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Untitled Article
Have you written orders from any one to authorize you to liberate slaves ?" " "Written orders , sir ! " exclaimed I , in astonishment . '• " I conclude , then , that you haven't . Well , sir , then you acted very hastily . I can show you my authority for capturing slavers , and I should never think of capturing any without that . " " But what would you recommend me to do , sir ?"
" Address a memorandum on the subject to the admiral , sir , saying you are aware you acted without orders , and—eh ? " added he , stopping at sight of the faces of the officers around , — "I hardly know ; I will consult my instructions , " and he disappeared below for that purpose .
Here I was , in the same difficulty as before . At last I was a little relieved by the reappearance of the captain , who having consulted his instructions to no effect , recommended me to go to the Gosport , which was the flag-ship , and ask the admiral ' s secretary what I
should do . To the Gosport accordingly I went . The admiral ' s secretary said I was in rather a peculiar situation , and advised me to remain on board till night came , then to pull silently out of the harbour , and land on a certain estate that stood a mile or so to the westward .
When it was quite dark we set off with muffled oars , pulling cautiously , and keeping a sharp look-out on all sides . We passed down the harbour without interruption , but double caution was needed on approaching Port Santa Cruz . The sentry here was evidently on the alert . Just as we came under its shadow a gun was fired , and a blue light shown , which lighted up all the harbour , and revealed us plainly to the sentry . He hailed us , and supposing we
came from a ship that was going out that night , said that her passport had arrived , and that she might sail at once . I answered , that he might expect her in a short time , and turned the boat's head up the harbour . The blue light soon burned out , and darkness closed in with a sudden leap , as the flame expired . The boat was at once turned again , and we crept cautiously under the very shadow of the fort , and then pulled boldly towards our destination .
We found a sort of pier , sheltered from the open sea , under a small island , to which we fastened the boat on landing . A young Brazilian met us , and saluted me with the utmost courtesy . He was dressed in a negligent manner , and had a sauntering air , but spoke and moved with the grace of a true gentleman . Something more than a mere recognition of birth passed between us . I found he too was a Freemason , and felt myself lucky in having stumbled
upon a friend when least expected . " Will you come this way , seiior ? " said he . " Your blacks can follow , and I'll show them where to stay to-night . " When we had got within the house—a small , tidy country mansion , —and were installed in an airy saloon , the floor being made of cane , highly polished , the young Brazilian began to ask about the reasons of my coming .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Untitled Article
Have you written orders from any one to authorize you to liberate slaves ?" " "Written orders , sir ! " exclaimed I , in astonishment . '• " I conclude , then , that you haven't . Well , sir , then you acted very hastily . I can show you my authority for capturing slavers , and I should never think of capturing any without that . " " But what would you recommend me to do , sir ?"
" Address a memorandum on the subject to the admiral , sir , saying you are aware you acted without orders , and—eh ? " added he , stopping at sight of the faces of the officers around , — "I hardly know ; I will consult my instructions , " and he disappeared below for that purpose .
Here I was , in the same difficulty as before . At last I was a little relieved by the reappearance of the captain , who having consulted his instructions to no effect , recommended me to go to the Gosport , which was the flag-ship , and ask the admiral ' s secretary what I
should do . To the Gosport accordingly I went . The admiral ' s secretary said I was in rather a peculiar situation , and advised me to remain on board till night came , then to pull silently out of the harbour , and land on a certain estate that stood a mile or so to the westward .
When it was quite dark we set off with muffled oars , pulling cautiously , and keeping a sharp look-out on all sides . We passed down the harbour without interruption , but double caution was needed on approaching Port Santa Cruz . The sentry here was evidently on the alert . Just as we came under its shadow a gun was fired , and a blue light shown , which lighted up all the harbour , and revealed us plainly to the sentry . He hailed us , and supposing we
came from a ship that was going out that night , said that her passport had arrived , and that she might sail at once . I answered , that he might expect her in a short time , and turned the boat's head up the harbour . The blue light soon burned out , and darkness closed in with a sudden leap , as the flame expired . The boat was at once turned again , and we crept cautiously under the very shadow of the fort , and then pulled boldly towards our destination .
We found a sort of pier , sheltered from the open sea , under a small island , to which we fastened the boat on landing . A young Brazilian met us , and saluted me with the utmost courtesy . He was dressed in a negligent manner , and had a sauntering air , but spoke and moved with the grace of a true gentleman . Something more than a mere recognition of birth passed between us . I found he too was a Freemason , and felt myself lucky in having stumbled
upon a friend when least expected . " Will you come this way , seiior ? " said he . " Your blacks can follow , and I'll show them where to stay to-night . " When we had got within the house—a small , tidy country mansion , —and were installed in an airy saloon , the floor being made of cane , highly polished , the young Brazilian began to ask about the reasons of my coming .