair their chances would be good. There was one thing,
however, which both feared, and that was the cutter's boats entering the
river before the _Pandora_ should have time to weigh anchor and drop
down to the sea. It was possible enough that the cruiser knew the
slaver was in the river. If so, and finding that she could not beat
near enough under the contrary wind, she might get out her boats and row
them up to the river's mouth, so as to blockade it. The cruiser's
people might do this very thing in anticipation of the trick which the
slaver intended to serve them. If, on the contrary, they were not yet
aware of the neighbourhood of the _Pandora_, they might not think of
coming in before the morning. It is true they could not perceive the
slaver's masts--these were not visible from the sea--the tall teak-trees
and other giants of the forest interposed their umbrageous tops between,
and even the high truck of the barque could not be observed so far
inland. But it was possible that the cruiser was acting upon
information, and if so she would know well enough where the slaver was
to be found, and might design to make the attack by means of her armed
boats that very night.
All this was probable enough--the slaver captain knew it to be so, and
hence his anxiety to be gone at the earliest moment.
As soon, therefore, as darkness should descend upon the earth it was his
intention to take in his anchor, drop quietly down the river, and then
make a bold dash to seaward.
His design was a sufficiently good one. Though it appeared rash, there
was no rashness about it. It was his only chance of saving his vessel,
and cargo too, for the one being captured he would be likely to lose the
other, and if the _Pandora_ but remained all night at anchor where she
now lay, she would, in all probability, be a prize before the morning.
Whether or not, her chances of escape in the daylight would be greatly
diminished. The cutter would see her tall masts long before she could
get out of the river, and, of course, would have time to manoeuvre and
intercept her. Whereas, by dropping down in the night, she might be
well out to sea before any one on board the cruiser should notice her at
all.
It was finally resolved then by the _Pandora's_ officers to sail the
moment the darkness came down; and both were wishing, in their own
blasphemous way, for a dark night.
It yet wanted a few minutes of sundown as the captain took his last
embrace of King Dingo Bingo, and stepped out of the "palace." His
majesty came swaggering along to conduct his guest to the landing, while
several of the sable courtiers followed in his train.
All stood upon the bank while the captain was getting into his gig.
Brace and I, with the other men of the crew, had already seated
ourselves in the boat, and were holding the oars balanced and ready,
when all at once we were interrupted by a singular exclamation from the
king.
On looking up I perceived that his eyes were fixed upon me, and the fat
monster was gazing at me as if he desired to eat me up--while all the
while he kept jabbering to the captain in a language which I could not
comprehend.
Notwithstanding the time we had been at his factory, I had never
attracted the attention of his majesty before. I don't think he had
ever seen me before--that is, to take particular notice of me. I had
been, as already stated, all the time on board, with the exception of
that very evening, and the day I had spent with Brace in the woods; and
although the slave-king had been often aboard I had never come in his
way, as he usually stayed about the quarter-deck, or in the cabin. It
is likely enough, therefore, that this was the first time he had set
eyes upon me to notice me.
But for what reason was he taking such particular notice of me now?
Although I could not tell what he said--for the captain and he talked in
a sort of bastard Portuguese (the best-known language in these parts);
yet I perceived by his countenance and the animated gestures which he
made use of, that either myself, or something about me, greatly
interested him.
Brace was sitting near me, and, without raising my voice above a
whisper, I asked him to tell me what the fuss was all about--for it had
now assumed something of this character--both the captain and the king
talking hurriedly, earnestly and loudly, in their barbarous jargon.