Shortly after daylight, Tommy fell into a dozing sleep, from which he was awakened by the mustering of the prisoners who had been brought up during the night, and were to appear before the mayor at nine o’clock.  A few minutes before eight o’clock, an officer opened the cell-door, and they were ordered to march out into a long room.  In this room they found all the prisoners gathered.  There were three blacks and five whites, who had been arrested on different charges; and as the mayor’s court was merely a tribunal of commitment-not judgment-if the charges upon which the prisoners were brought up were sustained-which they generally were, because the policeman who made the arrest was the important witness, they were committed to await the tardy process of the law.

Considerable uneasiness had been felt on board of the Janson for Tommy, and the Captain suggested that he might have got astray among the dark lanes of the city, and that the mate had better send some of the crew to look for him.  The mate, better acquainted with Tommy’s feelings and attachment for Manuel than he was with the rules of the prison and Mr. Grimshaw’s arbitrary orders, assured the Captain that such a course would be entirely unnecessary, for he knew when he left that he would stop all night with Manuel.  This quieted the Captain’s apprehensions, and he said no more about it until he sat down to breakfast.  “I miss Tommy amazingly,” said the Captain.  “If he stopped all night, he should be here by this time.  I think some one had better be sent to the jail to inquire for him.”  Just as he arose from the table, one of the crew announced at the companion that a person on deck wished to see the Captain.  On going up, he found a policeman, who informed him that a little boy had been arrested as a vagrant in the street, last night, and when brought before the mayor a few minutes ago, stated that he belonged to his vessel, and the mayor had despatched him to notify the master.  “Circumstances are suspicious; he was seen in company with a negro of very bad habits; but if you can identify the boy, you had better come quick, or he’ll be sent to jail, and you’ll have some trouble to get him out,” said the messenger, giving the Captain a description of the boy.

“Oh yes!” said the Captain, “that’s my Tommy.  I verily believe they’ll have us all in jail before we get away from the port.”  Numerous appointments engrossed his time, and he had promised to meet the consul at an early hour that morning.  Notwithstanding this, he gave a few orders to the mate about getting the hatches ready and receiving the port-wardens, and then immediately repaired to the all-important guard-house.  He was just in time to receive the mortifying intelligence that the mayor’s court had concluded its sitting, and to see little Tommy, with a pair of handcuffs on his hand, in the act of being committed to jail by a Dutch constable.  He stopped the constable, and being told that his honor was yet in the room, put a couple of dollars into his hand to await his intercession.  Another fortunate circumstance favored him; just as he stopped the constable, he saw his friend, Colonel S—­, approaching.  The colonel saw there was trouble, and with his usual, characteristic kindness, hastened up and volunteered his services.