"No: indeed," replied I, laughing--for I had quite recovered my confidence--"for you were about to send me to the devil, and I feel most happy that I still remain with you." "You're exactly the cut of boy I like," replied he, smiling. "How I wish that you were black!--I detest your colour." "I have no objection to black my face, if you wish it," replied I: "it's all the same to me what colour I am." "How old are you?" "I was fifteen a few months back." "How long have you been to sea?" "About eighteen months." He then asked me a great many more questions, about the captain, the officers, the ship, and myself; to all of which I answered in a guarded way. A negro brought down his supper; it was hot, and very savoury; without any order on his part, I immediately attended upon him during his meal. He told the negro not to wait and conversed with me during the time that he was eating: at last, he told me how he had doubled the frigate during the night. I then remarked that we had been informed that the vessel was called the Stella, that the captain's name was Chico, and the crew were composed of white men of different nations. "A month or two ago, it was the case," replied the captain. "Now I have done, and you may clear away," continued he, rising from his chair and throwing himself down on one of the sofas. "Stop; you are hungry, I don't doubt; you can sit down and eat your supper, and remove the things afterwards." I did as he told me: it was the first time in my life I had supped off massive plate--but I was in strange company; however, it did not spoil my appetite, and I did not forget to drink a goblet of wine by way of washing down my repast. "Thank you, sir," said I, rising, and then performing my office of attendant. At his order, I rang the bell for the negro, who assisted me in clearing away, and then went out with the remains of the supper. "Am I to stay or go?" said I, respectfully. "You may go now. Find the man who came in just now--Jose he is called; tell him to give you something to sleep upon." "Good-night, sir," said I. "Good-night, boy." As I went forward looking for the negro servant, I was accosted more than once very kindly by the negro seamen. At last I went up on the forecastle, and they asked me to tell them how I was left on board the schooner. I did so to those who spoke English, and one of them, who could speak both languages, translated into Spanish for the benefit of the others. "You be first white he hab spared, I tell you," said the American negro, who had translated into Spanish what I had told them, after the other had left me with him. "The captain says he wishes I were black," said I to the negro; "I wish I was, too, while I am on board of this vessel--my colour makes him angry, I see that. Could not I be stained black?"