The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-04-29
!. Sir, answered rough-looking fellow.

Sir answered a rough-ioCking fellow.
Jump down. said the captain, and hoist up
one or two empty casks, and send the cooper ait
with his TOOLS"
sAy, ay SIR responded man with all the in
difference of a sailor.
The cooper soon made his appearance; in five
minutes the empty casks were on deck, the heads
of both were taken out, and the cooper set to work
to cut out q circle large enough for "a mans neck.
The mate, who handy man of all work. be-
gan at one cask, and the captain stood by, urging
the workmen to every despatch. The breeze
had freshened, and we held pretty well
with the stranger; at any rate | fearful that
she did not gain upon us very rapidly. In the
mean time, both cooper and assistant worked away
with the greatest Indifference, and no human eye
could have detected the slightest variation of coun-
tenancc in the mate, although he fully of
the des perae act about To be committed When
the casks were ready, the upper hoops taken
off, so as to allow the cooper to place the heads in
when required A pig of iron ballast was fastened
in each cask, and then it was that the mate said in
n firm VOICE
Now, sir we are ready. If we are still deter
mined, d-n me if you shall ever say that John Col
ns was afraid when death at hand
The Captains son had been all along watching
the movements of the cooper, but was quite igno
rant of the intention of his father. Once indeed he
asked what the hole cut in the head of the cask
for but he was told to be silent, in of voice
which set me shaking like monkey in frosty wea-
ther
! Bring one of the slaves upon deck said the
captain, and do you hear pick out a lively and
slim one
The slave was brought unshacked upon deck /;
he looked round him with surprise, and yet with in
difference his eye sunken from care and from
sickness, and his emaciaed form had qualified him
to come forward in the capacity alluded to.
He's the liveliest one we can find, SIR SAID one
of the seamen for he was the only who
talking and fancy he is slim any of the
rest but for that matter shall have no trouble to
find another"
'Oh then,' said his son, try my black wife
'Ahn CALCULATED the captain.
That would do just well said ,he mate so
bring her aft, hcrc you're not the first in the world
who would like to get so divorce
Away went that ncarnate devil, and in two min
minutes he was seen Juggling along his miserable
victim by the hair of the head one two more of
that sex came deck, but were instantly sent be-
low again.
Here, you CANAAN, jump into the cask, and
show this young lady how she is to Sit for none but
the devil can talk the negro language
did ns. was desired, and then got out again.
The girl was then told to do as | had done but
she hesitated, as if warned by some unseen powre
of the danger which awaited her. As she could
not succeed the first time, desired to place her
properly, which did The cooper then told
fix the head in, fitting the part about her neck.
Come down with you, said the mate ; now,
cooper, fix on her necklace, and take that it
does not fit to tight, for she is going into strange
company
The romance of conscience which had at first
exhibited itself in this worthy associate of the cap
tains, had entirely vanished like many others who,
having made one false step from that instantly to
the other extreme. Thus we not unfrequently see
women whose virtues have been sacrificed, suddenly
the open countenance of vice, and, from be-
ing modest and reserved, become shameless and inn
pudent.
The last stroke of the mallet had driven home the
upper hoop of the cask the poor girl, who mogin-
ed, perhaps, that some kind of amusement was to
follow, kept laughing and smiling, and vainly en-
deavorcd to make us understand her delight, as she
poured forth n volume of words.-The captain had
walked aft and called the mate the stranger had
evidently gained so much that two hours she
would have had us under her guns and, after re-
marking this aloud, the former said Well, it our
only alternative; but used as am to of hor-
ror, cannot bear to see a person smile, when such
q chance awaits them
The stranger said the master, { is right ascrn,
and IT is impossible for them not to the cask
let us see If their Christian charity can overc ONE
their love of prize money. fyou intend to do it,
we have no time To lose.'
Do itn said the captain.
The mate walked to the gangway, and put the
cask close to the side. 1t now that the poor
imprisoned wretch imagined her destiny; she gave
shrek so loud and piercing that every slave below
startled at the sound, and, she could continue
her loud cry for mercy, the mate and one of the
men had lifted the cask clear of the side, and, Vi
bratng it once or twice, the third time they reln-
pushed their grasp and the.poor creature, who had
been sold to enrich others, now found herself the
victim for their security.
The cask, when it fell into the water, twirlcd
round and round with fearful rapdity, but owing 20
the ballast, it always kept end up leaving the girls
head plainly visible. Her eye, whenever the twrl
of the casl allowed it to rest on the Ship had more
of imploring mercy than the words of the most
frightened convict; she screamed for pity-alas
pity was not known to those who had purchased