"There is no harm in doing that, of course," remarked Gowland; "but he is no Frenchman--or at least he is not a French cruiser; I am sure of that by the cut of his canvas.  Besides, we know every French craft on the station, and Johnny Crapaud has no such beauty as that brig among them.  No; if you care for my opinion, Grenvile, it is that yonder fellow is a slaver that is not too tender of conscience to indulge in a little piracy at times, when the opportunity appears favourable, as it does at present.  I have heard that, in contradiction of the adage that `there is honour among thieves', there are occasionally to be found among the slavers a few that are not above attacking other slavers and stealing their slaves from them.  It saves them the bother of a run in on the coast, with its attendant risk of losses by fever, and the delay, perhaps, of having to wait until a cargo comes down.  Ah, I expected as much!" as another shot from the stranger pitched close to our taffrail and sent a cloud of spray flying over us.  "So much for his respect for our bunting."