THE LOOK-OUT PARTY ON THE ISLAND--A SLAVE CARAVAN--UNWELCOME VISITORS--
THREE DHOWS CHASED--WRECK OF THE DHOWS--RESCUING THE SLAVES--DANGEROUS
POSITION OF THE PARTY ON SHORE--THE KROOMEN CROSS THE SURF WITH
SUPPLIES--TENDERNESS OF THE SAILORS TO THE SLAVES--"WASHING A BLACKAMOOR
WHITE."
As Jack was not perfectly satisfied with the anchorage near Harpy
Island, he proceeded farther north, to a spot which answered all his
requirements, off a lofty headland with a deep bay. On the northern
side of it lay a rocky island of considerable height, with trees
covering the larger portion. Here a line-of-battle ship might have
remained concealed from any vessels coming from the southward, till they
were within range of the ship's guns; so that she might, if necessary,
compel them to strike, without even getting under way. Farther north
the island assumed the low and barren appearance of that part of the
African coast, a region as inhospitable and unattractive as could well
be conceived. Within the bay was a smooth beach; farther on, the coast
was lined for some miles with threatening rocks, against which should
any unfortunate vessel be driven, she must quickly be dashed to pieces.
The _Gauntlet_, carefully feeling her way, came to an anchorage in the
bay. The second lieutenant was at once sent on shore, with a party of
men, to climb to the summit of the peak; no very easy task, as it turned
out. However, they got up at last, and the lieutenant on his return
reported that from the summit of the headland he had enjoyed a view over
fully thirty miles out to sea, and up and down the coast, so that in the
daytime no vessel could pass within that distance without being sighted.
Several dhows had been chased and boarded, but the evidence for their
condemnation had been insufficient, and with much reluctance Jack had to
let them go. Both he and all under his command would have liked to be
allowed to burn every dhow with a black man on board, but as such a
proceeding would have been illegal, they were compelled to restrain
their zeal. The _Gauntlet_ had again come to an anchor; an hour before
daybreak Tom and Desmond, with a party of men, had been despatched to
make their way to the top of the headland, that they might obtain as
extensive a view as possible over the ocean. As soon as the sun rose
above the horizon a ruddy glow suffused the sky. On reaching the rocky
height at which they were aiming, the rocks they saw around appeared as
if ready to topple down into the plain on the one side. On the other
were deep crevices, sufficient to contain a number of men; thus forming
a natural fortress which might be held by a small party against greatly
superior odds, while here and there shrubs jutted out from the hollows
in which soil, in the course of ages, had been deposited.
As, however, it did not appear likely that any foe would take the
trouble of climbing up to molest them, the midshipmen did not bother
themselves about the advantages of their position. They valued the
hollows rather as affording them at some period of the sun's course a
shelter from his rays, and enabling them to take a quiet snooze while
off watch. The summit of the cliff, however, on which they had to make
their signals to the ship, was perfectly exposed on all sides, and from
it they could take a view, not only over the ocean, but across a
considerable part of the country to the eastward.
"There's a sail," cried Tom, as he swept the wide expanse of water with
his telescope; "and there's another, and another. They're coming up
with a spanking breeze, and will try the old kettle's powers to get up
with them. Make the signal, Desmond; she must stir up her fires and get
under way pretty smartly, or they will have slipped by before she can
pounce down on them."
The signal was made, and in a short time a column of black smoke was
seen ascending from the funnel of the ship. Two of the boats were at
the island, with armed crews ready to pull off towards any dhows which
might come near enough to be overtaken. The boats had already seen the
signal from the headland, and were pulling out from under the lee of the
island. The dhows had not as yet, apparently, discovered that foes were
at hand. Out glided the steamer, her black smoke clearly indicating
what she was. Two of the inshore dhows quickly disappeared behind an
intervening point, almost as high as that on which Tom and his party
were posted. The boats, each selecting her prey, pulled away towards
two dhows nearest the island, while the ship steered towards three
others which were somewhat farther out and ahead of the rest.
The wind was strong; they were all carrying moderate sail, and as they
made no apparent effort to escape, it was supposed that they were legal
traders. Such for some time, apparently, was the commander's opinion,
as the ship's head was seen to be turning more to the southward towards
one of the other dhows. Just then a sail of one of the leading dhows
was seen to come down.
"She's carried something away," exclaimed Tom; "and the ship can easily
overhaul her."
"No, she hasn't," exclaimed Desmond; "see, she's only been shifting her
canvas;" and presently, in spite of the fresh breeze, an enormous sail
was spread in lieu of the smaller one. The other dhows followed her
example, and the ship was quickly in chase of them, setting, as she went
along, sail after sail; and as the broad sheets of white canvas were
expanded to the breeze, her speed was evidently increased.
"She's not got her full steam up yet," observed Desmond; "when she has,
she'll be after them like a shot."
"The shot must fly pretty fast then; see how they bowl along," cried
Tom; "look, two of them are edging in for the land, while the third
holds her course. The ship seems doubtful which she will follow. They
may be all rogues together; or the last may be honest, and only wishes
to lead her a wild-goose chase for the sake of favouring the others.
No; the commander has made up his mind that the last is no better than
the rest. See, he's determined to make her heave-to, at all events."
As Tom spoke, a puff of white smoke was seen to fly out from the bow of
the _Gauntlet_, and the faint sound of a gun reached their ears.
Another and another followed, forming curves in the air; the ship was
throwing shells over and around the nearest dhow to frighten her into
submission. For some time she stood on, when she too altered her course
to the westward; this was probably what Jack desired, because he might
thus hope to capture two or three vessels instead of one. Two other
guns were now discharging shot and shell from the port-bow.
"I wish I was on board," cried Tom; "surely one or other of the rascals
must be caught." It was doubtful, however, whether this would be the
case. One thing alone was clear, that all the three vessels had slaves
on board, or, rather than run the risk of being struck, they would
immediately have hauled down their sails. Tom now turned his attention
to the boats, which were still at some distance from the southernmost
dhows, and seemed likely to cut them both off. The other two had not
reappeared, but had probably found anchorage in a bay to the southward,
not supposing perhaps that they had been seen.
"Hurrah!" exclaimed Desmond, who had been watching the ship; "she's
brought down the sail of one of the rascals, and is firing away sharply
to prevent her rehoisting it."
Some few more minutes passed. "She's up to her," he cried; "see, she's
shortening sail, which will help to give the other fellows a better
chance of escaping; but she'll not be long about it."
Once more the sails were sheeted home, and the ship rushed forward after
her prey, the boat she had lowered appearing like a small speck on the
ocean, close to the dhow about to be boarded. The steamer was now in
hot chase after the other two dhows, still considerably ahead of her,
and making, apparently, for the shore, from which she was endeavouring
to turn them by a rapid discharge of shot and shell. The boat's crew
she had left behind were quickly in possession of the dhow, the Arabs,
as far as could be seen, having made no resistance.
"I thought the coast was rocky all the way to the north," observed Tom;
"if those dhows run on shore they will be knocked to pieces in no time,
and every human being on board them drowned."
"I heard the master say only yesterday that there were one or two sandy
beaches of no great extent some miles on, and I suppose the dhows are
making for them, though I shouldn't have thought they had got so far,"
answered Desmond; "I only hope the ship won't be knocking her nose on
the rocks in her eagerness to get hold of the fellows."
"No fear of that," said Tom; "my brother Jack is too careful to do so
bungling a thing; though he's ready enough to run every risk when
necessary. He wouldn't esteem your remark as a compliment."
"I don't doubt his judgment," said Desmond; "though if you are not on
board to give him the benefit of your advice, he may be after getting
into a scrape. But, I say, what are the other two boats about? I had
almost forgotten them."
Tom turned his telescope to the south-east, in which direction the white
bulging sails of the dhows could be seen shining brightly, as they
floated above the blue ocean; while the boats lay ahead of them, like
two crouching savage animals waiting for their prey. They were more
than a mile apart, so that they could render no assistance to each
other; but, apparently, they considered that would not be necessary, as
the Arabs, even if they had slaves on board, were not likely to offer
any resistance with a man-of-war in sight. There was no escape for
either of the dhows, for the surf broke upon every part of the coast
visible to the southward with a fury which must preclude all hope of
escape to any human being on board; and thus, if they intended to fight,
they must be prepared to conquer and run ahead of the ship while she was
engaged with her companions nearer the shore. Still, there was
sufficient probability of their doing so to make Desmond and Tom, with
all the men on the rock, watch the proceedings with intense interest.
On flew the dhows, their bulging sails swelling in the breeze, and the
white foam flying up under their low bows. Matson, the second
lieutenant, commanded one of the boats, and the senior mate the other.
The object of the dhows, since they could not avoid the boats, was to
try and give them the stem, but the English officers were not to be
caught so at a disadvantage. The second lieutenant's boat was nearest
in; as the dhow came dashing on, the lieutenant ran his boat alongside,
and he and his men, like ants, could be seen scrambling up over the
bulwarks. Some small tiny puffs showed that fighting was going on.
Then came a pretty considerable number, though the reports which reached
them sounded no louder than those of pop-guns. Tom declared that he
could see the flash of steel as the cutlasses glittered in the sunshine.
One thing was certain, that the British crew had gained the slaver's
deck--for that a slaver she was there could be no doubt.
Again puffs of smoke were seen, and the cutlasses flashed once more; and
then all was quiet. The midshipmen would have given anything to have
distinguished what was going forward on deck, but they could only make
out that the boat was alongside, and they could have little doubt that
their friends were victorious. Still the sail continued set, which was
a suspicious circumstance, but the dhow was scarcely yet sufficiently to
the northward to run in under the island. In the meantime the second
dhow had got up to the mate's boat; but she being still farther off, it
was difficult to see what was taking place. She had a gun in her bows,
which, as soon as the fighting began on board the first dhow, was fired
into her antagonist; then there came puffs of smoke from the latter, and
she was presently alongside; whether or not the English had got on
board, it was impossible for some time to ascertain. Desmond thought
that they were firing from the boat, while the Arabs were returning
their fire from the dhow. Whether or not such was the case, it ceased
on both sides.
"Our fellows have got on board, depend upon it," cried Tom; "and they're
making short work of it; the Arabs can never stand our fellows'
cutlasses."
The second dhow, like the first, continued her course; in about a
minute, down came her huge sail, making it evident that she was
captured, as the Arabs, if they had been successful, would have been in
a hurry to get away. The first dhow had now got sufficiently to the
northward to haul in for the anchorage, her helm was put down, and,
heeling fearfully over, she made her way towards it.
"Good heavens!" cried Tom; "what's happening to the other dhow?" He had
turned his glass but for a minute to look at the first, when, on again
glancing at the latter, her bows had disappeared, and her high stern was
just sinking beneath the surface. The boat was there, but it was
impossible to see who was on board. The party on the cliff were
therefore left in a state of intense anxiety as to the fate of their
shipmates. They could only picture to themselves numberless human
beings struggling for their lives, those in the boat employed in
endeavouring to pick them up. The lieutenant's party had too much to do
in keeping the Arabs under to go to their assistance; by the time they
could have arrived, indeed, all who had not been picked up by the boat
must have sunk for ever.
The first dhow was rapidly approaching the anchorage, and the boat,
hoisting her sail, soon afterwards followed her. At all events, it was
evident that their shipmates had been successful. The two midshipmen
were eager to go down and meet them, to hear what had happened, but they
had been ordered to remain on the cliff, and could not--without being
guilty of disobedience--leave their post; they had, therefore, to sit
quiet and curb their impatience, while they continued to keep a lookout
over the ocean.
Tom and Desmond now turned their glasses towards the ship. The dhow she
had captured lay with her sails lowered, waiting for her return, to be
towed up to the anchorage, while she herself was still seen afar off,
though at too remote a distance for her proceedings to be understood.
Against the wind, however, the dhow could do nothing, and was drifting
away to the northward. They were for the present, indeed, more
interested with the dhows taken by the lieutenant and the other boat.
Both appeared crowded with people, Arabs and blacks, besides the seamen
of the _Gauntlet_. The boat which had carried Tom and Gerald's party on
shore had returned to the ship, so that even could they have ventured to
leave their post, they would not have been able to get off to satisfy
their curiosity. According to the directions given, they continued
looking out to the southward for the approach of any other dhows,
although there was but little chance of their being stopped; as it was
very evident that neither of the boats were in a condition to put off in
chase of them. In a short time they saw that the boats were employed in
carrying the people from the dhow to the shore, but even before they
landed they were hidden from sight by the intervening rocks and trees.
From the frequent trips the boats had to make, they judged that the dhow
had contained a large number of slaves.
By the time the blacks had been landed, three of the dhows they had at
first seen had got almost up to the southern end of the island. "Why, I
do believe they are coming to bring up at our anchorage," observed Tom.
He was right; the headmost dhow, hauling her wind, stood close round to
the north of the point, as if well acquainted with the locality; and
although the dhow at anchor must have been seen by those on board, she
stood on past her without lowering her sail. She rounded to at some
distance farther in; as near, indeed, to the shore as it was safe to go.
The inside dhow followed her example, as did the third, and all three
lay close together, as if no enemy existed near them.
"They seem pretty bold fellows," observed Tom; "or else they confide in
their numbers. Supposing each carries thirty men, and I think I can
count as many on their decks, there must be ninety in all--rather heavy
odds against our boats' crews, who have, besides, their prisoners to
look after. I say, Desmond, suppose they land? we should be feeling
rather foolish."
"I don't think the lazy rascals would take the trouble to climb up
here," answered Desmond; "and if they do, we've got our revolvers, and
the men have their muskets and cutlasses, and we shall easily be able to
defend ourselves; but they probably are not unprovided with long guns;
though they may be only matchlocks or old muskets, they may contrive to
pick us off while they keep at a safe distance."
The state of affairs had indeed become serious. The midshipmen and
their party were completely cut off from receiving any assistance from
their shipmates on the island, who might indeed also not be in a
condition to afford it. In all probability, with the pretty severe
fights both boats had had, some of the men had suffered; still, if one
whole boat's crew could be mustered, Lieutenant Matson would scarcely
fail to try and capture the three dhows which had so audaciously entered
the lion's den. That he had not done so already made Tom and Desmond
not a little anxious; although the Arabs on board the dhows might not
have seen the boats or the people on shore when they first entered the
bay, they could not fail to do so where they now lay; yet, instead of
again weighing and standing on, which would have been their wisest
course, they remained as quiet as if no enemy was near.
The midshipmen's chief hope now was that the ship would quickly come
back and catch the three dhows before they again stood out to sea. They
expected every instant to catch sight of the boats pulling off to attack
the dhows. Neither appeared, and they at length began to fear that
either Lieutenant Matson or Collins the mate, or perhaps both of them,
had been killed or wounded; and that so many of the men had been hurt
that they were unable to make the attempt.
The day was drawing on. They had brought up a small keg of water and
some provisions, or they would by this time have been almost starved, as
under ordinary circumstances they would have been relieved at noon.
However, as Desmond observed, they had to "grin and bear it." Still,
not forgetful of their duty, they were keeping a look-out over the
ocean, when one of the men exclaimed, "We shall have more visitors than
we bargained for; see, Mr Rogers, here come a whole tribe of the
rascally Arabs; and if they find us out, we shall have a squeak for it."
Tom turned his glass in the direction to which the man pointed. "There
are Arabs, and not a few, but the greater number of the people are
blacks," he observed; "by the way they are walking, they must be slaves.
That accounts for the dhows bringing up here; I've no doubt it is a
caravan from the interior, and the poor wretches are being brought down
to be embarked. Had the ship remained here, all three would have been
set free as local traders. I fancy Mr Matson suspects something of the
sort, and is just waiting till they get their slaves on board to capture
them. Now I think of it, I heard him yesterday say that he had
discovered a deep bight at that end of the island, into which the boats
could be hauled and remain perfectly concealed. If that is the case,
the dhows have not seen them, and fancy that the people on shore, whom
they can't have failed to discover, have no means of getting off."
"Faith, I hope that's the case," observed Desmond; "for if those Arabs
who are coming this way were to find us out, they'd be after shooting at
us in a somewhat unpleasant manner."
Tom and the rest of the party could not help feeling that Desmond was
right. However, they determined to make the best of a bad case; and, as
they were tolerably well posted, to defend themselves against all odds.
In their exposed position there could be no doubt that they had already
been seen, so that they could not hope to conceal themselves, which
might have been their wisest course. Tom, therefore, ordered his men to
fire off two muskets to attract the attention of the party on the
island, trusting that they would, as soon as they saw the Arabs, push
off to their assistance.
No answering signal, however, being made, the midshipmen began to have
serious misgivings as to what had happened. "Well, my lads," cried Tom,
addressing the four seamen who had accompanied him and Desmond, "we'll
make the best of a bad case, and hold out as long as our ammunition
lasts and we've got strength to hold our swords and cutlasses."
"Ay, ay, sir--no fear about that," was the answer; "the brown-skinned
beggars won't be in a hurry to climb up here; and if they do, we'll
tumble them back again faster than they came."
That their men would prove staunch, the midshipmen had no fear; still it
would be very provoking to see the Arabs embarking the slaves, and not
be able to stop them. It would, however, be the height of madness to
venture down from their post; for the slave-traders, being all well
armed, would, to a certainty, overpower them with numbers, and, however
they might have acted alone, were not likely to abandon their prey when
on the point of receiving payment from the purchasers in the dhows. The
Arabs, who had just approached cautiously, on discovering how small was
their party, looked up at them, making threatening gestures, and
uttering loud shouts and cries. The poor slaves, apparently, could not
understand the matter, and marched on with their heads cast down, many
of them pictures of wretchedness and despair. There were women, some
with infants in their arms, others leading little children by the hand;
a large number appeared to be girls of all ages, who walked together,
with scanty garments, but unencumbered by the loads which were carried
by most of the rest. Then came a gang of boys, many of whom limped
sadly, as their drivers compelled them to move forward at the point of
their spears.
Some few old men were among them, who were tottering under loads too
heavy for their frail limbs to bear; and then came a numerous body of
men, secured two and two by heavy poles, with their necks bolted into
forks, one at either end of the pole. Some trod the earth boldly;
others tottered at every step, trying to exert themselves to avoid prods
from the points of the spears with which their drivers were constantly
threatening them. Such had, too probably, been their mode of journeying
for many weary miles of desert, since they had fallen into the hands of
their persecutors.
"I wonder how many of those poor wretches have sunk down and died on the
road?" observed Tom; "or been knocked on the head by those wretched
Arabs?"
"Faith, it makes one's blood boil!" cried Desmond; "in spite of all
odds, I should like to pounce down upon them, and set the poor negroes
free." The men expressed themselves much in the same strain, and would
very willingly have followed the midshipmen, had they acted according to
their wishes; but both knew that they had no business to leave their
post, even had there been any probability of success.
Boats now came off from the dhows, and the business of transporting the
slaves on board commenced; while an armed party of Arabs was drawn up
near the foot of the cape, to prevent any attempt which might be made by
the British seamen to interfere with their proceedings. Nearly all the
slaves had been got on board, when the Arabs, no longer being engaged in
guarding them, began to show evident signs that their intentions were
hostile. Presently a personage of more importance, probably the chief
slave-dealer, arrived, with several additional armed attendants. The
midshipmen saw the other Arabs pointing them out to him. A consultation
which was then held resulted, apparently, in a resolution to attack
them. Shouts and cries of hatred arose from the assembled Arabs, who,
flourishing their weapons, advanced towards the hill, evidently with the
intention of climbing it.
We must leave the midshipmen in their perilous predicament, and follow
the _Gauntlet_, which, having captured one of the dhows, of which she
was in chase as has been described, stood after the other two. They
were both fleet vessels, and, with their enormous sails filled to
bursting, seemed to glide over the surface like those winged creatures
which may be seen in summer skimming across the surface of a pool. The
boilers were heated to the utmost, and with sail and screw the ship
dashed forward in chase.
The nearest dhow was the first to haul in for the shore, while the other
continued her course, hoping to escape. "The first bird is already
ours," observed Jack to Higson; "she'll not venture to run her stem on
the rocks, and if we attempt further to interfere with her, we shall
lose the second. If she ventures to run out to sea, we shall have time
to settle with the one ahead, and catch her into the bargain."
The dhow spoken of was continuing her course towards the shore, with the
intention, it was supposed, of anchoring, and waiting till she could
again make sail, and run out to sea before the ship had settled with her
consort. The _Gauntlet_ stood on as before, though she was gaining
little, if anything, on the fast-sailing dhow; still, one of the shot or
shell she was firing might carry away a mast or tear the sail in pieces;
and Jack, trusting to that chance, hoped to capture her at last.
A stern chase is a long chase, under most circumstances, and the Arabs
probably thought that they might possibly keep ahead till nightfall, and
escape during the darkness. She was a large vessel, and she might have
three or four hundred slaves on board, and was on every account,
therefore, worth catching. On she went for several miles, the
_Gauntlet_ inch by inch at length gaining on her. Two shot had already
passed through her sail, and a shell had burst so near that possibly
some of her crew might have been hit. Gradually she was edging towards
the shore, where a sandy beach could be discovered from the ship. It
was of no great extent, as there were rocks at either end; but if the
dhow could reach it, she might be run on shore, and the blacks landed
before the boats could reach her to prevent them. To stop her from
doing this was impossible, unless a happy shot should carry away her
mast or yard.
Nearer and nearer she drew to the beach, on which a heavy surf was
breaking. "The fellows will drown themselves if they attempt to land
there," said Jack.
"I'm not so certain of that," answered Higson; "a certain percentage may
be lost, but the Arabs will care nothing about that, provided they can
get the greater number on shore; and as they themselves swim like
fishes, they have no fear of losing their own lives."
The dhow heeled over to the breeze, but still kept her large sail
standing; there was no longer any doubt that the Arabs had resolved to
beach her. "Give her a shot," cried Jack, "right over her; it may show
them that even if they do reach the shore, they have no chance of
escaping from us." A shot was fired; another and another followed,
flying over the dhow's sail and pitching into the beach, towards which
she was rushing to her destruction. Should she strike it, could any of
the human beings on board escape? The surf was rolling in heavily, and
breaking with continued roar on the sand; rushing far up, and then
receding with still greater rapidity. Notwithstanding this, the Arabs,
maddened at the thoughts of capture, stood desperately on; they
themselves might escape, and what mattered to them the lives of their
wretched captives? should a few be rescued, it would be better than
letting the whole fall into the hands of the hated white men. The
miserable blacks had no choice between a speedy death or a lingering
captivity. The foam-topped breakers were dancing up on either side of
the devoted vessel; through them she rushed, and the next instant, by
the fearful heave she gave, it was seen that she had struck.
Every glass was turned towards her as the ship stood on, keeping the
lead going, till, the water shallowing, she must come to an anchor. A
minute scarcely had elapsed after the dhow struck, when a black stream
was seen issuing from beneath her, some moving figures on shore in
coloured dresses showing that the Arabs had first escaped. But of what
does that string consist? Of hundreds of human beings, men, women, and
children, who had, when the vessel struck, been set free by their
owners.
Now one breaker, now another, burst down upon them, and carried some of
the dark string away. Their ranks were quickly filled up, and on the
string went. It seemed never-ending, as the blacks in the hold,
scrambling up on deck, threw themselves overboard to join those who had
already reached the shore.
"They must be stopped, at all events," cried Jack; "if they attempt to
cross the desert they will be starved to death, or fall into the hands
of the murderous Saumalis."
Notwithstanding the heaviness of the surf, it was soon seen that a large
number of blacks had reached the shore. At first they assembled in
groups; but now, as they looked towards the ship, terrified by the tales
their Arab captors had told them of the white men's cannibal
propensities, they began to fly, as fast as their cramped limbs would
allow them, in parties towards the interior.
"They will escape to their certain destruction, if they are not
frightened back," said Jack; "keep the guns playing; fire another shot
ahead of them, it will stop them from going off in the direction they
are taking."
Several shot were fired over the heads of the fugitives, each column
being turned as the wretched beings saw the sand thrown up just before
them, and believed that destruction would await them if they took that
direction; it was, however, only to try and escape in another. In the
meantime, the instant the steamer had stopped her way, three boats had
been lowered, and, impelled by their hardy crews, regardless of the
danger run, were making their way towards the dhow. Two boldly pushed
through the surf, while the third brought up just outside the breakers,
ready to receive any of the slaves who might be caught. Archie Gordon
was in one, with the second master; the boatswain was in another, with
Hamed, the interpreter; while Higson took command of the large boat.
Jack watched them with no little anxiety, for the expedition was a
hazardous one. The guns continued firing away, now by their shot or
shell checking the advance of the fugitives in one direction, now in
another. Still, in spite of the shot, the Arabs kept urging on the
slaves, and, making them scatter far and wide, induced them to continue
their flight. The two boats, at some little distance apart, entered the
breakers, and almost immediately were seen to have reached the shore,
while Mr Large remained by the boats with three hands to look after
them.
The rest of the party, led by Archie and Hamed, set off in pursuit of
the fugitives. Strong and active, they quickly overtook a large party
of the blacks; and Hamed, as was seen by his gestures, was addressing
them, probably telling them of their folly in being alarmed, and
advising them to return to the shore.
As the crews had landed, the boats had been hauled off by their crews
from the beach. Presently Mr Large was seen hauling one of them up on
the beach, and, having done so, he hastened away towards the second; but
before he arrived, she was observed in the midst of the breakers, the
next instant to be cast a shattered wreck on the beach. He and the two
men with him twice rushed down into the surf, the second time with
another man who had joined them; again and again they made the same
desperate rush into the boiling waters--the life of a fellow-creature
depended upon their success. The last rush they made they were
successful, and a human form was soon dragged out of the water; but he
did not rise to his feet. Carrying him up some little distance, they
laid him on the sand, bending over him; then, rising and casting a
lingering glance behind them, hurried on to meet a party of blacks who,
escorted by some of their shipmates, were approaching the beach.
The Arabs and fugitive slaves had, in the meantime, disappeared over the
sandhills, with the seamen still in hot pursuit, enjoying the chase,
shouting to each other, and turning here and there as they caught sight
of the larger party of blacks ahead, whom they were striving desperately
to overtake. Sometimes one, in his his eagerness, would tumble over on
his nose, but quickly picked himself up again. Now an unfortunate black
was overtaken, and seized by the arm,--for collar he had none to catch
hold of,--down he would fall on his knees, imploring his captor not to
murder him, when the sailor would pat him on the head and try to make
him understand that his intentions were friendly.
Hamed, with his robes girded round him, was as active as anyone,
shouting to the blacks that no harm was meant them, and that the sailors
only wished to prevent them from being carried off into the desert to
perish miserably. His exhortations, and the seamen's activity, resulted
in the capture of fifty or sixty blacks, who were brought in from all
directions; but still some of the seamen continued the pursuit, and
Jack, fearing that they might be carried by their ardour too far, fired
a gun and hoisted a signal for their return to the beach. Fortunately
the signal was seen by Archie, and the stragglers returned, most of them
leading one or more blacks, some with children in their arms, one or two
trotting along with a child under each arm, generally squalling and
crying like a couple of sucking pigs.
It took some time before the whole of the party were collected on the
beach. It was then seen that they were making arrangements for coming
off. Jack felt considerable anxiety about the matter; the surf had
greatly increased since they went on shore, and even then one of the
boats had been lost. Now all depended upon one boat, which must of
necessity be heavily laden. He was not quite at his ease, however, with
regard to the ship; she was much closer inshore than any sailing vessel
would have ventured. Though he knew that the screw would enable him
quickly to gain an offing, he had not as yet that thorough confidence in
its powers which long experience could give. Nearly all his officers,
and a large portion of his crew also, were away; indeed, he had never
before been so short-handed. However, nothing could be gained by delay.
He made a signal for the boat to come off as soon as possible, a line
being carried from the first lieutenant's boat outside the surf to the
shore, and by its means the small boat was to be hauled through the
breakers.
First a portion of the blacks were placed in her, when, the boatswain
taking his seat in the stern, with four hands to pull, she, with her
living freight, was shoved off. Now she rose to the top of a sea which
rolled in, and now she sank into the hollow between that and the
following sea, which so completely hid her from sight, that it appeared
as if she had gone down. Jack heard one of the youngsters crying out,
"She's lost, she's lost!"--but no; once more her bow emerged amidst the
foaming waters, and on she came towards Higson's boat, his crew hauling
away manfully at the tow-line.
Jack breathed more freely when he saw her alongside, and the blacks
being transferred to the large boat. The instant they were out of her,
she made her way once more to the shore. A second cargo was now
embarked, and the process was repeated, happily without any accident.
"She must make two more trips before they are all off," said Jack to the
surgeon, who was standing near him.
The third was accomplished as safely as the other two. "The rest will
have no difficulty in embarking, I hope," observed the surgeon.
"The sea has been rapidly getting up," replied Jack; "I wish that they
were all safe on board." The fourth and last trip was about to be made;
even the ship was much less steady than at first. As he took a glance
to the eastward, he observed that the foam-crested seas which rolled in
had increased in height. Every man on shore had embarked, and Higson's
crew now began to haul in on the line. As they were doing so, a huge
sea which came rushing on struck the boat, sending many a bucketful into
her, and then, with a thundering roar, hissing as it went rolling on,
caught the smaller boat, which had by that time performed half of her
passage. Down it came upon her; the next instant the men at the warp
were seen to come toppling down backwards--the rope had parted.
For an instant the boat had disappeared; the next, she was seen rolled
over in the surf, while those who had been in her were struggling
desperately to regain the shore. Jack felt more anxious than he had
ever before been in his life; fortunately, four of the Kroomen had gone
away in the boats. Numerous heads were seen amid the seething waters;
now one emerged, and now another, as the beach was gained, while the
gallant Kroomen, with the best swimmers of the party, went darting here
and there to assist their shipmates or the drowning blacks.
All eyes in the ship were fixed on them. By degrees they emerged from
the breakers, and Jack was in hopes that all had escaped, when he
observed three of the Kroomen and two of the sailors plunge once more
into the foaming waters. They returned dragging a body with them; then
they went in and brought out another and another. One of these, by his
dress, was seen to be a seamen, and the rest were blacks.
Then the party rushed down to save their boat, which was hurled on the
beach; but their efforts to preserve her were in vain. Down she came
with a thundering crash, those in the water narrowly escaping being
crushed by her. Getting hold of her they dragged her up, and were seen
standing round her. It was, however, very evident that her bow had been
crushed in, so as to render her unfit again to be launched.
Higson, on coming on deck, expressed his fears that some of their
shipmates had lost their lives in addition to the poor fellow who was
first drowned. Fifty blacks had been rescued; as many more possibly had
been drowned, with numerous children whose bodies had been seen floating
about, while many had been dragged off, to undergo fearful sufferings,
if not a cruel death, by the slaver's crew.
How to rescue the party on shore was now the question; two boats having
now been lost, and three others being away, only the dingy and a canoe
remained for use. Their situation on shore seemed dangerous in the
extreme; all the arms they had carried had been lost, and should the
Arabs discover their defenceless condition, they would certainly not
lose the opportunity of avenging themselves. Still, by no ordinary
means could they be got off. Jack bethought him of consulting Tom
Kettle, who, coming aft, touched his hat.
"Billy Saucepan and I, we do it, sir. We go on shore in the canoe, and
carry whatever you wish to send," answered Tom.
"I am sure you will," said Jack; "we must send them some arms and
ammunition, a keg of water and some provisions, though it will not do to
overload the canoe."
"We take four muskets and whatever you order to send, they not sink the
canoe," replied Tom Kettle.
Jack directed that the arms should be wrapped in oil-cloth, and that
they, with the keg and a small cask containing a few eatables for the
party, should be secured in the bottom of the canoe; so that, should she
be capsized, they might not get washed out or be damaged. Going below,
he also wrote a letter to Archie, directing him to fire off three
muskets should the Kroomen reach the shore in safety.
"All ready, sir," said the head Krooman; "we get there, never fear."
The canoe was lowered, and Tom and his companion shoved off. Away they
dashed, energetically working their paddles. The canoe was seen to
enter the surf. Jack was too anxious to speak.
"They'll do it," cried the doctor; but he was mistaken. The canoe
dashed into the surf, and the next instant appeared bottom uppermost,
rolling over and over. "The fine fellows are lost!" he exclaimed. A
time of anxious suspense passed by; now the canoe could be seen in the
surf, now she disappeared; but the gallant Kroomen could not be
discovered, though many an eye was looking out for them.
Jack took a hurried turn on deck, considering what was next to be done.
Higson proposed once more going in the large boat, and sending a line on
shore, so as to tow the people singly off. "They would be drowned
before they got half-way," said Jack.
"I fear they would," answered Higson; "and the dingy would never live in
such a sea, even with only one man in her."
Jack feared that he should have to remain till the next morning, but in
the meantime he would certainly lose the other dhow which had been seen
close inshore, while it was important to get hold of the first captured
before dark, and to carry her to an anchorage. While he and Higson were
discussing the subject, their ears were saluted by the report of three
muskets, fired in rapid succession. "Tom and his mate are safe, at all
events," he exclaimed; "and the best thing the party can do is now to
make their way overland to the bay. Having got arms, they will be able
to beat off any Arabs who may venture to attack them."
The proper signal was accordingly made to Archie, who showed that he
understood it by waving a handkerchief; and the whole party were seen at
once to put themselves into marching order, when they began moving to
the southward along the shore. The anchor was then weighed, and the
ship stood towards the spot where the dhow she had before chased was
last seen. The slaver, which had some time before hoisted her sail, was
seen standing to the eastward; but suddenly down came the sail.
"She's given in, finding it useless to attempt escaping," remarked the
doctor.
"I'm not so sure of that," said Higson. "See, up goes her canvas again;
there, she's standing for the shore on the other tack."
All hopes of cutting her off were vain; the ship dashed on, head to
wind, while the dhow bounded towards the rocky coast. "The madmen!"
cried Jack; "she'll be dashed to pieces in a few minutes. Throw a shell
ahead of her, it may induce the Arabs to haul down their sail."
The missile flew over the doomed vessel, but still she held on towards
the coast. "Try and hit her," he cried out; "it may be better to sink
her where our boats can pick up some of the poor wretches, than allow
them to be dashed to pieces on those cruel rocks--fire shot." Gun after
gun sent their shot at the dhow; but the range was a long one, and
tossed as she was from sea to sea, while the ship herself was far from
steady, they flew ahead of their mark. Jack had a hard matter not to
stamp on the deck from rage at the conduct of the Arabs, and pity for
the poor creatures they were thus carrying to destruction. Nothing he
could do would make the ship steam faster, nor could he blame the
gunners for not taking better aim.
"Cease firing," he cried at last; "it is of no use now, as the dhow is
within a cable's length of the breakers." The dhow flew on with her
huge sail stretched to the utmost, and already heeling over fearfully.
It seemed that the water must be rushing into her hold.
"There is a narrow opening between the rocks," exclaimed Higson; "the
dhow has been making for that." Scarcely had he spoken when she was in
the midst of the breakers. They roared around her, and the next moment
she was hurled up towards the beach, her huge sail flying away to
leeward, and flapping wildly in the wind. It seemed impossible that any
human being could escape from amid that furious mass of foam, except the
strongest of swimmers; but notwithstanding this, ere another minute had
passed, a black line was seen here and there, like some enormous
serpent, crawling over the yellow sand from the dark wreck, the Arabs
being distinguished by their coloured dresses as they made their way on
shore. Onward went the miserable blacks, the line becoming thinner and
thinner; still the headmost were flying, when an enormous sea, dashing
on the shore, enfolded the stranded dhow in its embrace. Even the
escaping blacks halted to gaze at the spectacle, as the despairing
shrieks of their wretched countrymen reached their ears; while the dhow,
shattered to fragments, was carried off with all those remaining on
board by the receding billows.
The blacks stopped but a few moments, and then, terrorstricken, fled on
into the desert, there in all probability to perish miserably. "This is
terrible work!" exclaimed Jack. "Had we allowed the dhow to pass,
though those poor creatures might have been kept for ever as slaves,
they might have retained their lives, it may be, and bettered their
condition; but it was our duty to destroy the dhow at all events. Do
you think it possible that any can have escaped, Higson?"
This question was put as the ship neared the scene of the catastrophe.
"Not likely," answered the first lieutenant; "but we can but look for
them." The ship's way was stopped, and a boat being lowered pulled
towards the shore. Here and there a few fragments of the wreck were
seen, but not a human being could be distinguished. After examining the
rocks on either side, of the spot where the dhow went on shore, Higson
returned to the ship; the boat was hoisted up, and a course steered for
the dhow which had at first been captured.
Jack had been looking out for the shore party; he saw them, as he
believed, still farther to the northward, making their way over the
sand. "A dreary march they'll have of it," he observed to Higson; "but
with the firearms they possess they will be able, I hope, to keep the
Arabs at bay, should any of the rascals take it into their heads to
attack them."
"It is fortunate that Hamed is with them, as he may be able to
communicate with any natives they may fall in with, and obtain them as
guides over the hills," said Higson.
"I would rather they should not fall in with any natives, who are more
likely to prove treacherous than to afford them assistance," answered
Jack. The attention of the officers was now, however, engaged in
looking out for the dhow; evening was approaching, and it was important
that they should pick her up before dark.
"There she is, right ahead," cried the look-out from aloft. With her
sail lowered she presented but a small object on the water.
The ship soon neared her; the officer in charge replied to Jack's hail,
"All's right, sir; but I hope that the blacks may be received on board;
for if you take us in tow, I doubt if the craft will hold together."
"The sooner they are out of her the better," answered Jack. The dhow
was accordingly brought alongside, and now began the task of removing
the unhappy beings to the ship. The men eagerly came forward to assist
in carrying the weak and helpless creatures up from the hold of the
slaver, the horrible odour from which was sufficient to overcome the
most hardy. So weak and emaciated from their long confinement, and
their still more dreadful overland journey, were most of the negroes,
that the greater number could not walk without assistance, and were
carried on deck in the strong arms of the seamen. With the greatest
tenderness and care did those gallant fellows carry their helpless
burdens, notwithstanding the mass of filth with which they were covered,
in consequence of their long imprisonment in the pestilential hold.
There were nearly a dozen infants on board; the mothers of some of them
being too weak to carry them, they were lifted up by the seamen, who
tenderly bore them along the deck, chirruping and talking to them as
they would have done to their own offspring. Though two or three were
sickly, and one was found dead in its mother's arms, yet they had
suffered less than the somewhat older children, who had been unable to
obtain their share in the scramble for food, which, from the mode the
Arabs had of distributing it, must have taken place; the more helpless
ones went without it, while the stronger got a double portion.
There were nearly a hundred and fifty children under ten years of age.
Some were in the very last stage of suffering, and were mere skeletons.
There were comparatively few middle-aged men, showing that they must
have either fallen in battle, or escaped the raids made on their
villages by the slave-procurers. Some, again, were old women, who
would, it might be supposed, from their very worthlessness, have been
allowed to remain behind by their barbarous captors.
"The poor old crones would not have fetched half a dollar apiece,"
observed Higson; "had these rascals any bowels of compassion, they would
have spared them all the sufferings they've had to endure; but for the
sake of the few dollars they may pocket, they would not mind what amount
of torture they inflict. I wish we had liberty to string up the whole
lot of them at our yard-arms, they would only get their proper deserts."
Some time was spent before the dhow was cleared. Her Arab skipper and
crew were then placed on the poop, as they came, sulkily enough, on
board. They were received by the ship's corporal and corporal of
marines with no very friendly looks, and were compelled pretty roughly
to strip, in order that they might be searched for arms and money.
While they took charge of the former articles, the latter commodity was
handed to the paymaster. On their clothes being returned, they were
sent on to the poop under charge of a sentry, to await their fate,
whatever that might be.
"Are all out of the dhow?" asked Higson of the carpenter and his crew,
who had been sent on board her.
"I'll take one look more round," was the answer; and a lantern being
handed to him, he descended with some of his men into the hold. They
presently returned carrying three human beings, but what they were it
was difficult to say, till they were handed up on board. One proved to
be an old woman, who could scarcely open her eyes; the other two were
lads, who had been found almost buried in the sand which served as
ballast for the vessel. They were placed among the other worst cases,
of whom the doctor expressed his belief that several were past recovery.
The younger and best-looking young women, as being the most profitable
part of the cargo, had been better cared for than any of the rest, while
the men and boys had been almost starved, the object of the Arabs being
to expend as little on food for them as possible.
"The dhow is clear, sir," reported the carpenter.
"Scuttle her," said Jack, "and set her on fire. The Arabs shall see
that we don't take them for the sake of their craft; it may serve as a
slight punishment for them to see her burning."
With infinite satisfaction the carpenter and his crew distributed some
bundles of oakum and shavings in different parts of the vessel, and,
setting them on fire, quickly climbed out of her, when Jack shouted,
"Turn ahead!" and the _Gauntlet_ steamed on, leaving the dhow enveloped
in flames. The whole operation was so speedily performed that the Arabs
opened their eyes with astonishment. Most of them took it, however,
quietly enough; but the negoda, to whom the vessel belonged, plucked his
beard with rage as he saw his property destroyed.
"Serve him right," was the remark made by not a few of those on board,
though the greater number were too actively employed to notice what had
occurred. Their first business was to clear the unfortunate creatures
from the filth with which they were literally covered from head to foot.
Warm water and sponges and towels were brought from below to perform
the operation on those who were too weak to bear any more severe
process; while the larger number were placed under the steam hose, which
was set to work pumping water over them, the seamen turning them round,
and exposing those parts of their bodies to which the dirt clung the
thickest.
"Well, if we can't make a blackamoor white, we can wash him clean, at
all events," remarked Nat Bolus, the wag of the crew; "though I don't
think as how we could have done it without the help of this here steam."
Even the stronger ones were handled kindly, but the poor weak creatures,
who could scarcely lift their arms, were treated with such gentleness by
the rough seamen as any trained hospital nurses could have used. Their
dirty rags, on being removed, were immediately thrown overboard as
utterly unfit for further use. In the meantime, the cook had been busy
in the galley boiling beans and rice, some of which had been found in
the dhow, though the ship had a quantity for such emergencies. The next
operation was to clothe the poor blacks, for which purpose both officers
and men ransacked their wardrobes. Sheets, tablecloths, towels,
bed-curtains, shirts, and flannels, were willingly brought forth and put
over their naked bodies as they came out from under the hose.
By the time they were all washed, the cook announced that the food was
ready, and they were made to sit down in circles of twenty on the deck,
when the men told off for the purpose carried round the bowls, which
were placed in the centre of each ring. The degraded state to which
they had been reduced was now more fully exhibited, for, instead of
gratefully receiving the food, they rushed at it much as a pack of
hungry dogs would have done, scratching, crying, and striking at each
other, for fear that their neighbours might get a larger share than
themselves. It was humiliating to the lookers-on to see beings with
immortal souls thus acting the part of wild beasts; and yet these very
beings were capable of receiving the truths of the gospel, and it might
be hoped that even now many might have the opportunity of being raised
to a state much superior to that from which they had fallen.
In spite of the exhortations of the seamen to the poor creatures to be
quiet, they continued their shrieks and cries, each thrusting his or her
hand into the dish to seize as large a portion as it would hold, and
then to cram it into the mouth much after the fashion of a monkey.
Indeed, as Nat Bolus remarked, "they looked for all the world like an
assemblage of huge baboons."
The smaller children, who were too weak to feed themselves, were
committed to the care of the seamen; and a dozen or more hardy tars were
to be seen with basins and spoons in their hands, and little children on
their knees, ladling the food down their throats, till the doctor had to
interfere to save the infants from being killed from repletion. The
worst cases had been removed to the sick-bay, where every care was
bestowed on them both by the surgeon and officers, who produced
preserved milk, wine and spirits, and various delicacies which might
assist in restoring almost exhausted nature. Many were too far gone to
exhibit any feeling, their only desire apparently being to be allowed to
die in peace; but others endeavoured to express their gratitude by all
the means in their power, though, as Hamed was on shore, they had no
means of doing so in words.
The great difficulty was to stow away so large a number of persons on
the deck of the ship. Of course they could not be allowed to go below,
where the crew were already somewhat closely packed for that hot
climate. The poor creatures were made to lie down side by side, and
sails being got up were spread over them, while screens were rigged to
keep off the wind, and an awning stretched over all. Here, at all
events, they had fresh air, and were tolerably protected from the
weather. Even now many, it appeared, did not understand that all was
being done for their benefit; while a large number, their limbs aching
with pain, gave utterance to the most lamentable groans and shrieks,
which were heard all night long throughout the ship, as she made her way
to her former anchorage.
This was only one of many similar scenes which Jack witnessed while
engaged in the suppression of the slave-trade.