Some say, the construction
given to it and applied to stewards of foreign vessels a'n't legal,
and wasn't intended; but now it's controlled by popular will,--the
stewards a'n't legislators, and the judges know it wouldn't be
popular, and there's nobody dare meddle with it, for fear he may be
called an abolitionist. You better take my advice, Cap: ship the
nigger, and save yourself and Consul Mathew the trouble of another
fuss," continued the pilot.
"That I'll never do! I've made up my mind to try it, and won't be
driven out of a port because the people stand in fear of a harmless
man. If they have any souls in them, they'll regard with favor a
poor sailor driven into their port in distress. I've sailed nearly
all over the world, and I never got among a people yet that wouldn't
treat a shipwrecked sailor with humanity. Gracious God! I've known
savages to be kind to poor shipwrecked sailors, and to share their
food with them. I can't, pilot, imagine a civilization so degraded,
nor a public so lost to common humanity, as to ill treat a man in
distress. We've said enough about it for the present. I'll appeal to
Mr. Grimshaw's feelings, when I get to the city; and I know, if he's
a man, he'll let Manuel stay on board, if I pledge my honor that he
won't leave the craft."
"Humph!--If you knew him as well as I do, you'd save your own
feelings.
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