The weekly Anglo-African., 1859-08-06

reach of another. Night was coming on,
and Homans was silently regarding his
pursuers, when suddenly the huge sail of
the brig tapped idle-the wind died away,
and the SLAYER was motionless on the water.
"This will not do" Homans muttered,
knocking away the ashes from his cigar
their boats will be down upon me before
| am ready for the visit" and as he said
this his stern face lit up with a smile, the
expression of which was diabolical. 1t
was evident enough that he meditated
some desperate plan.
A dozen sweeps were got out, and the
vessel moved slowly through the water.
Meantime, the darkness having deepened,
Homans proceeded to carry out his designs
The cable attached to the heaviest an
chor was taken outside the haws-hole and
carried around the rail of the brig, extend
ed from the buoy aft, round the stern, and
then forward on the other side. The
matches were then taken. off and the ne
groes passed up, each securely ironed by
the wrists. AS the miserable wretches
came up from the hot hole into fresh air,
the expression of gratitude would have
softened the heart of any but the fiend in
whose power they were. Without word
they were led to the side, and made to bend
over the rail, outside of which the chain
ram The iron which clasped their wrists
was fastened by smaller chains to the links
in the cable. 1t was slow work, but at the
end of four hours six hundred Africans,
male and female, were bending over the
rail of the brig in painful position, hold
ing by their chained hands the huge cable,
which was attached to heavy anchor, sus-
pended by single sling from the bow.
Homans himself examined the fastenings,
to see that every negro was securely bound
to the chain. This done, he ordered the
pen-work of the hold to be broken up,
bound up with mating, well loaded with
shot, and thrown overheard. The work
was finished an hour before daybreak, and
now the only witnesses of Homan's guilt
were attached to that fatal chain. Homans
turned to the mate, and with a smile full
of meaning, said in Spanish:
Harro, take the axe and 60 forward.
The wind will come off to us soon. Lis
ten to the word, and when you hear it cut
the sling" The man went forward, and
Homans turned and in vain tried to pene-
trate the darkness 81 don't want to lose
the niggers," he said, speaking aloud, " and
yet dare not wait till daylight | wish
| knew where the hounds were"
At this instant the report of a gun
reached his ear, and another, and another,
in different directions The cruisers were
firing signals.
"That's enough" exclaimed Homans,
/ know where you are; and then raising
his voice, he cried, Harro, are you
ready2 The wind will reach us SOON"
GAY, ay, sir, was the response.
In few minutes the sails began to fill
and the vessel moved slowly through the
water.
How much water do you suppose we
have here ?" asked Homans, turning to
the man at the wheel.
Fifty fathoms at least" was the mans
reply, Y, =,
"That will do" the SLAYER muttered
and he walked forward and examined care
fully the chain-gang, as he brutally termed
his diabolical invention.
The negroes sent up piteous groans.
For many hours they had been bent over
in this unnatural position, by which they
were suffering the keenest torture.
The breeze strengthened, and the Bril-
liante dashed like a racer over the deep;
Homans hailed from the quarter-deek-his
men collected in groups witnessed un-
moved the consummation of his plan.
I" Are you ready, Harro ?"
cay, aye, SIR"
Homans looked around and out into the
darkness, which was fast giving way to
the morn, when he thundered out,
"Strikew
There was sound of single blow, a
heavy plunge, and, as the cable feil off the
side, crash, above which rose one terrible
shriek-it was the last cry of the muir
dered Africans. One moment more and
all was still. Six hundred human beings
had gone with that anchor and chain into
the depths of the ocean.
Two hours after daylight the Brilliante
was overhauled. There was no evidence
that she was a SLAYER, and her captor was
obliged to let her pass. The instructions
to cruisers at that time did not allow YES
sci to be captured unless negroes were
found on board