Captain Hull was not ignorant of it.  Though these parts were not ordinarily frequented by slave-ships, he asked himself if these blacks, whose salvage he had just effected, were not the survivors of a cargo of slaves that the “Waldeck” was going to sell to some Pacific colony.  At all events, if that was so, the blacks became free again by the sole act of setting foot on his deck, and he longed to tell it to them.

Meanwhile the most earnest care had been lavished on the shipwrecked men from the “Waldeck.”  Mrs. Weldon, aided by Nan and Dick Sand, had administered to them a little of that good fresh water of which they must have been deprived for several days, and that, with some nourishment, sufficed to restore them to life.

The eldest of these blacks—­he might be about sixty years old—­was soon able to speak, and he could answer in English the questions which were addressed to him.

“The ship which carried you was run into?” asked Captain Hull, first of all.

“Yes,” replied the old black.  “Ten days ago our ship was struck, during a very dark night.  We were asleep——­”

“But the men of the ’Waldeck’—­what has become of them?”

“They were no longer there, sir, when my companions and I reached the deck.”

“Then, was the crew able to jump on board the ship which struck the ’Waldeck’?” demanded Captain Hull.

“Perhaps, and we must indeed hope so for their sakes.”

“And that ship, after the collision, did it not return to pick you up?”

“No.”

“Did she then go down herself?”

“She did not founder,” replied the old black, shaking his head, “for we could see her running away in the night.”

This fact, which was attested by all the survivors of the “Waldeck,” may appear incredible.  It is only too true, however, that captains, after some terrible collision, due to their imprudence, have often taken flight without troubling themselves about the unfortunate ones whom they had put in danger, and without endeavoring to carry assistance to them.

That drivers do as much and leave to others, on the public way, the trouble of repairing the misfortune which they have caused, that is indeed to be condemned.  Still, their victims are assured of finding immediate help.  But, that men to men, abandon each other thus at sea, it is not to be believed, it is a shame!

Meanwhile, Captain Hull knew several examples of such inhumanity, and he was obliged to tell Mrs. Weldon that such facts, monstrous as they might be, were unhappily not rare.

Then, continuing: 

“Whence came the ‘Waldeck?’” he asked.

“From Melbourne.”

“Then you are not slaves?”

“No, sir!” the old black answered quickly, as he stood up straight.  “We are subjects of the State of Pennsylvania, and citizens of free America!”

“My friends,” replied Captain Hull, “believe me that you have not compromised your liberty in coming on board of the American brig, the ‘Pilgrim.’”