"Unless some accident happens on the way," said Captain Hamilton Miggs,
with his old leer. "He was at Sierra Leone when we came up the coast.
I couldn't put in there, for the swabs have got a warrant out ag'in me
for putting a charge o' shot into a nigger."

"That was a wicked action--very wrong, indeed," the merchant said
gravely. "You must consider the interests of the firm, Miggs. We can't
afford to have a good port blocked against our ships in this fashion.
Did they serve this writ on you?"

"Another nigger brought it aboard."

"Did you read it?"

"No; I threw it overboard."

"And what became of the negro?"

"Well," said Miggs with a grin, "when I threw the writ overboard he
happened to be a-holdin' on to it. So, ye see, he went over, too.
Then I up anchor and scooted."

"There are sharks about there?"

"A few."

"Really, Miggs," the merchant said, "you must restrain your sinful
passions. You have broken the fifth commandment, and closed the trade
of Freetown to the _Black Eagle_."