Then, after a moment’s silence:  “Ah, there, Negoro,” continued he, “when I met you so fortunately there below, at the scene of the shipwreck, at the mouth of the Longa, you only had time to recommend those honest people to me, while begging me to lead them as far as possible across this pretended Bolivia.  You have not told me what you have been doing these two years!  Two years, comrade, in our chance existence, is a long time.  One fine day, after having taken charge of a caravan of slaves on old Alvez’s account—­whose very humble agents we are—­you left Cassange, and have not been heard of since!  I have thought that you had some disagreement with the English cruiser, and that you were hung!”

“I came very near it, Harris.”

“That will come, Negoro.”

“Thank you!”

“What would you have?” replied Harris, with an indifference quite philosophical; “it is one of the chances of the trade!  We do not carry on the slave-trade on the coast of Africa without running the risk of dying elsewhere than in our beds!  So, you have been taken?”

“Yes!”

“By the English?”

“No!  By the Portuguese.”

“Before or after having delivered your cargo?” asked Harris.

“After—­,” replied Negoro, who had hesitated a little about replying.  “These Portuguese now make difficulties.  They want no more slavery, though they have used it so long to their profit.  I was denounced —­watched.  They took me—­”

“And condemned—­”

“Me to finish my days in the penitentiary of St. Paul de Loanda.”

“A thousand devils!” exclaimed Harris.  “That is an unhealthy place for men accustomed, like us, to live in the open air.  As to me, perhaps I should prefer being hung.”

“One does not escape from the gallows,” replied Negoro; “but from prison—­”

“You were able to make your escape?”

“Yes, Harris.  Only fifteen days after being put in prison.  I was able to hide myself at the bottom of the hold of an English steamer, sailing for Auckland, of New Zealand.  A barrel of water and a case of conserves, between which I had intruded, furnished me with food and drink during the whole passage.  Oh!  I suffered terribly, from not being willing to show myself when we were at sea.  But, if I had been imprudent enough to do it, I would have been confined again at the bottom of the hold, and, voluntarily or not, the torture would be the same.  Besides, on my arrival at Auckland, they would have returned me again to the English authorities, and finally brought me back to the penitentiary of Loanda, or, perhaps, hung me, as you said.  That was why I preferred to travel incognito.”

“And without paying your passage!” exclaimed Harris, laughing.  “Ah! that is not considerate, comrade, to be fed and carried gratis!”

“Yes,” returned Negoro, “but thirty days’ passage at the bottom of the hold—­”

“At last that was over, Negoro.  You set out for New Zealand, in the land of the Maoris.  But you have returned.  Was the return made under the same circumstances?”