As I walked along, I meditated on his odd expressions; but I had no misgivings on the subject. I did not like the first shop I reached, so I went on to another, with the master of which I was more pleased. I there, at a fair price, very soon got the things I wanted, and, going into a back room, rigged myself out in them; while my hunting costume I did up in a bundle, to carry with me, for I was unwilling to part from so old and tried a friend. As I was paying for the things, the whole of which cost somewhere about fifteen dollars, a stout, good-looking, elderly man came into the shop. I at once recognised him as the master of an American brig on board of which I had been in the Liverpool docks. I felt as if he was an old friend, and could not help speaking to him. He was very good-natured, though he did not remember me, which was not surprising. I asked him if he had met the _Mary_. "I left her at the Havanah, for which place I sail to-morrow," he answered. "So does Captain Hawk, of the _Foam_," I observed. "I have just shipped on board her." "Youngster," he said, looking grave, "you do not know the character of that vessel, I am sure, or you would not willingly set foot on her deck. She is a noted slaver, if not something worse; and as you put confidence in me, I will return the compliment, and would strongly advise you to have nothing to do with her." "But I have engaged to sail with Captain Hawk, and he seems a fair-spoken man," I urged. "If you choose to trust to his fair speeches more than to my blunt warnings, I cannot help it," he answered. "I have done my best to open your eyes for you to his true character. If you persist in following your own counsel, you will soon have to open them yourself very wide, when it is too late." I liked the tone of the master's voice, as well as the expression of his countenance; and I therefore felt inclined to believe him. At the same time I did not like to be moved, as it were, from my purpose by every breath of wind. "I promised to sail with Captain Hawk, or whatever may be his name; and though I cannot doubt but that you have good reason for what you say, sir, yet I don't like to desert him, without some proof that he is the character you describe him," I replied. "Did he tell you what trade he was in?" asked the captain. "No, sir," I replied; "he said nothing about it." "Then be guided by me, youngster, and don't ship with him," he said, speaking most earnestly. "You may make every inquiry about my brig--the _Susannah_, Captain Samuel Searle. You will find all is clear and above-board with me. I want hands, I own, and I should be glad to have you, but that does not influence me in what I say."