Her sails were gradually furled, and as she drew to her anchorage ground, a quarter-boat a was lowered from the davits, while the chain cable rang its loud report as it ran out at the hawser hole, and the ship swung gradually with the set of the current, leaving her stern towards the shore.  But a few moments elapsed before Capt.  Ratlin and his two passengers, with such articles as they had brought on board, were skimming over the short space between the ship and the shore, propelled by a half-dozen stout rowers.  It had already been explained to them that at first it would be necessary to land them and offer them shelter at Don Leonardo’s slave factory, until a mode of conveyance could be procured for them to reach Sierra Leone, so they were not surprised, but placing full confidence in Captain Ratlin, were satisfied.

At the house of Don Leonardo, they were hospitably received, and found the proprietor to be a rough Spaniard, with a dark quadroon daughter, whose mulatto mother was dead.  The household, though primitive, in many particulars, was yet profusely supplied with every necessity, and even many luxuries.  In the rear of the house was a spacious barracoon, where the slaves were collected and kept for shipment, and where they were plentifully supplied with rice and vegetables, with salt meats, and the means of doing their own cooking.  All these things the new corners noted at once, and indeed were very curious in fully understanding.  There seemed to be little restraint exercised about the place; the slaves were looked at in the light of prisoners of war, and did not attempt escape.  They seemed to be quite indifferent themselves as to their fate, and were very happy, with good food to eat, and a plenty of it.

One thing that both Mrs. Huntington and her daughter marked well was the fact that Don Leonardo greeted Capt.  Ratlin as one whom he had met before, and that Maud, his daughter, also sprang forward to meet him with unmistakable tokens of delight.  On his part, both were cordially greeted, and they spoke together like people whose time was precious and whose business required despatch.  Mrs. Huntington gathered enough from their open and undisguised talk to learn, that as there was not a sufficient number of negroes at the present moment on hand, that the “Sea Witch,” with her light draft of water, must be run up a neighboring river and be there moored away from the prying eyes of the cruisers on the coast, until the proper hour should arrive for shipping her freight.  Therefore when Captain Ratlin left them, it was with a promise to return and join them again within a few hours.  He resolved to moor his vessel under the shelter of the present favoring darkness, to which end he at once repaired on board.