They sailed all the next day without incident, then about ten the next morning Durga muttered "Beautiful, clear sky, but I swear I heard thunder!"
   "That isn't thunder!"  The Ancient One answered, "It's gunfire!  And we seem to be sailing right towards it!  Mr. Cutter!"  he screamed,   "Clear for action, deck guns only  We don't need the main piece."
   "All hands!" The Ax Man cried, "Deploy weapons. Rig for action."
   With incredible precision the crew lifted sections of the deck.  Block and tackle appeared. Guns were hoisted from beneath the deck.    Their carriages assembled, and the guns placed on them.  Gun ports were opened, and the guns were put into position.  All of this took less than fifteen minutes.
   "Incredible!"  Durga muttered, "And you did this in a material form?"
   The Ancient One only grinned at her.  "You were my wife in New England at the time," he remarked.  "You knew I worked with the anti slavery forces, but had no idea what my ship could really do.  Ten forty pounders, five on each side.  We could out range virtually anything on the water, especially with the main gun.  What we could not out fire we could out run.  No chincy man of war could keep up with us!     The only way anybody could get close to us was to take us by surprise, and that rarely happened."
   "Sail ho!"  a man from above cried. "Two sails, one Chinese, one European, dead ahead!"
   The Ancient One hurried to the forward mast.  Somebody handed him a spyglass in a leather holder, which he slipped on his belt.  He then scurried up the rigging like a monkey.  When he got to the top most brace he secured himself, took out a spyglass, and studied the scene ahead.  The other ships were maneuvering around where they were still sailing full ahead.  The Ancient One put the spyglass away, and scurried back down.
   "A good size American merchantman," he cried, "under attack from a Chinese vessel. We'll continue to close.  As soon as we're in range we'll give the Chinaman one broadside.  If that doesn't discourage him we'll come about, cross his stern, and give him another one, right through his backsides!"
   "Aye, captain!"  The Ax Man cried.
   With incredible speed they closed on the ongoing battle.  The Chinese ship seemed to pay them no heed.  Smoke was rising from the merchantman.  They obviously had problems.
   "Steady!"  The Ancient One cried.  "Gunners, pick your targets.  Aim for the masts.  We just want to discourage them if we can.  We don't want to do any real harm.  Ready!  Ready!  FIRE!"
   The five guns roared to life and the gunners were very good.  One of the masts on the Chinese ship was reduced to splinters. The wind took it and carried it away from the vessel, so the debris fell into the water.  Instantly the Chinese vessel turned, caught the wind, and headed away.
   "Well done!"  The Ancient One cried.  "They got the message soon enough!  Let's see if the merchantman needs any help."
   They quickly closed on the merchantman.  The Ancient One picked up a bullhorn.  "Ahoy!"  he cried.  "Captain Kato here, of The     North Wind, out of Rhode Island.  Do you need any assistance?"
   "Nay!"  a voice came back.  "Captain Wilson of The Pleasant Point, out of Maine.  The assistance you've already rendered was more than sufficient.  Without the harassment we've got things under control.  God be with you, sir!  Our gracious thanks!"
   "God be with you, sir!"  The Ancient One answered.  "We must be about our business.  There's trouble in these waters. I would not try to make land until I reach the Philippines or Japan."
   "My sentiments as well!" the other captain answered.  "Again our gratitude."
   "One thing," The Ancient One answered, "do not put our name in your log, only mention an unknown ship came to your assistance."
   "Understood, sir!"  the other captain answered.  
   The Ancient One put down the bullhorn.  "Let's get back to our business!"  he snapped. They quickly resumed their course.  
   "Curiosity," Durga commented.
   "What?"  The Ancient One asked.
   "Why didn't you want him to mention the name of your vessel in his log?"
   The Ancient One smiled.  "It's already known that we were lost several years ago. If someone was to come across the mention in another ship's log that we came to their assistance on this date, it could create untold confusion!  Better it not be recorded. It was the common practice anyway.  We were a pariah, not mentioned in any logs.  We tended not to exist....the nature of our work."
   "I'm going to regret asking this," Durga moaned, "but just what was your work?  Just what was it you did with this ship?"
   "We fought the slave trade," The Ancient One answered.  "We intercepted slave ships, dealt with their crews and sent their cargo to safe places, where they would be reasonably well treated."
   Durga frowned. "I'm probably going to regret asking this," she sighed, "but just how did you deal with the crews?"
   The Ancient One smiled.  "We hung them in the rigging," The Ancient One answered, "pulled down their britches and gave the female