chapter 19 `` i do not wish in the least to diminish your very just sense of accomplishment , captain , '' hammond said to laurence , looking out from the promontory at the two transports , flying british colors and supporting at present three and four dragons respectively : the rest being engaged in shepherding anxiously the boats which were ferrying over their recovered kindred , or bringing themselves the sacks of grain and dried salt beef which should sustain them over the six-week journey to the coast of africa : in a species of justice , perhaps , they would disembark at the ruins of lunda , that same port which had seen so many of them first pressed into bondage .