THE LOOK-OUT PARTY ATTACKED--REPULSE AND FLIGHT OF THE ARABS--SECURING
THE PRISONERS--A NIGHT ON THE BEACH--REJOIN THE SHIP--BURNING OF THE
DHOW--ARABS ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE TO THE MAINLAND, BUT FALL VICTIMS TO
SHARKS--ENCOUNTER WITH ANOTHER SLAVE CARAVAN--RETURN TO THE SHIP.
Tom Rogers and Gerald had watched the approach of the Arab slave-dealers
to the foot of the hill.
"You may howl as you like, my boys," cried Gerald, "but if you attempt
to climb up here, you will be sent tumbling down again faster than you
came up." Tom, meantime, was keeping an eye on the movements of the
Arabs, and the moment he saw them lift their matchlocks, he shouted to
his men to jump down into one of the hollows, he himself setting the
example; so that the bullets either flew over their heads, or struck the
rocks behind which they were concealed.
"The rascals think they've blown us off the face of the earth," said
Tom, who had found a spot with a bush through which he could thrust his
telescope and yet remain perfectly sheltered behind the rock; "they're
looking about them, wondering where we've gone to. If we had but a few
more muskets, we could pick off every one of them."
Still the Arabs showed no inclination to climb the face of the hill.
Had the midshipmen and their party remained concealed, possibly the
slave-dealers might have taken their departure inland; but Gerald,
forgetting the danger they were in, could not resist jumping up on the
top of the rock, and shouting out in a tone of derision at their foes.
Tom, seeing the Arabs about to take aim at him, pulled him down just at
the moment that a whole volley of shot came whizzing through the air.
"You may fire away as much as you like," cried Desmond, "but you won't
hurt us."
Though it would have given the Arabs infinite satisfaction to cut the
throats of the whole of the party, they still hesitated to run the risk
of being shot themselves at close quarters, probably supposing that the
English were better armed than was the case. Tom watched all their
movements through his glass. At length the chief of the slave-dealers,
who had gone off to the dhows, returned on shore with several
companions. Tom saw the others apparently telling him what had
occurred. He appeared to be addressing them and working them up to
mount the hill, then, waving his crooked sword, he led them on towards
the only path by which they could ascend, they following, shouting and
shrieking out vows of defiance.
"They're coming," cried Gerald; "there's no mistake about it this time."
"Well, then, you take one pistol and I'll take another," said Tom, "and
as they get near enough we must pick off the leaders. Tim Nolan and the
other fellows must manage the rest, after they have fired their muskets,
with their cutlasses; and I've no fear but we shall give a very good
account of the whole party." Tom directed the men where to post
themselves, so that they could remain concealed behind the rocks till it
was time to spring out and meet the enemy hand to hand.
"That chief, or whatever he calls himself, seems a bold fellow,"
observed Tom, "for he keeps ahead and seems to be encouraging his
followers, who wouldn't, without him, have had any stomach for the
fight. We must do our best to try and pick him off, and if we can
manage to give him his quietus, the rest will very quickly run away."
The path made by the signal party was so narrow that there was not room
for two people abreast; some little way down, however, there was a sort
of platform, on which a considerable number could collect together. "If
we could stop them before they get up there," observed Tom, "we should
have only one at a time to handle, whereas if they manage to assemble at
that place, they might pepper us in an unpleasant manner."
"I'm ready," cried Desmond; "if you'll give the word, we'll all spring
out together and stop them before they reach it." Desmond told the men
what Rogers proposed doing; they, of course, were ready to obey him,
though it might have been safer to remain where they were. Still it was
important that they should conceal themselves till the last moment. The
leading Arab, with his sword in his teeth, was only about a couple of
yards or so below the platform.
"Let fly at the fellows," cried Tom. The men fired their muskets.
"Now, lads, we'll be at them," shouted their young leader, and,
springing up, he bounded over the rock, followed by Desmond and the four
men, just in time to catch the leading Arab as his hand was on the edge
of the platform. With a down-handed cut of his sword, Tom sent the Arab
falling headlong down the cliff. The next met with the same fate, but
the chief, who had allowed the other two to precede him, shouted to his
followers to fire at the Englishmen. The order was obeyed, and a shower
of bullets came whizzing by them. Tom, in return, fired at their
leader, and, without stopping to see the effect of his shot, shouted to
his men to fall back under cover before a second volley could reach
them. Scarcely had they got under shelter when the Arabs again fired.
He saw that his former manoeuvre would not be again executed with the
same success.
The death of two of their companions appeared to have damped the ardour
of the Arabs, who remained perched about the rocks, waiting for an
opportunity to pick off any of the defenders of the height who might
venture to show themselves. This, however, neither Tom nor his
companions intended doing. Tom had recovered his glass, which he had
left behind, and had taken a glance over the ocean to the northward in
the hopes of seeing the ship, believing that her appearance would very
quickly induce the Arabs to hurry off. She was nowhere to be seen,
though he caught sight of several dhows running to the northward.
While thus engaged, the voice of the old chief was again heard, and
though they could not understand his language, yet they judged from his
tones that he was endeavouring to induce his countrymen to renew the
attack. "It can't be helped," observed Tom calmly; "if they attempt to
storm our position we must drive them back. Our wisest plan will be to
keep under shelter as long as we can, and then to spring out on them as
soon as they get their noses near enough."
"Ay, ay, sir!" cried the men in cheerful tones; "we'll soon give them a
taste of our cutlasses, and they'll not wish to have a second bite."
Tom's suspicions were confirmed, when in another minute a hot fire was
again opened, the bullets just clearing the edge of the platform; and
directly afterwards the chief and several of his followers sprang up
upon it. Once having gained possession of the ground, it was easy
enough for the rest. Matters were now becoming far more serious than
before. From another opening in the rock, Tom, although still concealed
from the Arabs, was able to look down upon the anchorage. "Hurrah!" he
exclaimed; "Mr Matson has not been asleep; there comes the boat from
the island, and if the slavers are not sharp about getting under way,
she'll have the whole of them; but one or two are pretty sure to be
caught."
As he spoke, the report of a gun was heard, and it was seen that the
boat, as she pulled towards the slavers, was firing at them from her
bow. The Arabs on the hillside, startled by the sound, looked round;
those who were in a position to see what was happening below, shouted to
their companions, who speedily began to leap down the rocks; most of
those on the platform, in their hurry and fright, springing down a
distance by which they ran an imminent risk of breaking their necks;
others bounded down the pathway in a mode terror alone could have
prompted them to venture on.
"Now's our time!" exclaimed Desmond, seizing several large stones which
lay in the hollow; "if our bullets can't reach them, these will;" and he
and Tom, leaping from under cover on to the platform, while their men
kept up a brisk fire, began to pelt the retreating Arabs, three of whom
were knocked over, several others having broken their legs or necks in
their flight, till the hillside presented the appearance of a
battlefield. All this time the midshipmen and sailors were shouting and
hallooing at their flying foes. The larger number of the Arabs,
however, reached the bottom of the hill unhurt, and were seen hurrying
down to the shore, apparently with the intention of shoving off to the
dhows to assist their countrymen. They were all collected together,
engaged in launching a boat, when a shell plunged right in among them,
killing and wounding several. The rest, fearing the visit of another
missile, took to flight. The desire, however, of preventing the slaves
being captured, either by bringing them on shore or beating off the
English, induced them to go back and make a second attempt; but scarcely
had they collected when another shell pitched right into the boat,
shattering her to pieces, and laying low two more of their number.
This was more than their greed of gain could stand; again they took to
flight, following their chief, who made towards the only shady spot in
the neighbourhood, where a horse was left tethered. Mounting, he
galloped off, followed by the rest of his gang on foot.
The party on the hill were at first doubtful whether they ought to
follow the fugitives, as Desmond had suggested. Tom, however, thought
that they decidedly ought to prevent any slaves who might be landed from
escaping. One of the dhows was seen hoisting her sail. Having cut her
cable, she stood out to sea, while the other two, in order to give her a
better chance of escaping, commenced firing at the boat, expecting that
she would at once attack them. The lieutenant, however, had made up his
mind to have all three, and, disregarding their shots, he pulled away
after the first, at the same time firing his bow-gun at her rigging.
She was a fast vessel, and was leading the boat out of harbour. The
other two dhows, seeing this, began to hoist their sails for the purpose
of slipping out astern of her. As he might possibly lose all three, the
lieutenant now put back, and managed to run on board one of the dhows.
The Arabs fought desperately, and it seemed doubtful who would gain the
victory. "I wish we were on board to help them!" exclaimed Desmond; "if
I thought we could swim as far, I should propose going off to her."
"Better stay where we are," said Tom; "we shall have work enough to do.
See, the other dhow is coming round with the intention of running on
shore; probably those on board don't see their friends scampering off,
and they hope to re-land their slaves. It is fortunate we are here to
prevent them escaping; perhaps they have been so busily engaged that
they may not have seen us, and I propose that we hide ourselves behind
those rocks out there, and, if the slaves land, we can rush out and
surprise them." The plan suggested by Tom was instantly put into
execution. Notwithstanding the opposition of the crew, the dhow
attacked by the lieutenant was quickly captured, and again brought to an
anchor; when, leaving some of his people on board, he made sail after
the first dhow, which there was still a possibility he might overtake.
The midshipmen could hear his gun rapidly fired, showing that he was
trying to bring down her sail.
The last of the three dhows had now stranded, and the cries and shrieks
which arose showed that the Arabs were throwing the unfortunate blacks
into the water, and compelling them to make their way on shore. Tom and
Desmond agreed that it would be no easy matter to stop the blacks and to
fight the Arabs at the same time, as they would be certain to try and
make off with as many of the negroes as they could. Looking out from
their hiding-place, they saw the beach covered with blacks, who had swum
and waded on shore; but the Arabs themselves were waiting on board till
all were out of the vessel, intending to come on shore in their boat.
Probably they expected that their friends would hurry down and assist
them in securing their captives.
Just as the boat left the side of the dhow, the midshipmen, uttering
loud shouts, rushed out of their hiding-place; while the blacks, seeing
them, ran on either side like a flock of scared sheep. The sailors in
vain tried to reassure them; as they had not much time to do it, it was
necessary to attack the boat before the Arabs reached the shore. The
latter were evidently taken by surprise, and, cramped in the boat, which
was tossing about, were unable to use their firearms to any effect. A
few shots were fired wildly, and the next instant, as she was thrown on
the beach, the midshipmen and their followers, rushing into the water,
attacked the crew so vigorously with their cutlasses that half their
number were killed or wounded before they could defend themselves; while
the rest, as they were dragged out, were made prisoners. The wounded
were allowed to lie on the shore, while the rest were secured by ropes,
which had been brought on shore to bind any refractory slaves.
No victory could have been more complete. The next business was to stop
the blacks, who were hurrying away in different directions. In vain the
sailors shouted to them, some persisted in running off into the
wilderness; but a considerable number were at length turned back to the
seashore, where they all stood crowded together, too much alarmed to
know what to do, and gazing at their late masters with astonishment.
Still, should they attempt to break loose, it would be no easy task to
stop them. Every now and then Tom kept looking out for Mr Matson's
boat, and was not sorry to see her returning, though one of the dhows
had escaped.
"There is a chance still that the ship will pick her up," observed Tom.
"We want his help to take care of the poor blacks, and to look after
these Arabs. How to feed them all will be a puzzle."
"I suppose there's food on board the dhow?" observed Desmond.
"Yes, but how are we to get it? If we pull off to her, the blacks will
run away, or the wounded Arabs will get up and release their
companions," said Tom.
"Faith, then, the best way will be to take them on board with us," said
Desmond; "it's somewhat like the story of the fox and the goose and the
peas."
The day was wearing on, and the lieutenant's boat had been led a long
way out to sea, so that it would be almost dark before she could reach
the shore. The midshipmen themselves were becoming very hungry and
thirsty, for they had left their provisions on the top of the cliff, and
could not venture back to procure them. They had not a moment's rest;
every now and then they were compelled to start off, now in one
direction, now in another, to turn back the negroes, who were constantly
making attempts to run off.
While Tom was watching the boat, two shots were heard in rapid
succession from the island, towards which he at once saw her alter her
course.
"She'll not be coming here, after all!" he exclaimed; "something has
happened on the island, and that was a signal to her to put in."
"We must make the best of a bad case, then," said Desmond. "I propose
that we compel all the blacks to sit down in a ring; they will be better
off than they were in the hold of the dhow, and will have no reason to
complain. We must make them understand that if any of them attempt to
get up they will be shot. As for the wounded Arabs, we must place a
sentry over them, and tell them the same; while we must see that the
prisoners' arms and legs are securely lashed. If the other fellows
don't come back, I see no reason why, provided we keep our eyes open, we
shouldn't get on very well. It won't be very pleasant to walk about all
night, but it will be better than allowing the Arabs to cut our throats,
or letting the blacks escape, for their sakes and our own."
"A very good proposal, Desmond," said Tom; "I couldn't have thought of a
better myself, and we will at once carry out your plan." Tom explained
to the men what they wished to have done, who, choosing a spot just
above high-water mark, made the blacks understand that they were to go
and sit down there. They put the women and children in the centre, then
the weaker-looking people and lads, and the stronger men outside of all.
They could thus better keep an eye on those most likely to try to
escape; and they managed to impress on their minds pretty clearly what
they intended doing, should they make the attempt. These arrangements
being made, they hoped to get through the night without losing any of
their prisoners, even should Mr Matson not arrive to their assistance.
They were, however, suffering considerably from hunger and thirst, and
at last Tim Nolan, touching his hat, offered to go off to the dhow and
bring on shore something to eat.
As there was still some daylight, Tom thought that he could manage to
keep the blacks in order, and agreed that Desmond should go, accompanied
by Tim, while he and the other two men kept a strict watch over their
charges. As the tide had already run out, the boat had but a short
distance to traverse. In a short time Desmond came to the bow of the
dhow, and shouted out that he had found plenty of food, and would bring
some kettles on shore to cook it.
"By all means," answered Tom. After a little time the boat returned
with several casks and bags, two large cooking-pots, and a quantity of
wood. These things were indeed welcome. Being carried up to a spot
somewhat inland, where the blacks sat, a fire was kindled, the pots put
on to boil; and a cask of water having been brought from the vessel,
with some bamboo cups, it was served round to the prisoners, after they
themselves had first drunk. It was difficult, however, to help them, as
the first who seized the mug would not pass it on, in spite of all the
seamen could do, until he had drained it to the bottom. The seamen
would not allow those who had already drunk to have any more till the
whole of the party had been supplied.
By the time the water had been served out, the contents of the pots were
sufficiently boiled. Now came the most difficult task--to divide the
food fairly among so many people. They would gladly have fed the
children and women first, but, placed as they were, that was impossible.
However, they were afraid to let them shift their positions; the moment
a basin was handed to one of the men, he would not give it up until he
had emptied it. Even when the men had been fed, they would scarcely
allow their weaker companions to receive their portion, but tried to
snatch it from the hands of the seamen.
Night found them thus employed. The fire they had kindled was now of
the greatest assistance in enabling them to continue serving out the
food, and, at the same time, to watch their prisoners. Though some figs
and other delicacies were found on board, the midshipmen would not give
them to the Arabs, but properly allowed them only such food as they had
laid in for their captives. The fellows grumbled, but hunger made them
accept it. At last, by using kind tones and by gentle treatment, the
seamen quieted the fears of the blacks, who now seemed perfectly
resigned to their lot, and showed no inclination to run away. Still the
midshipmen did not relax in their vigilance; so busily employed were
they that the night passed away more rapidly than they had expected.
Their chief anxiety was regarding the events which had happened on the
island, and which had induced Mr Matson to land there instead of coming
to their assistance. They feared that the Arabs taken in the dhows had
given more trouble than those they had captured; possibly the
lieutenant, confiding in the strength of his party, had not thought it
necessary to bind them, and they had consequently attempted to regain
their liberty. However, this was only conjecture, and they were
compelled to wait patiently to ascertain the truth, hoping that nothing
very serious had happened.
Notwithstanding the general quiet observed by the prisoners, now and
then a black got up and looked about him as if contemplating a start,
but was detected almost immediately by Tom and Desmond, or one of the
seamen, and compelled to sit down again in a good-humoured manner. "You
mustn't be after giving leg-bail to us, old fellow!" exclaimed Tim
Nolan, patting the black on his back; "you'll have plenty of grub
tomorrow, and we'll be taking you to a pleasanter country than this.
Ah, there's another of them!" and away he would start farther round the
circle.
There was evidently no combination among the blacks, or by a number
rising together they might have made their escape. They had all,
probably, been brought from different districts, and scarcely understood
each other's language, many of them having come from the neighbourhood
of Lake Nyassa, and others purchased from the Portuguese much farther
south. A still stricter watch was kept over the Arabs, who growled and
cursed at their captors, but were unable to cast off the well-secured
lashings by which they were bound. Thus the night passed on; tired as
all hands were, no one sat down even for a moment, and six people, armed
only with pistols and cutlasses and a couple of muskets, were able to
keep three hundred in subjection.
"I'd give a good deal to be able to turn into my hammock!" exclaimed
Desmond.
"We may have the chance before long, then," said Tom. "See, there are
the first streaks of dawn; and, hurrah! there comes the ship. I thought
I saw her a minute ago, and now! I am certain of it," he added, looking
through his telescope. "She'll be here in less than an hour."
As daylight increased, some of the blacks caught sight of the ship,
which, steaming on, head to wind, seemed to create no little
astonishment, and still more alarm, in their minds. The seamen did
their best to quiet them, going round and round the circle, and talking
in cheerful tones, which had their due effect, although the words they
spoke were not understood. Desmond proposed getting some more wood and
provisions from the dhow. They were quickly brought on shore, when the
fires, which had almost burned out, were again made up and another
supply of food cooked. The same scene took place as before. The poor
negroes scrambled and screamed over it, though the seamen did their best
to serve it out impartially. Then the Arabs had their share of food,
and the wounded men were looked to. One of them had died during the
night, it having been impossible to attend to him--indeed, they were not
aware how badly he had been hurt.
With infinite satisfaction the two midshipmen at length saw their ship
come to an anchor. A couple of musket-shots attracted the attention of
those on the look-out on board, and a boat was seen to put off from her.
In a short time Higson, with a party of men well armed, stepped on
shore. "I can heartily compliment you both," he said, after he had
heard the account Tom and Gerald gave of their proceedings. "Now, the
sooner we get these poor fellows on board the better. We have a good
number already, and there must be as many more, from what I saw on the
island; but they stow pretty closely, and we must make the best of our
way to the Seychelles or some other place to dispose of them. The Arabs
deserve to be left behind, but, as they would certainly die in this
inhospitable region, we must in charity carry them off and leave them to
be disposed of by the Sultan of Zanzibar as he may think fit."
Although the women and children under some circumstances would have been
the first to be removed, as the men would be likely to give most trouble
if left on shore, fifty of them were embarked and carried on board the
ship, the boat then returning for another cargo. Thus, in the course of
time, all were transferred on board. Tom and Gerald, who had gone in
the second trip, received their due praise for their conduct. The
prisoners from the second dhow, captured by Mr Matson, at length
arrived, with a large number of slaves and the Arab crews. He had a sad
account to give, but Tom and Gerald, though they had been eager to hear
it, were by that time fast asleep in the berth, thoroughly done up with
their exertions.
Both the dhows were set on fire, that they might not fall into the hands
of the Arabs. On the sinking of the dhow by the senior mate, in his
attempt to save some of the women and children, he himself had lost his
life; but the Arab crew, from swimming well, had been picked up. Two
seamen had been killed, and only forty blacks had been rescued; and the
boat herself had been so damaged that it was with difficulty she reached
the island, when the Arabs, who had not been secured, leaping on shore,
made off among the rocks. The dhow captured by Mr Matson was in so
leaky a state that he had been compelled to land all the blacks, as well
as the Arabs, who entreated not to be left on board. Trusting to their
gratitude, he allowed them, when landed, to remain at liberty, without
having examined them to ascertain whether they had concealed any arms
about their persons. His boat also had suffered considerably; he was
thus prevented from attacking the three dhows when they first came to an
anchor. He had, indeed, enough to do to look after the numerous
liberated blacks; while several of his crew, who had been badly-wounded,
required to be attended to.
So occupied had he been that not till the dhows appeared did he think of
sending the carpenter's mate and two men to repair the boat. In the
meantime, several of the Arabs had stolen off and joined their
countrymen who had before made their escape. Leaving a small party only
to guard the blacks and protect the wounded, as soon as the boat was
repaired he set off, as has been described, to attack the three dhows.
After his unsuccessful chase of the one which escaped, he was returning
to help Tom and Gerald when he was summoned to the island by a
prearranged signal. On landing, he found that the Arabs had rushed down
on the camp, liberated the remainder of the prisoners, and, having
attacked the party left in charge, were inciting the blacks to escape.
His speedy return compelled the Arabs to fly, but not till they had
induced thirty of the blacks to run off with them.
As they could not get over to the mainland, Jack sent a large party on
shore to sweep the island from one end to the other, and to capture
every Arab and black who could be found. Tom and Gerald, who, after
their snooze, awoke, as they declared, perfectly fresh, begged leave to
join it, as they were as eager as any to rescue the poor blacks who had
so quickly again been brought into slavery by the Arabs, while they
wished to recapture the latter, and to stop their slave-dealing for the
future.
The party had proceeded half-way along the island, Tom and Gerald being
on the right or the western side, when he caught sight of a black object
in the water moving away from the shore. Directly afterwards he saw
several others in the same direction. "Those must be Arabs attempting
to swim to the mainland," he shouted; "on, lads, and stop them! Pass
the word along the line."
He and the men accompanying him hurried on, and were soon joined by
Gerald and his party, when they caught sight of a dozen Arabs in the
water, while many more were on the beach, endeavouring to induce the
blacks to accompany them. Tom shouted to those in the water to return.
The nearest obeyed on seeing the seamen present their muskets, but the
others still held on their course.
"Stop the fellows!" cried Tom; when the seamen fired several shots. One
of the nearest was hit, but the rest continued striking out. Another
volley had the effect of making two more turn back. Six or seven still
held desperately on. Shot after shot was fired at them; but the
wretches had other foes besides the British seamen. Soon after the
leading swimmer had got out of gunshot he was seen to throw up his arms,
a piercing shriek was heard, and the next instant he disappeared beneath
the surface. The rest still held on, as it was as hazardous to turn
back as to go forward. Another shortly afterwards shared the fate of
the first. What horror must have filled their minds as they made their
way through the water, knowing that at any instant a ravenous shark
might seize their legs and drag them under!
Two or three, however, reached the shore. Tom, who was watching them
through his glass, saw them throw themselves, utterly exhausted, on the
beach. "Without food or water, their fate will be as terrible as that
of those who have just lost their lives. They deserve it richly,
however; there will be so many slave-traders less in the world," he
observed coolly. He, like many others acquainted with the atrocities
committed by the Arabs, could no longer feel the slightest compassion
for any sufferings to which they were subjected.
The whole of the blacks were secured, as were the surviving Arabs, and
marched back to be carried on board the ship. Jack, meantime, had been
very anxious about the party who had to proceed overland; and he
determined to send some men, well armed, with provisions and water, to
meet them. Tom and Gerald begged leave to go, in company with the
doctor, who carried restoratives and medicines. The day was far
advanced when they landed. They at once struck off to the north,
keeping a bright look-out for the Arabs on one side and their friends on
the other.
It was near evening when they saw some figures wending their way over a
rocky hill to the northward. They were at first doubtful whether or not
they were Arabs; if such was the case, they were fully prepared for
them. "No, they are our fellows!" exclaimed Tom. Just as he spoke,
another much larger party were seen on the left, making their way
towards the first. Tom's glass was at his eye in a moment. "Those are
Arabs; no doubt about it," he said. "They have muskets, too, and it's
very evident that they are intending to cut off our friends. We shall
disappoint them, though, I hope."
The officer in command of the party, having ascertained that Tom was
right, gave the order to push forward as rapidly as possible. The Arabs
had apparently not yet discovered them, and were still advancing, with
their gaze fixed only on those whom they hoped to make their prey.
Besides the Arabs, there were numerous blacks, secured together, in the
ordinary barbarous fashion, with forked sticks. There could be little
doubt that they were slaves who had escaped from the wrecked dhow, and
were being taken back to the coast, to be embarked on board another
slaver.
The seamen, descending into the valley, soon lost sight of both parties.
In spite of the burning sun, which made the air in the valley like that
of a hothouse, they pushed rapidly on. Presently they heard some shots
fired, which seemed to come from the heights above them. Those heights
must be scaled before they could reach their friends. The firing became
more and more rapid as they climbed up; they at last caught sight of
Archie and his party, who, posted on some rocks, were defending
themselves against overwhelming numbers of Arabs. Tom and Gerald
uttered a loud cheer, which was taken up by the men, and then, without
waiting an instant to gain breath, first firing a volley, they rushed
with their cutlasses at the Arabs, who, turning and throwing down their
arms, scampered off with the activity of cats, leaving five or six of
their number dead or wounded behind them.
The seamen pursued them along the ridge of the hill, cutting down all
they overtook; but the larger number saved themselves by the fleetness
of their feet. A party of them kept together, however, and made their
way towards the group of slaves, in the hope, as it seemed, of carrying
them off. The seamen were, however, at their heels before they could
accomplish their object; and they were glad to make their escape into
the desert, leaving their captives in the hands of the victors.
Hamed, who had followed them, was soon able to calm the fears of the
blacks, whose bonds were speedily loosed, and their necks relieved from
the forked sticks. A spot which could be easily defended, should the
Arabs venture to attack them, was selected for their night encampment.
The ground being too uneven to allow them to travel in the dark, it was
necessary to remain till the next morning to return to the ship. They
had brought an ample supply of provisions, and the Arabs had compelled
the slaves to carry food for themselves. The low shrubs growing on the
hillside afforded an abundance of fuel; camp-fires were soon lighted,
and pots set boiling. Altogether, the midshipmen made themselves
perfectly happy. The other officers sat round the fire, recounting
their various adventures; Archie's party had met two or three wild
beasts, and been threatened on their road by the Arabs who had escaped
from the wrecked dhow, but they kept them at a distance with their
firearms; and the fellows had not dared to attack them till, joined by
other parties proceeding to the coast, they gained confidence from
superior numbers.
"They must be remarkably bad shots," observed Archie; "for though they
had thirty muskets among them, at the least, not one of us has been
hit."
In the morning they returned to the ship, having seen nothing more of
the Arabs, who thought it prudent to keep at a distance from the hated
Feringhees.