CHAP. XXVII.--Ormond communicates with the Spaniard, and arranges for our rescue--LA ESPERANZA--Brulot gives in--How we fine him two hundred and fifty doubloons for the expense of his suit, and teach him the danger of playing tricks upon African factors 196 CHAP. XXVIII.--CAPT. ESCUDERO of the Esperanza dies--I resolve to take his place in command and visit Cuba--Arrival of a Danish slaver--Quarrel and battle between the crews of my Spaniard and the Dane--The Dane attempts to punish me through the duplicity of Ormond--I bribe a servant and discover the trick--My conversation with Ormond--We agree to circumvent the enemy--How I get a cargo without cash 200 CHAP. XXIX.--Off to sea--A calm--A British man-of-war--Boat attack--Reinforcement--A battle--A catastrophe--A prisoner 206 CHAP. XXX.--I am sent on board the corvette--My reception--A dangerous predicament--The Captain and surgeon make me comfortable for the night--Extraordinary conveniences for escape, of which I take the liberty to avail myself 214 CHAP. XXXI.--I drift away in a boat with my servant--Our adventures till we land in the ISLES DE LOSS--My illness and recovery--I return to the Rio Pongo--I am received on board a French slaver--Invitation to dinner--Monkey soup and its consequences 218 CHAP. XXXII.--My greeting in KAMBIA--The FELIZ from Matanzas--Negotiations for her cargo--Ormond attempts to poison me--Ormond's _suicide_--His burial according to African customs 222 CHAP. XXXIII.--A visit to the MATACAN river in quest of slaves--My reception by the king--His appearance--Scramble for my gifts--How slaves are sometimes trapped on a hasty hunt--I visit the MATACAN WIZARD; his cave, leopard, blind boy--Deceptions and jugglery--Fetiches--A scale of African intellect 227 CHAP. XXXIV.--What became of the Esperanza's officers and crew--The destruction of my factory at Kambia by fire--I lose all but my slaves--the incendiary detected--Who instigated the deed--Ormond's relatives--DEATH OF ESTHER--I go to sea in a schooner from Sierra Leone--How I acquire a cargo of slaves in the Rio Nunez without money 233 CHAP. XXXV.--I escape capture--Symptoms of mutiny and detection of the plot--How we put it down 240 CHAP. XXXVI.--A "white squall"--I land my cargo near St. Jago de Cuba--Trip to Havana on horseback--My consignees and their prompt arrangements--success of my voyage--Interference of the French Consul--I am _nearly_ arrested--How things were managed, of old, in Cuba 244