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H.M.S. "COBRA," SOON AFTER SUNRISE ON THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA with "sails loosed, hauled out to a bowline"-and drying after a damp night. "A British Warship is never asleep,-some officers and men are always on duty

OCEAN HEROES.

CHAPTER I.

AT THE RIVER CONGO, WEST AFRICA.

HE delicate tracery of the rigging,

masts, and spars of a large warship in the British Royal Navy began to show in a sun-tipped manner, which gave a halo of romance to the beautiful vessel

that was anchored, at the mouth of the River Congo, on the West Coast of Africa. As the tropical sun appeared with glorious light and splendour, over the palm tree tops, all nature seemed suddenly to wake up, and rejoice to be seen in such golden light.

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On board the warship, however, vigilant eyes and zealous officials "on watch" had kept an unceasing look out. A British warship is never asleep,—some officers and men are always on duty, and when looking out for slave ships they are as watchful as a cat after mice. (See frontispiece.)

In the year 1864, A.D., slavery still existed in some of the countries in South America, and a horrible

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traffic was carried on between the West Coast of Africa and the far away land on the other side of the South Atlantic Ocean. This slave business had to

be crushed by our British fleet of warships stationed on the West Coast of Africa. They caught the ships, intercepting them sooner or later, as they started upon their Atlantic voyage full of a living cargo of captive black men, women, and children. At that time many of these slave ships sailed from the River Congo. They obtained their cargo of slaves at some distance up the river, and when the mouth was clear of cruiser-warships, they slipped off and away under a large press of sail. Sometimes they managed to escape, but, at other seasons a warship would cross their path, give chase and catch the prize. The slaves were then liberated; those caught south of the Equator were landed at St. Helena, whilst north of the line the captives were taken to Free Town, at Sierra Leone.

The slave traders and slave ships had methods of informing each other of the movements of our warships up and down the coast.

The captains of the British warships also obtained intelligence when they could.

Commander John Taffrell had bought some information at Kabenda, and then sailed his ship H.M.S. Cobra, down the coast and anchored off Shark's Point, at the entrance to the River Congo.

All through the hours of darkness a strict look out was kept for a slave ship, which was reported "loading" up the river. When full, she was expected to come sailing down the river for her Atlantic voyage.

All lights on board the warship had been covered, or extinguished, and she silently laid under the "lee" of Shark's Point all through the night until morning was ushered in by a glorious tropical sunrise. No slave ship had been seen, and disappointment was felt by all hands on board H.M.S. Cobra. But warships have strict and regular routine. Every morning their decks must be scrubbed and washed down; so we find at sunrise the officers on duty superintending the men, who are using great quantities of salt water on all parts of the upper deck. First, scrub, scrub, scrub, then bucket after bucket, used by men with strong brawny arms, sent the water flying into corners, and along the deck.

A bright young officer holding the rank of "midshipman," Edward Taffrell, aged about fifteen years, was keeping his morning watch. His feet were bare and trousers were well tucked up to the knee, as is the manner of British naval officers, during the operation known as "washing decks."

The young "middy" Taffrell drew near to an old sea-dog who was carefully removing water splashes from the binnacles and compass cases.

"Quarter-master," said young Taffrell, "this is a miserable business. That slave ship seems to have had 'wind' of our movements, and remained 'up the river.'"

"Aye, aye, sir," growled old quarter-master Brown, "may be they have."

"What can we do next? Do you suppose she has given us the slip?" enquired the young middy.

"May be she has, sir," answered the quarter-master Brown. "The mouth of the river is wide and the

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