The Slave Dancer, By Paula Fox

Many thoughts crossed his mind, his family, himself, the people around him, and what mysterious journey lies ahead.
             The crew of the Moonlight consisted of thirteen members, including captain Cawthorne who didn't have a care in the world besides the money slaves would bring in, and his first mate spark who was in charge of keeping the crew in working order. The rest of the crew were uptight, work was what was on their minds, they would end every night on the ship with a bottle of rum and Jessie's fiddle play.
             The ship tossed and turned through the ocean every day. The only fears the crew had was spotting an enemy ship, the British, Spaniards, and other pirates. There would be days where other ships were spotted and the crew members would prepare for a battle but there never was one.
             Jessie's place on the ship still bothered his mind, his jobs were to clean parts of the ship and play music, still he knew he was brought for another reason. Jessie's jobs were also to tend to the crew members when called upon for duties. The name Bollweevil was the nickname that the captain and crew members had gave him. Whenever he made a slight mistake he would be beaten. Luckily Ben Stout was on the ship, he was one of the sailors who were actually friendly to Jessie, he watched out for Jessie's back and taught him to do things without making mistakes that would anger the other crew members.
             Weeks past, days gone by, sunset after sunset. Living on the ship made Jessie go on the brink of insanity but after a while he got use to the sea. He ate bread, occasionally with meat, pickled vegetables with some water and rum. One day Jessie was ordered to clean the lower deck of the ship and he noticed chains, shackles, for what he wondered but he did not want to question any of the crew members.
             Another few weeks gone by and Jessie had asked Stout why were they going to Africa and Stout told him they were going to buy slaves.