"They think we want to chuck 'em overboard, Mr Vandean, sir. I don't know what to say to 'em. No good to tell 'em that under the British flag they're free." "Let's go and breathe for a few moments, Tom," said Mark, his voice sounding as if he were half-stifled. "I'd rather do that, sir, than have the best glass o' grog ever mixed," said the man. "Now below there!" came from the hatch; "how are you getting on?" Mark answered the question by stumbling up the ladder till he could put his face over the combings of the hatch, and breathe the air blowing over the vessel, Tom Fillot following suit. "You look white as ashes, Vandean," said the lieutenant. "I had no business to let you go down. But the men are not dangerous?" "Like so many sheep," replied Mark, rather faintly; "but we could not get one to come." "Come out, and I'll go myself." "No," said Mark, stoutly. "I have only half done my work. Come along, Tom Fillot." Before he could be stayed, he stepped down once more into the terrible hold, where, his eyes growing now more accustomed to the darkness, he began to make out eyes everywhere--glistening, starting eyes--all apparently staring fiercely, and in a threatening way. The whole scene was horrible, every surrounding was sickening. The poor creatures had been herded together down in the foul place, with less care for their health than if they had been cattle, while in the emergency of the slave captain's escape, they had been left to die. But, horrible as the place was, Mark made a brave effort to master his dread and compunction. Risking attack from some one or other of the men who might very well have been infuriated by his wrongs, the young midshipman once more made an effort to seize one of the blacks and get him on deck. Watching his opportunity, he stepped boldly forward to where the crowd had shrunk back together, and again caught a man by the arm. "Now, Tom Fillot," he cried, "help me." The sailor seconded him well, but the poor wretch, in an agony of fear, made a desperate plunge, got free again; and at that moment, in alarm about his young officer's safety, Mr Russell sternly ordered him to come back on deck. It was with a mingling of satisfaction and disinclination that the lad obeyed; and as they stood about the open hatch, Mr Russell said,--"We must give them time to find out that we are friends. This is my first experience, in spite of all our chasing, Vandean, and it is worse than I could have believed." "Signal from the _Naughtylass_, sir," said Tom Fillot. "Yes; the captain is getting anxious. Here, Vandean, go back in the boat, and tell them the state of affairs." "And leave you alone with these people? There must be fifty or a hundred down below."