I was glad to hear even two of my shipmates speak in this decided manner. They abhorred the slave trade, like true American sailors; and I hoped that more of the crew would be actuated by the same feelings of humanity.
"This business is piracy, and every man engaged in it is liable to be hanged," I added.
"But no one ever was hung," added Dick.
"So much the worse; they ought to have been," said Jack. "What can we do?"
"I'll tell you what we can do, to make a beginning. Let us ascertain first who are opposed to the business," I suggested.
"The Portuguese are in the scrape," replied Dick.
"And the Spaniards," said Jack.
"There are only five of them," I continued. "How is it with the second mate?"
"I don't know; but we will soon find out who the pirates are."
We separated to obtain the facts. At eight bells in the evening, when the port watch went on duty, we had canvassed the crew. There were twenty-five persons on board, of whom eighteen were men before the mast. The captain, two mates, the cook and cabin steward, and two passengers, formed the rest of the number. Only the five Spanish and Portuguese sailors among the crew were committed to the nefarious scheme. The captain, the chief mate, and the two passengers made nine who were actually engaged in the conspiracy. Of the remaining sixteen, eight, including the second mate, were opposed to a slave voyage on any terms, and would rather die than take part in the scheme. The other eight were in doubt, but most of them objected to the deception which had been practised upon them.