“I shall be glad to do so, sir, of course. May I ask what you require?”
“Information about the slaving that is carried on here. I see you employ many slaves.”
The stranger winced slightly, and then bowed his head.
“Yes,” he said; “I have a large tract of cultivated land here in sugar, cotton and a little coffee, but I have a right to employ slave labour after the fashion of many of my fellow-countrymen.”
“No doubt, sir,” said the lieutenant firmly, while the two midshipmen and the boat’s crew stood listening and looking on—“slaves born upon your estate.”
The owner of the plantation winced again, and then in a nervous hesitating way continued—
“I have employed slave labour for many years now, sir, and I hope with humanity and quite in accordance with the law.”
“I am sorry to say, sir,” said the lieutenant, “that my captain has been otherwise informed. He has been given to understand that at this plantation and in connection herewith a regular trade in the unfortunate blacks is systematically carried on.”
“Do I understand, sir,” said the planter, in the same low hesitating fashion, “that you are connected with one of the King’s ships whose object is to suppress the slave-trade?”
“Yes, sir; that is quite right.”