18 HUNTING IN THE JUNGLE. 



remained ; al though armed they were no match for an 

 English cruiser. Soon a Brazilian ensign fluttered up to 

 her mast-head, waved there a moment, and then slowly 

 and reluctantly descended in token of surrender. 



" Our boats, well manned and armed, pulled toward the 

 prize, passing through some dozens of empty wine-bottles 

 recently thrown overboard, showing that the slaver's crew 

 had begun to drown their sorrows in the good liquor the 

 cabin stores afforded, determined it should not be wasted 

 on their captors. Lazily floating close to the vessel, show- 

 ing too clearly the nature of her cargo, were several large 

 sharks. Attracted by the scent, these monsters of the 

 deep follow in the wake of slave-ships, accompanying them 

 across the Atlantic, and becoming the floating graves of 

 many a victim to the horrors of the voyage. 



" On boarding the prize, she proved to be the ' Aven- 

 tureiro,' a fine yacht-like schooner carrying one long 

 swivel-gun amidships. There was small need to inquire 

 of her sullen commander whether the cargo was lawful or 

 contraband, and our sailors at once proceeded to open the 

 hatches. On removing the close coverings a dense steam- 

 ing mist of foul air ascended from the slave-deck below ; 

 and three hundred unhappy beings of both sexes were dis- 

 covered lying down, their feet manacled to long iron bars 

 placed fore and aft through the ship. From this piteous, 

 writhing mass of humanity arose strange cries and shouts 

 of joy when their irons were struck off, and the fact of 

 their deliverance began to dawn upon their minds. The 



