CHAPTER VI.

Slaver hunting (continued).

Now to return to my ‘experiences.’  As proud as the young sportsman when he has killed his first stag, I returned, keen as mustard, to my ship, which I found still cruising near to where I had left her.  Some secret information that I had received while at Rio led me to ask my captain to again send me away with a force similar to that which I had under me before (with percussion caps this time), and allow me to station myself some fifty miles further down the coast.  My request was granted, and away I went.  This time, instead of taking shelter under an island, I ensconced my little force behind a point of land which enabled me by mounting on the rocks to sweep the horizon with a spy-glass, so that I could discover any vessel approaching the land while she was yet at a considerable distance.

There happened to be a large coffee plantation in my immediate neighbourhood, and I remarked that the inhabitants favoured us with the darkest of scowls whenever we met them.  This made me believe (and I wasn’t far out) that the slave-vessel I was looking out for was bringing recruits to the already numerous slaves employed on the said plantation.  Two or three mornings after my arrival, I discovered a sail on the very far horizon; a vessel evidently bound to the immediate neighbourhood I had chosen as my look-out place.  The winds were baffling and light, as usual in the morning in these latitudes, where, however, there is always a sea-breeze in the afternoon.  So, being in no hurry, I sauntered about the shore with my double-barrelled gun in my hand, occasionally taking a look seaward.  Suddenly I saw within a hundred yards of me a man leading two enormous dogs in a leash.  The dogs were of a breed well known among slave-owners, as they were trained to run down runaway slaves.  I believe the land of their origin is Cuba, as they are called Cuba bloodhounds.

Suspecting nothing I continued my lounge, turning my back on the man and his dogs.  A few minutes afterwards I was startled by a rushing sound behind me.  On turning quickly round I saw to my horror two huge dogs galloping straight at me.  Quick as lightning I stood on the defensive, and when they with open mouths and bloodshot eyes were within five yards, I pulled the trigger.  The gun missed fire with the first barrel.  The second barrel luckily went off, scattering the brains of the nearest dog, the whole charge having entered his mouth, and gone through the palate into his brain.  This occurrence seemed to check the advance of the second brute, who, while hesitating for a moment before coming at me, received a ball in his side from one of my sailors, who fortunately had observed what was going on and had come to my rescue.  Without waiting an instant to see what had become of the man who had played me this murderous trick, I called my men together, launched the boats, and put out to sea.