The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-08-11
--THE
SLAVE SQUADRON
A THRILLING TALE OF ADVENTURE
By HARRY COLLNGWOOD
CHAPTER XXI.

AN AWFUL CATASTROPHE.
eleanwhile the Spaniards were still ly-
n perdu on board the hulk as they had
fnained from the moment of our driv-
n them out OF the battery. During the
n Fcussion OF our much-needed meal, the
Nesuon OF what steps we should take
Nth regard TO them had been canvassed: (:
|fmitage and l walked across the island
make a closer inspection OF the posi-
Pm Of the craft.
n had wondered greatly. at odd times
|Aring our protracted struggle with the
wages. how the Spaniards had man.
He'd TO transfer so rapidly from the bar
|ek 10 the hulk, the large number OF
ives which the former must have con-
Hned.. and now the riddle was solved.
n arriving abreast OF the hulk we found
|ht small timber jetty had been con-
fucted from the shore to a point with
\ 80 yards of the hulk. and we could
|f I'm a moment that by easing off the
|porings OF the hulk. the current would
|fry her fairly alongside this jetty,
Ifere without doubt. she must have been
Ifng when we first hove in sight The
Ives had evidently been marched
laight on board her over the Jetty. and
|F bow and stern moorings then hove in
It'll she had been hauled far enough
Fay from the jetty to render her cap
He by it's means impossible.
after a little further converse ton with
Ids should be hailed and ordered -tu-
and this was accordingly done
Up had no very great hope Of success.
we felt sure the Spaniards must be
lily aware Of the difficulty we should
perience In capturing the hulk
IS before stated. she lowered so high
of the water and her sides were so
lie that the Spaniards. small as was
|ir number. could effectually resist all
efforts TO capture her by boarding;
Hire into and sink her would only result
the destruction OF all the slaves on
bird her: and as she was moored with
hwy chains instead Of hemp hawsers
!cut her adrift and let her ground upon
kild have been any attempt TO board
Ye were therefore very agreeably sur
Fed when the Spaniards. In response
our hail. at once consented TO aban-
the hulk, provided we would allow
m TO depart unmolested In their boat
is arrangement suited US very well,
being Just then anything hut anxious
hamper ourselves with prisoners. and
required promise was unhesltatingly
de. The Spaniards thereupon provis-
ed their boat lowered her Into the
ter. and half an hour later disappear
round ., bend OF the river ,,l, on ottair Their
$ ,ssion of the hulk. we dropped her
alongside the jetty once more. and
ded the slaves upon the island. They
re all. for wonder In fairly good
dition. having evidently been well
en- care OF. with the view of fttlng
m az thoroughly as possible To with
nd the terrible hardships OF the notori-
Middle Passage.
aving at length cleared the hulk we
{ transferred the slaves I'm patches 10
boats. by which they were conveyed
oss the stream 10 the mainland whore
were freed and left 90 shift for
mselves. the provisions found on board
hulk being distributed as evenly as
sibe among them. Landed thus In
possibly hostile country-for they
e evidently different race OF people
IN those with whom we had recently
so desperate struggie-tynarmed.
with only a small supply Of provis-
their situation was perhaps not very
en- better than IL had been when they
prisoners on board the hulk. but II
all we had Il In our power TO do
them under the circumstances. and
could only hope that their wit would
We equal TO the task OF steering them
ar Of the many dangers TO which they
Fe exposed. and conducting them safe