Meanwhile we had shoaled our water, and the “leads-men” were ordered “into the chains.”
Numbers of negroes might now be seen with the naked eye, on the deck of the stranger, which was a large brigantine, evidently armed to fight her way, as the muzzles of one or two guns were observed protruding from her side.
“Forecastle, there!”
“Sir?”
“Load again—with shot!”
“Ay, ay, sir.”
“All ready, sir.”
“Who fires the gun?”
“Mr. Carr, sir, the gunner.”