CHAPTER IV.

THE WONDERFUL CAPTURE.

MONGST the ship's company on board H.M.S. "Cobra," the loss overboard of their shipmate, Henry Wright, caused great depression of spirits.

The night passed wearily away, and the hours seemed long as the clipper warship pursued her course in chase of the yet invisible slave-ship.

Commander Taffrell, after he had dismissed William Bowman, felt sleep was out of the question, so whilst the incidents were quite fresh in his memory, he sat down and wrote them, as part of the long letter he was preparing, as usual, for his wife.

Towards morning, tired out, he lay down in his sea cot and was soon fast asleep and oblivious of past, present, and future.

He was aroused by the noise of a great excitement fore and aft, and one of the junior young officers presently appeared at the Captain's door to make report, for the senior officer of the watch, and to ask the Commander if he would step up to the bridge.

A short time before the break of day, a "krooboy," one of the African sailors employed on board, was sent to take his place at the foremasthead,

another at the mainmasthead, another at the mizenThere were three kroomen for three

masthead. mastheads.

This is the usual plan, and they are changed every hour through the day. In the tropics, both on the East coast, and also the West coast of Africa, on board our British warships, about fifty kroomen, or "krooboys," more or less, are engaged, because well able to stand the blazing sun, and they do all such exposed work day by day.

The "Cobra," being in special chase, three white men, also, were sent to the three mast-heads. As a foretopman it happened to be William Bowman's turn for the mast-head, and as he went up he thought of the infinitely exalted journey aloft which the soul and spirit of his chum and late shipmate had taken.

Soon on the fore topgallant yard the two lookout men were seated, William Bowman on the weather quarter, and the African krooman on the leeside. Being on the fore, or front mast, their view ahead was uninterrupted and clear; and, the masthead men on the main and mizen masts could see abeam and astern, but not ahead, because the foremast intervened.

One may become used to anything; but the experience is wonderful to be seated on the topgallant yard, at the masthead, and so high above the ship's deck. The men at work below seem as small dolls, and the great guns look like toys. The ship's sails bulge out in the stiff breeze, and seem to be clouds, the locality cloudland, and one is seated on a cloud and riding through upper space.

As darkness gradually gave way to grey dawn,

and before the sun arose above the horizon, the objects below and around took tangible form, and the two masthead men on the fore topgallant yard strained their bright eyes ahead, and on either bow. As daylight increased they were gradually able to see further ahead.

Simultaneously they caught sight of an object about two miles ahead, which caused them to start, and shout out together, "Sail-ho!" from the white man, whilst the krooman as usual put an “e” in, and shouted "Sail-e-o."

"Where-a-way?" gladly enquired the officer in charge of the watch.

"Right ahead, sir," answered William Bowman from aloft.

The "head-krooman" began a conversation with his man in “kroo" language. He shouted up from on deck, "Dowwee!"

"Dow-wee-oh," the answer came floating down from the African, but their further talk was drowned in the cheers from all hands on deck, where, with the rapid increase of light the sail right ahead was soon visible.

Cheers and cheers, over and over again, round on deck, and down below, everywhere shouts of joy and cheers resounded.

It might be a "sell" and the ship ahead might be an honest trader, but not likely, and all felt sure they had caught sight of their “prize,” the slave ship that had given them the slip on Friday night at the river Congo's mouth.

Now on Tuesday morning, "well-away" across the South Atlantic, they had caught sight of her and soon would be alongside.

"Wonderful and

"Wonderful," they exclaimed. marvellous indeed," with deeper and more intelligent emphasis, said the officers, who had a knowledge of the intricacies in the navigation, and choice of a course to follow, so that the successful capture should be the result.

The ship of mourning was turned into a ship full of joy. (To heated imaginations they had seemed to be travellers in a funeral coach.)

Once more they felt in a warship on the victorious path to renown, and whispered exultantly, "prizemoney."

Moreover they had not been " done," or "sold," by a clever slave dealer.

"Good morning, sir," said the officer of the watch, raising his cap, as the Commander stepped lightly up on to the bridge.

"Good morning, Haskett; this is jolly," said Commander Taffrell.

"Yes, sir," answered the first lieutenant, Haskett, "there is our prize-right ahead :-a large ship, Barque rigged, and about eight hundred tonnage, I imagine."

"Send the gunner to me," said Commander Taffrell. “Here I am, sir," answered Mr. Holmes, the chief gunner, "I have a blank cartridge in ready fo’rad, sir, in the bow gun."

"Very well, fire," answered the commander.

The chief gunner held up his hand, as signal, and a gunner's mate fo'rad pulled the fuze line and fired. A large cloud of gunpowder smoke belched forth with a great bang!

"Now have a shot ready, Mr. Holmes," called out