The schooner was full of men, and steered close to me--she was a beautiful craft, and, although the wind was so light, glided very fast through the water, and I could not help thinking that she was the pirate vessel which the frigate had been in chase of. It appeared as if they intended to pass me, and I hallooed, "Schooner, ahoy! Why don't you send a boat on board?" I must say, that when the idea struck me that she was a pirate vessel, my heart almost failed me. Shortly afterwards the schooner rounded to and lowered a boat, which pulled to the vessel. The boat's crew were all negroes. One of them said, "Jump in, you white boy; next jump he take be into the shark's mouth," continued the man, grinning, as he addressed himself to the others in the boat. I got into the boat, and they rowed on board the schooner. I did then think that I was done for; for what mercy could I expect, being a king's officer, from pirates, which the words of the negro convinced me they were? As soon as I was alongside of the schooner, they ordered me to go up the side, which I did, with my spy-glass in my hand. I leaped from the gunwale down on the deck, and found myself on board of an armed vessel, with a crew wholly composed of blacks. I was rudely seized by two of them, who led me aft to where a negro stood apart from the rest. A more fierce, severe, determined-looking countenance, I never beheld. He was gigantic in stature and limbed like the Farnesian Hercules. "Well, boy, who are you?" said he, "and how came you on board of that vessel?" I told him in very few words. "Then you belong to that frigate that chased us the day before yesterday?" "Yes," replied I. "What is her name?" "The Calliope." "She sails well," said he. "Yes," replied I; "she is the fastest sailer on this station." "That's all the information I want of you, boy: now you may go." "Go where?" replied I. "Go where?--go overboard, to be sure," replied he, with a grin. My heart died within me; but I mustered courage enough to say, "Much obliged to you, sir; but I'd rather stay where I am, if it's all the same to you." The other negroes laughed at this reply, and I felt a little confidence; at all events, their good-humour gave me courage, and I felt that being bold was my only chance. The negro captain looked at me for a time, as if considering, and at last said to the men, "Overboard with him." "Good-bye, sir, you're very kind," said I; "but this is a capital spy-glass, and I leave it to you as a legacy." And I went up to him and offered him my spy-glass. Merciful Heaven! bow my heart beat against my ribs when I did this! The negro captain took the glass, and looked through it. "It is a good glass," said he, as he removed it from his eyes. It was poor Green's spy-glass, which he had given me for showing him the mason's signs. "Well, white boy, I accept your present; and now, good bye."