"It may be well for your purse, Don Teodore, to stay with so powerful a trader; but beside the improvement of your fortunes, there are doubts whether it will be _wholesome_ for you to revisit Havana, at least at present. It may be said, _amigo mio_, that you _commenced_ the warfare on board the schooner;--and as five men were slain in the affray, it will be necessary for me to report the fact to the _commandante_ as soon as I arrive. Now it is true, _hijo mio_, that you saved the vessel, cargo, specie, and my cousin; yet, God knows what may be the result of Havana justice. You will have a rigid examination, and I rather think you will be _imprisoned_ until the final decision is made. When that consummation shall occur is quite uncertain. If you have friends, they will be bled as long as possible before you get out; if you have none, no one will take pains to see you released without recompense. When you see daylight once more, the rest of these ragamuffins and the felon friends of the dead men, will begin to dog your steps, and make Havana uncomfortable as well as dangerous; so that I have no hesitation in recommending you to stay where you are, and take the doubloons of the Mongo." I thought I saw at a glance the drift of this hypocritical _fanfaronade_, and was satisfied he only desired to get rid of me in order to reinstate the chief mate in a situation which he surely could not occupy as long as I was on board. As I meant to stay in Africa, I told him at once that I grieved because he had not spoken his wishes openly, boldly, and honestly, like a man, but had masked an ungrateful cowardice by hypocritical solicitude for my welfare. I departed abruptly with a scowl of contempt; and as he hastened to hide his blanched face in the cabin, I called a boat, and throwing my sea chest, bedding, and arms, aboard, committed my fate to the African continent. _A half-hour turned and decided my fate!_ Mr. Ormond received me very cordially, and, installing me in my new secretaryship, promised a private establishment, a seat at his table, and a negro per month,--or its value at the rate of forty dollars,--for my services.