The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1869-12-02

5. into casks for palm oil.
: II tink we no want palm OIL sab, h
answered, slyly.
What do you mean2" I demanded
iercely.
80, it's all right, sab, Speak the oil
man, sah He tell you what mean, wa
!: the good -humored reply.
I was both disarmed and mystified.
went aft and reported the matter to tn
captain wbc was working up his longl
tude at the cabin table. [ asked him i
he knew the meaning of the cook S repl,
to me. e
''Sit down, Mr.. Gorham," he said
coolly, '' and dom t get In stew abou
it. The old shocks are of no value
There isn't one of them that would hole
sand, much less oil; and they were only
sent on board as blind. We've go
more profitable business in hand thar
ox-hauling the whole Guinea coast te
pick up palm oil by the calabash,tull
What IS it, then 2" / demanded.
81 suppose we may as well understand
each other, now. as at tlme,.. he SAID.
Weare going after niggers.
| Daylight had burst upon me with a
vengeance | could see the whole thing,
now; and wondered at my own stupidity
in not having seen it before. Here was /,
who. thought myself engaged in an hon
est trading voyage, just waking up to the
fact that [ was in the middle of the broad
Atlantic, chief mate of a SLAYER
| Why wasn't [ told this before p L
asked with all the calmness could as
sumo.
Because was afraid you wouldn' t
60 with me. [ wanted you to go, for L
have heard that you were good officer
and navigator. And now, if you have
scruples about engaging in the business,
| think they can all be overcome when
you know how profitable it is. -
Profitable ~ said I. "What shall it
profit man if he gain the whole world
and lose his own soul p
80, don't begin to preach, here, he
returned, lmpatiently. "Y our wages are
liberal, now; but they shall be raised
higher if you demand it; and if we can
run cargo safely into West Indian
port, you are entitled to two niggers In
every hundred, as your commissions. All
you II have to do is just to carry on the
duty and serve your employers, just as
you would on any other voyage.
Have you been in this slave-trade be-
FORE | asked.
"Have [? OF course, or they wouldn' t
have been likely to give me the command
| of this vessel We had great streak of
luck while Twas mate ofthe Harlequin. We
ran three cargoeS across safe, and landed
them in fair order. I made a fat thing of
it, assure you; and if [ can.'run clear this
time. with my pay and commissions, L
| shall have no need to try it again unless
[ choose
AS I looked and listened, it was diff
cult to believe that my playmate, Joe
| Calder. was before me. But, whatever
he might do, or however he might argue
the matter, | had no idea of selling my
integrity at the price of two per cent
commission on a cargo of human flesh
and blood. Though l had been wan
dering seaman, rough, and in some re-
spects reckless, and was as poor as on the
dav [ first went to sea, [ had always, hith-
erto, preserved my conscience clear. 1t
was NV best bower anchor, and SO | told
the captain.
"Gorham, said he, you'll find your
conscience bothersome shlpmate In this
business, and if you'll take my advice,
you Il throw it overheard. don t
know, though why you need let
your conscience trouble,you since you
shipped ignorant of our real object and
of course you are in for it now. for it too
late to turn back, You can just 60 on
with your duty, and leave the response
bilitv upon me and the owner, who Sc
duced YOU into it. Our shoulders are
broad enough to take the whole bur
den.
81 can't quiet my conscience with any
L T Co.,
and it is too late to 60 back. l have no
power, either, to alter the object OF the
voyage But [ tell you, now, that L will
have roshing to do with kidnapping hui
man being, either black or white, if can
help it ; and will leave the vessel at the
first opportunity-with your consent, if L
can get tiff not, without it. AS for
the commissions you speak ct, | would
not accept the whole cargo if offered me
unless it were to have the pleasure OF
setting them free. -
81 would, them returned the cap
tain, with light laugh, land touch the
doubloons for them. L must confess m
disappointedin you, Gorham, Tor dldn t
expect to find any seamen with these soft
feelings. You talk more like person
than mate of ship. Still | don't mean
| to say that you are not good oincer,
seaman and navigator We understand
each other, now, at any rate. 1t you
leave the vessel. before the voyage IS up,
you II have to run from her Tor shall
not make out your discharge. And L
hope you'll think better of all chls before
we make the land, and see it in differ
ent light. !,
"Never!" said I, grimly, as turned
to go on deck.
| The subject was, by kind of tacit un-
derstanding, dropped between US, and
matters went on quietly while
the BIoomer sped on her course
| towards the Guinea Coast. [
could well understand that Calder did
not mean to have me leave the vessel, at
least before his cargo was. made up Tor
fear of my dropping some information
that night lead to his capture and that
he would even, if necessary restrain me
on board by force. But he need not tear
me after | was cleared from rhe barque,
| for, like the generality of seamen. L was
strongly averse to playing the part OF an
could feel mortally justified in doing
so.
The same day we made the land, an
English man-of wal brig gave chase to
us. AS it soon became evident that she
was more than our match In speed, we
hove to, like an innocent trader, and
a boat was sent to board and examine us,
As she drew near, the Captain called me
below, for confidential word. Mr..
Gorham, said he, ''we understand each
other believe, as to our opinion of the
, business we are in There is nothing
,bout tho vessel or her fittings that le,
, us liable to seizure; and don't fear this
British officer. unless some one turns IN
: former by giving him some hints. IL