Ran Away to Sea

Do not suppose that we considered ourselves safe. We were simply safe for the moment--as our disappearance into the hollow of the tree, being sudden and unexpected, had taken th...

I knew that the tree had other names as well as baobab; that the negroes of Senegal call it the "monkey's bread-tree," the "sour gourd," and "lalo plant," and my book had been m...

We both fell asleep almost instantaneously, but I am unable to say how long we continued to sleep. It did not seem more than five minutes, and then we were awakened by a noise,...

Strange to say, I received somewhat better treatment after this occurrence, though it was not from any remorse at what had happened, or that either mate or captain had grown mor...

Of course I did not give utterance to these sentiments before any of the _Pandora's_ crew. That would have led me into worse trouble than ever. Even Brace could not have protect...

Next morning, just after daybreak, Brace and I started upon our excursion. A couple of sailors, friends of my companion, rowed us ashore and then took back the boat I was not ea...

The chase, which had lasted for nearly the whole of a day, carried the _Pandora_ a hundred miles out of her course before she had fairly distanced the cutter; but she had to run...

It is very probable I should have longed in vain--very probable I should not have been allowed to set foot upon the shore, but for my protector Brace. My work was still that of...

Yes--beyond a doubt I was on board a slave-ship--one regularly fitted up for the inhuman traffic--manned for it. I might also say armed--for although there were no cannon, I obs...

This new one we followed for more than a mile, but, as no river appeared, we believed we were now certainly going the wrong way, and once more turned back.

One of the disagreeables which a boy-sailor encounters on first going to sea is the being compelled to mount up "aloft." If the master of the vessel be a man of considerate feel...

No doubt in less than another minute Ben Brace and I would have ceased to live. I had made up my mind that both of us would be torn to pieces--and certainly this would have been...

I was glad when morning dawned, for I slept but little that night. The sad fate of the poor sailor lay heavily upon my spirits during the whole of the next day, and I could not...

I was not twelve hours on board--twelve minutes I might almost say-- before I was completely cured of my sea fever; and I would have parted with the best tooth in my head to hav...

Ben was now sorry he had not brought a bullet with him, or, at all events, some slugs. Larger shot he could not have brought, as there was none on board the barque. But, indeed,...

The breeze died away before the morning, and when day broke there was not a breath stirring. The calm had returned, and the raft lay upon the water as motionless as a log.

It is true it was a forlorn hope; but it is probable we should have attempted it in preference to enduring the terrible agony much longer. Fortunately we were not driven to this...

For many long days and nights I endured this terrible oppression without complaining--not but that I could have complained and would, but to what purpose? and to whom? There was...

I climbed with slow and nervous step. I should have gone much slower but that I was forced upward by Le Gros, who followed me with the rope's end, with which he struck me behind...

The _Pandora_ was now rapidly made ready for her voyage across the Atlantic. The carpenter had finished his bulkheads and hatch-gratings, and the men were daily engaged in empty...

During all this time what was the behaviour of the unfortunate blacks? Where were they? what were they doing? What was being done for them? Were any steps being taken for their...

But short as was the time it appeared an age to me. With that dread secret shut up in my breast, every minute seemed an hour; and I knew not the moment that was to be our last....

Of course my companion and I kept our places in the top of the tree; we could not do otherwise. Had we attempted to come down it would only have been to fling ourselves right in...

"A barrel of powder aboard!" These were his very words, and I had no reason to doubt that they were true. On the contrary, his behaviour, and that of those who were with him, we...

There were three boats belonging to the barque _Pandora_. They were the "long-boat," the "pinnace," and the "captain's gig." These would have been enough to have carried the who...

He had got his little raft compacted--its timbers tied together--and it now carried us both without even dipping under water. The two spars, the dolphin-striker, and half of the...

I need not detail the incidents that occurred during the remainder of our run to the African coast. There is not much variety in a journey upon the sea. A shoal of porpoises,--a...

You will be surprised to hear, that I was not far more frightened than he. It would have been natural that I should--being younger and less courageous, but in reality I was not....

The barque was not yet opposite me; but, by the rate at which she was moving, I calculated she would be so by the time I could arrive in midstream.

My condition, however, was greatly improved. I was allowed my full share of the "lob-scouse," the "sea-pies," and "plum-duff," and was no longer hunted out of the forecastle. I...

The living freight was at length all taken aboard and stowed away between decks, the grated hatches were fastened down, and a ruffian sentry with musket and bayonet stood by eac...

At first we were inclined to remain where we had cooked and eaten our supper. The water was convenient, and there was long bunch grass upon which we could rest very comfortably.

It had now grown extremely dark--so much so that I could scarce distinguish the form of my companion, though he was close by me--and the great raft itself with the bodies reclin...

For more than a mile we walked through this wonderful wood, and, although we had admired it so much on first entering it, we were now very desirous of getting out of it. It was...

For my part, I awaited the result with the deepest interest. I watched the two ships as they sped; and, with my eye, kept constantly measuring the sea between them. My heart was...

I could not tell what was said between these two worthies, but I knew what was to be done. His majesty had a crowd of poor negroes not far off--no doubt shut up in the large bui...

Of the cutter we never saw more. When the sun rose there was no sail in sight, and the slaver alone upon the ocean, was standing upon her westward course, under a soft gentle br...

On hearing this explanation I at first felt inclined to laugh, but my mirthful inclinations were soon dissipated. The serious tone of my companion's voice, and, above all, the e...

Some cried out to throw him into the sea. No one opposed this counsel. It would have been carried into execution--for several were prepared to lay hold of him when the maniac, a...

I pretended to express surprise, though I was bursting with laughter, for I had become quite satisfied as to the species of the bird. Indeed, the horrid effluvium that came from...

I have no doubt that the skipper knew all about my coming aboard. Indeed, there had been such a noise made by the men while the crocodile was in pursuit of me, that it was impos...

I communicated my convictions to Ben, who still persisted in calling the tree a palm. How should I know what sort of a tree it was, since I had never seen one before? I told Ben...

It needed no conjuror to explain that report. Every one knew what it meant. It was caused by the exploding of the strong iron-bound cask-- burst open by the gas engendered by th...

Perhaps Brace and myself were the only ones among them who had no heart in the work; but, to keep up appearances, we were compelled to labour as the rest.

As soon as day dawned every eye was bent upon the horizon. Not a point of the whole circle that was not scanned with the minutest earnestness by one and all. Round and round the...

One morning I came upon deck rather later than usual. Most generally I was awakened out of my sleep, and at a very early hour, by the thundering voice of the mate, and usually e...

Up to that instant I had not looked back towards the burning barque. I would rather not have done so. I dreaded to look back; moreover, I was so eagerly employed in helping to p...

It was probably on the sixth day after parting from the wreck--though I am not certain about the day--that the horrid design reached its development. It had been hatching for a...

An awful alternative it was, and for a long while the ill-starred victims seemed to linger in their choice. Hard choice between two horrid forms of death! Little did it matter w...

I remembered the advice of Brace, and submitted, with as good grace as I could, to the hospitalities of his black majesty. I drank a portion of his rum, and even appeared jolly!...

During all these deliberations not one word was said about the five hundred unfortunate wretches between decks! It is a question whether even a thought was spent upon them, exce...

I shall spare the reader many details of this voyage of of the _Pandora_. There were but few incidents outside the vessel itself to break the monotony--not even one sail was see...

There was much shouting among the white men and many wild exclamations, but no time was lost in idle talk--for every one was doing his best to propel the raft. The shouts were o...

I did not do so because I had been treated unkindly at home. On the contrary, I left behind me a fond and indulgent father, a kind and gentle mother, sisters and brothers who lo...

How could they be, considering the life I was compelled to lead? With my spirit hourly harassed by indignities, and my body wearied with overwork, it is not likely I should have...

The night came down still, but not silent; at least not silent on board the slave-ship. The cries of the ill-fated beings below still loaded the air--their voices growing hoarse...

No wonder the sailors were alarmed. Should the blacks carry out their intention, enough of them might reach the raft to sink her--enough of them, perhaps, to fling the white men...

I was beginning to draw hope from the behaviour of the slave-captain and his mate. Their apprehension increased as they saw the cutter expand her sails and commence moving throu...

I was not so much affected by this laconic piece of intelligence, as I might have been had I known more of the sea; and perhaps I should have regarded it still less, but for the...

I had observed before starting, that the barque had got up her anchor and was slowly gliding down stream. At intervals I turned a little out of my way and came close to the edge...

The time and the mode alone remained to be determined; but these points were soon settled. For the former it was to be then--instantly--and as to the mode, I was to be bled to d...

But there was another cry and an angrier one. It arose from the few who had rushed towards the stern in hope of themselves appropriating the gig and whose disappointment at find...

On reaching the quarter-deck we found the black cook, "Snowball," in the hands of the captain and mate, who were beating him with thick ropes, and causing him to "sing out" at t...

I can ill describe the emotions that agitated my bosom. Though delivered from the terror of immediate death, there was nothing in the respite to give me any feeling of joy. It w...

Yes--two half casks or one whole one--in all, about one hundred gallons of fresh-water to serve for a crew of forty white men and a cargo of five hundred black ones; to serve th...

Unhappy beings! I shuddered as I reflected on what was before them. They were to endure thirst in all its gradations--from the simple, scarce painful longing for water--which mo...

It soon became evident that the foremost swimmers, who had been for the moment repulsed, had no intention of turning back. Why should they? Behind them they had left no hope--no...

The stretch of water that lay between the raft and the burning vessel glittered under the yellow light like a sea of molten gold. On its calm surface the blazing barque was mirr...