My newly found friend lifted his squeaking voice again in unfamiliar speech.
"Bring ze leetle boat along ze side of ze sheep, you black fellar, an' come up here wiz ze olif fer ze Capitaine." "Scull in close against those steps, Alphonse," I muttered, overjoyed at this rare stroke of good fortune.

"Then pull out a few strokes; but stay alongside until I come back.

Don't let any one get aboard, and keep a quiet tongue yourself." The whites of his eyes alone answered me, he being too badly frightened for speech.

The situation was one to grate upon any nerves unaccustomed to danger, yet, trusting the long training of the slave would hold him obedient, I turned away, and, in another moment, had scrambled up the rope ladder, plunging awkwardly over the high rail on to the hitherto concealed deck.

My pulses throbbed with excitement over the desperate game fronting me, yet, with a coolness surprising to myself, I lost at that instant every sensation of personal fear, in determination to act thoroughly my assumed character.