"
CHAPTER XVI.
Nearing the Gold Coast.
The two men regarded each other steadily for a moment, then the mate
heaved a sigh.
"I don't care for your threats," said he. "It's that same conscience
of mine which you think so little of that troubles me. As long as I am
your second mate I shall do my duty. But I give you fair warning: when
we get to port, if there is another ship where a man can get a job I
shall leave you."
"You'll leave without your pay, then," retorted the captain.
Duff, without replying, left the cabin. He had explained his
sentiments, and that was all he could do at present. In his succeeding
round of ship inspection he was halted in the forecastle by Ralph, who
had lain down again.
"Oh, Mr. Duff, won't you please explain to me what the captain meant
when he said we were bound after negroes for the Cuban market."
"It's plain as your nose, my lad. We are going to the west coast of
Africa--somewhere about the Congo, I guess. There we take on a load of
Gold Coast darkies, fetch 'em over to Cuba, run 'em in after night,
then get away--if we can. If we get captured we'll all get a term in
Morro Castle or some other Spanish hole, and lose everything we've got.
Oh, it's a nasty business the----"
Here Mr. Duff broke off, remembering that he was saying too much before
a cabin boy. But Ralph detained him by the sleeve.
"I thought the negroes were all freed."
"At home they are. But in Cuba and Brazil they are not, although the
prospect is that they will be set at liberty before long.
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