Captain Cawthorne keeps an assortment of clothing in the large chest in his cabin. The clothing is made from luxurious silks and laces. There are women's gowns, hats, shawls, seamen's trousers, and bolts of cloth.
The captain tells Jessie that the crew likes to use the clothing for a little entertainment now and then. For his part, Jessie doesn't know what to make of Captain Cawthorne's admission. He does what he is told, however, and drags the heavy chest out onto the deck of the ship.
Eventually, the slaves are herded onto the deck. They wait submissively for the captain's arrival. Upon his arrival, Captain Cawthorne orders the big chest to be opened. Then, he gives orders for the slaves to put on the clothes and to stage a play of some sort. Of course, this is an unreasonable command. The slaves are not prepared to put on a play for anyone's entertainment. Many of them are starving and in dire physical condition.
However, the crewmen carry out Captain Cawthorne's orders and force the slaves to dress up. Then, Jessie plays his fife. His purpose on the ship is to play so that the slaves can dance to the music. During the so-called celebration, the crewmen become quite drunk. In their drunkenness, they abuse the slaves.
Eventually, the impromptu party is halted by the appearance of a ship. Stout tells the captain that they are in no danger. However, Captain Cawthorne does not trust Stout's judgment. Eventually, the ship is revealed to be American in origin. Captain Cawthorne begins to panic. If slaves are found on his ship, he could be charged for illegal trafficking. So, Captain Cawthorne orders the slaves to be thrown overboard. The celebration is forgotten in the midst of this panic.
It's the last night before the slaves are to be picked up from the ship by the Spaniards and taken to Cuba to be sold. Stout suddenly appears and orders Jessie to go to Captain Cawthorne's cabin and fetch back a large chest. Jessie's understandably curious to know what's inside. The captain asks him to take a guess. Jessie thinks it might be rum; a creditable guess, but wrong. Brandy's another incorrect answer. In actual fact, the chest is full of clothes. And they're good clothes, too, the very finest of silks. Captain Cawthorne wants to stage a little entertainment for the slaves' last night on board. Only it won't be very entertaining for them at all. They'll be forced to put on the clothes, dance around, and generally be degraded for the amusement of the drunken, carousing crew.
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