The corvette now took the schooner in tow. As soon as the sea was calm enough hands were sent on board her to rig jury-masts, and a course was steered for Sierra Leone. The slaver, as may be supposed, was condemned, the slaves liberated, and the whole of them settled in the colony. Paul entered on board the “Triton,” and I was placed as a midshipman on her quarter-deck.
We cruised for a short time longer on the coast, and captured another slaver, and then, as the corvette had been her due time on the station, she was ordered home.
Jack, from having been at sea, had not heard of the misfortunes of my family.
As soon as the ship was paid off he insisted on accompanying me and Paul back to Liverpool. We reached the house where I had left my sisters under Mammy’s care. Flowers bloomed before the windows, and there was an air of neatness and comfort about the little abode which looked very pleasing.
I begged Jack and Paul to remain outside while I went in to prepare the inmates for their arrival. Mammy opened the door. She seized me in her arms the moment she saw me, and I did not at all mind the kisses she bestowed on my cheeks, though her lips were thick and her black face shrivelled.
“Your sisters up stairs, Massa Harry. They so glad you come back,” she exclaimed, and dragged me along. She opened the door where they were seated at work.
“I have brought some strangers to see you,” I said, after our greetings were over. “You remember our cousin Jack Haultaught; he insisted on coming, he is a first-rate capital fellow, and a true friend of mine.”
“We shall be very glad to see him and to thank him,” said Mary and Jane together.
“And I shall be delighted,” cried Emily. “I recalled his giving me all sorts of curious things when he came back from his first voyage. I’ll run down and ask him in.”
“Mammy,” I said, feeling very doubtful how I could best prepare her for meeting her son. “You remember the commission you gave me, I did my best to execute it. I asked all the people I met if they knew Cheebo.”