568 



LEAVES FROM A LOG. No. III. 



IT seems that I am unfortunate in my title, for in looking over the 

 United Service Journal, I find " Leaves from a Log," and the same 

 occurs in Captain Glascock's new work ; moreover the legitimacy of 

 my " Log" is disputed, seeing that, according to forecastle phraseo- 

 logy, I am " a land louper, and no sailor." Be that as it may, it is too 

 late to alter, and therefore, legitimate or not, my "Log" must proceed. 



My last paper concluded when I stepped into the boat with my 

 companions after my interview with the lieutenant of the pirate 

 brigantine. The currant of the Orinoco bore us rapidly down to the 

 schooner we had quitted, and we found the crew had not been idle 

 during our absence. A quantity of fodder had been cut and stowed, 

 and the mules, of which our cargo was to consist, were all ready to 

 sling on board. This was accomplished by the next day, and the 

 following we weighed anchor to return to Trinidad. 



Our passage, though short, was marked by an incident which I 

 cannot pass over, although it interferes with the events which I had 

 proposed as the subject of this chapter. 



We had a negro on board of very sullen and repulsive aspect, who 

 bore the euphonious cognomen of Quaco. He belonged to the captain 

 of the schooner, who had treated him with great kindness, and cured 

 him of that scourge of the African called " mal d'estomach," caused 

 by eating earth. That his cure might be completed, his humane 

 master brought him up the Orinoco with us, and as he had been ac- 

 customed to the kitchen, or, what is better understood in the West 

 Indies, the cook-room, employed him as cook on board the schooner. 

 The crew having been much fatigued with their exertions that day, 

 the captain ordered his cook to make some good coffee, and enough 

 for all on board. This was presently brought us; but the lad who 

 served us as steward, an intelligent Creole youth, the moment he 

 placed it upon the table, besought us with earnest intreaties not to 

 touch it, saying that he felt certain there was something wrong in it, 

 and that he had already cautioned the crew. The captain was in- 

 clined to treat the boy's warning as some idle suspicion, observing 

 that the man had not been on shore, and that the medicine-chest was 

 safely locked. But nothing could pacify the boy. 



" Look at it, Sir," said he earnestly; " smell it, and say if it is as it 

 ought to be." 



" Why, it is rather thick," said the captain ; and taking the cup up 

 in his hand, " and egad ! it does smell rather queer." 



I inquired whether he had any test on board that might detect any 

 thing deleterious. 



" True," said he, " I have a test, and a sure one ;" and he reached 

 a case from the lockers, from which he drew a brace of pistols, and 

 very deliberately began to load them. 



t What would you do ?" I exclaimed. " Surely, upon such slight 

 grounds, you would not -" 



