ACCOMPLICES. 255
- - Because there were five strong nîggers who didn't trust
me ; so, on second thoughts, I determîned to keep my old post as cook." " Then do you mean to say that ît was mère accident that brought you to the coast of Afrîca ? " " Not a bit of it ; the only accident, — and a very lucky one it was — was meeting you on the very spot where we stranded. But it was my doing that we got so far. Young Sands understood nothing more of navigation than the use of the log and compass. Well, one fine day, you understand, the log remained at the bottom of the sea, and one night the compass was tampered with, so that the •Pilgrim/ scudding along before a tempest, was carried altogether out of her course. You may imagine the young captain was puzzled at the length of the voyage ; it would hâve bewildcred a more experienced head than his. Before he was aware of it, we had rounded Cape Horn ; I recognized it through the mist. Then at once I put the compass to rights agâin, and the ' Pilgrim ' was carried north-eastwards by a tremendous hurricane to the very place I wanted. The island Dick Sands took for Easter Island was really Tristan d'Acunha." " Good ! " said Harris ; " I think I understand now how our friends hâve been persuaded to take Angola for Bolivia. But they are undeceived now, you know," he added. " I know ail about that," replied the Portuguese.
- Then what do you intend to do ? " said Harris.
"You will sce," answered Negoro sîgnificantly ; "but first of ail tell me something about our employer, old Alvez ; how is he ? " " Oh, the old rascal is well enough, and will be delighted to see you again," replied Harris. " Is he at the market at Bihe ? " " No, he has been at his place at Kazoundé for a year or more.** " And how does business go on ? *' - ' • Badly enough, on this coast,*' said Harris ; " plenty of slaves are waiting to be shipped to the Spatush colonies,
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