As soon as the captain and king had gone back from the bank, my companion shifted a little nearer; and in a low, muttering voice that could not be heard by the rest, thus addressed me:—
“No help for’t, my lad—sold you for six blacks. Go along wi’ king—pretend to go willin’, or they’ll tie you. Don’t be obstropelous an’ get tied—be patient and keep sharp look out till ‘Pandy’ trips anchor, then gie ’em the slip—easy enough in the dark—keep down the bank o’ the river—near the mouth take to water—swim straight for barque—I’ll be on the look out and throw ye a rope’s end. Don’t fear to come on—old Mugs won’t mind your getting aboard—only too glad to get you back an’ play Dingo Bingo a trick. Mind an’ do as I’ve told you. Avast, hush—yonder they come.”
Delivered as this speech was, half in whisper, and half in interrupted mutterings, I comprehended its reasonable design, and had just time to promise obedience to its directions when I perceived the captain returning to the boat.
He was not alone. The king was waddling by his side, and just behind them were six large negroes, chained two and two, and driven forward by as many armed myrmidons of their own colour.
It was for the first six I was to be “swopped,” or rather had already been, for the bargain was concluded and the blacks were being delivered over to form part of the slaver’s cargo.
These new “bultos” were not slaves—at least, they had not been such ten minutes before. They were some of the regular followers of the negro king; and, but a short while ago, carried muskets and formed part of his military array, ready to kill or capture his enemies at his nod, or even his friends if bidden. But fortune is fickle to such heroes, and their more favoured companions had just been directed to capture them and deliver them over to a life-long bondage.
In a few minutes more they were huddled unceremoniously into the boat, while I was pulled out of it with as little ceremony and handed over to my new master upon the bank.
No doubt the skipper was surprised that I made so little opposition, and the king seemed equally pleased—for he conducted me with a species of drunken politeness into the palace and insisted upon my drinking with him a glass of his best rum.
I looked through the apertures of the upright palms that formed the walls of the hut. I saw the gig cross over to the anchored vessel, and those whom she carried mount over the gangway. The boat was then rowed astern, the tackle was let down from above, and in a few minutes she was hauled high out of water to her place under the poop.
No longer had I a chance to reach the barque without swimming for it, and for that was now to prepare myself.