"They'd better, sir," growled Tom, who was in the act of restoring his cutlass to its sheath. "I didn't use this," he muttered, "but if they came again I'm sorry for the chap as hits at me." The watch was set, and when Mark could extricate himself from the crowd of blacks who pressed about him, he looked round for Soup and Taters, even going so far as to ask for them, rather unwillingly, by these names, but they were missing. He forgot all about them directly in the business and excitement which followed, for there was much to be done. One of his first tasks was to have the schooner's boat run up to the davits, and Mr Russell carefully lifted out, and borne down into the Yankee skipper's comfortable cabin. Then he found out more and more how multitudinous are the demands made upon an officer. In this case he had to play the part of surgeon as well, for many of the blacks were, like his own men, suffering from contusions, though fortunately no one seemed to be seriously injured; and the brilliant moonlight was a great aid in his endeavour to restore something like order on board. "I want those two fellows," cried Mark at last, angrily; "they could be of so much use in managing the blacks." "Here they are, sir," cried one of the men. "They've been below." "What have they been doing below--getting at the provisions?" He asked no more, for at that moment the two men came forward, smiling, in their neat white man-o'-war garments, which had been confiscated by the slaver captain when he turned them below into the hold with the rest of the blacks, little thinking that by this act he was contriving the means of restoring them all to liberty. "Hah! that's better!" cried Mark smiling. "Now then see to these poor creatures. I'm going to serve out something for them to eat and drink." With the help of a little pantomime he made them readily understand, and they went forward to the blacks, who at once sat down quietly on the deck and waited. At the words eating and drinking, Tom Fillot had gone below, and by the time his officer was ready to show the way to the stores, biscuit and water were being served out and eagerly attacked by all. "And now I think it's our turn," said Mark, who had become conscious of a peculiar sensation of faintness. "I've put something ready for you in the cabin, sir," whispered Tom Fillot. But Mark was too sensible of his responsibility to go below to eat and rest, and his refreshment consisted of the same food as was partaken of by the rest--to wit, biscuit moistened with water. For there was the watch to visit, the tide to be examined for the hour of its change, and a score of other little matters to attend to, in addition to noting Mr Russell's condition from to time. "How soon will it be high water?" asked Mark at last, after wearily watching the constant flow.