The pursuers rescued some of the drowning negroes, who were able to testify that they had been on the suspected ship, and condemnation followed.

The captain of the slaver "Brillante" took no chance of such a disaster.

Caught by four cruisers in a dead calm, hidden from his enemy by the night, but with no chance of escaping before dawn, this man-stealer set about planning murder on a plan so large and with such system as perhaps has not been equaled since Caligula.

First he had his heaviest anchor so swung that cutting a rope would drop it.

Then the chain cable was stretched about the ship, outside the rail, and held up by light bits of rope, that would give way at any stout pull.