The Survivors of the "Waldeck"

           Theslavetradewasstillcarriedon,onalargescale,inallequinoctialAfrica.NotwithstandingtheEnglishandFrenchcruisers,shipsloadedwithslavesleavethecoastsofAngolaandMozambiqueeveryyeartotransportnegroestovariouspartsoftheworld,and,itmustbesaid,ofthecivilizedworld.

           CaptainHullwasnotignorantofit.Thoughthesepartswerenotordinarilyfrequentedbyslave-ships,heaskedhimselfiftheseblacks,whosesalvagehehadjusteffected,werenotthesurvivorsofacargoofslavesthatthe"Waldeck"wasgoingtoselltosomePacificcolony.Atallevents,ifthatwasso,theblacksbecamefreeagainbythesoleactofsettingfootonhisdeck,andhelongedtotellittothem.

           Meanwhilethemostearnestcarehadbeenlavishedontheshipwreckedmenfromthe"Waldeck."Mrs.Weldon,aidedbyNanandDickSand,hadadministeredtothemalittleofthatgoodfreshwaterofwhichtheymusthavebeendeprivedforseveraldays,andthat,withsomenourishment,sufficedtorestorethemtolife.

           Theeldestoftheseblacks—hemightbeaboutsixtyyearsold—wassoonabletospeak,andhecouldanswerinEnglishthequestionswhichwereaddressedtohim.

           "Theshipwhichcarriedyouwasruninto?"askedCaptainHull,firstofall.

           "Yes,"repliedtheoldblack."Tendaysagoourshipwasstruck,duringaverydarknight.Wewereasleep——"

           "Butthemenofthe’Waldeck’—whathasbecomeofthem?"

           "Theywerenolongerthere,sir,whenmycompanionsandIreachedthedeck."