Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-26


They were lined up along the
bulwarks facing inboard.
Iron them"
Sven made them all fast Then
he saw the mate take some hands
for'rard and they unshipped the
anchor cables and rove them out
side the rails and made them
fast to the anchors again.
Make them slaves fast to the
cables" ordered Captain Mahan.
Good God"
Sven watched them rope those
natives TO the great cable along
the outside of the ship and he
knew what that meant
Captain. sir" he yelled. you
don't"
Hold yer Jaw"
Mahan's face was like putty
and his eyes were white and
shifty like a frightened horses.
He called the men aft. and the
slaves stood there quiet as mice
watching them.
"Jettison all kids, irons, and
slave gear" he shouted. See
what's astern? That's a United
States cruiser and she'll hang the
lot Of us if we're caught with
slaves aboard. Savvy?
The brig oVerhauled them slow
ly all that day. BY evening she
was less than half a mile away
A gun banged and round shot
skipped over the sea.
Keep her going Hold on til
dark. mister" said Mahan.
Another gun banged and the
shot slashed into the water less
than fifty yards abeam The sun
was red ball ahead and the
sky was blue-black astern.
Lego both anchors" yelled
Captain Mahan.
The watch jumped to It, There
was a splash and dreadful
scream as those hundred and
eighty odd slaves were snatched
overheard like magic. All Sven
heard, he says. was that frightful
wall. Then there was an awful
silence.
Sven went to his bunk and laid
down He was sick He'd never
in all his years at sea seen any
thing like that
Couple of hours later he heard
shots and the ship lost way,
There WAS shouting and he went
on deck Navy officer came
aboard and met Captain Mahan.
Sinking SLAYER" snapped the
Naval officer. Where are they ?"
Don't know what you're talk
ing about, mister" said Mahan.
They went below 10 the slaHe
deck and it was empty. but the
stink hung about everything
They came on deck and the cap
tain was feeling fine
Now mebbe you'll explain
why you board me like I was a
blasted pirate" he clustered.
Il see you've lost two anchors,
said the officer.
In a blow off the Cape Verde.
explained Mahan quickly.
You're a low. numbering slav-
err" said the officer and fetched
the captain smash across his
chops with his fist. Report that
next time you speak Navy
ship" he said. and watch out
for me-"
He went back TO his ship and
the captain, silent as a ghost,
watched him go. Then he went
below. Four days after the
Mary Patricia made Cuba.
Sven jumped ship in Cuba. He
didn't go to sea for five years.
But since then, he told me. he
stayed at sea as much as he
could. trying to blow the stink OF
that SLAYER out of his nostrils.
And every time he heard a sea
bird cry he told me he heard
them slaves scream as they were
jerked oversize by their necks.
He sailed with me for several
voyages Then, once while we
were lacking across the Blight of
Benin towards the African Coast.
he slipped overheard in the night.
Maybe he heard those slaves
calling again and this time call
ing too loud.
Next week Cap'n Landers will
spin another yarn of the wicked
trade some of the clippers ran in
"black ivory" from the African
Gold COast.)